EPILOGUE

PEPPER

TWO YEARS LATER

"Mrs. Sells? Are you sure you should be doing that?"

"I'm pregnant, Julian. Not dead." 

I shifted the basket of lemons to my left hip as Julian looked on with wide, worried eyes. 

"Anyway, I needed to get up and walk around. I'm so bored just sitting around the house lately." 

"Yes, ma'am. I just don't think you should be doing any heavy lifting." He approached me with concern in his eyes. "My wife had an early labor when our fourth was born because she was trying to do housework. I just want you and my future mini-boss to be safe." 

I smiled at him, still grateful after all this time that Reagan scoured the state for the most qualified farm manager he could find. He couldn't have possibly know what a devoted family man he'd turn out to be. Julian turned also out to be a fair and patient supervisor to all ten of our full-time workers and even taught me a few new things about farm work.

But most of all, he became an incredibly loyal friend to Reagan and me.  

At our wedding, right here on the farm last fall, Ignacio was Reagan's best man and Julian his second groomsman. Maddy and my mom were my bridesmaids. Hux was nowhere to be found, although I could have sworn Mom and Ignacio were making eyes at each other. 

But I wasn't paying attention to them. It was my day. Our day. And it was perfect. 

The pumpkins were ripe, the air was crisp, and the autumn colors were rich and beautiful. So many oranges, yellows, and reds, which made my husband's green eyes glow like a cat's when I walked down the aisle.  

We got pregnant soon after, which was pretty much expected with how much sex we were having. Even while as big as a whale, Reagan couldn't keep his hands off and me and was incredibly protective of us. 

Like a lion with his pride, my green-eyed alpha challenged everyone who tried to overstep their place with us. For a little while, that was often my mother. 

I felt she was my responsibility to deal with but he never let me face her alone and I was grateful for that.

He probably would have agreed with Julian about me being out picking lemons from the tree, but at the end of the day I did what I wanted and I was badly craving a fresh salad with lemon vinaigrette dressing. 

I snuck out to the orchard while he dozed off on the couch with Bonny cuddled up alongside him. They were like peas in a pod, those two. Even she seemed to get more protective of me and the baby thanks to his influence.

By the time I got back to the farmhouse, he was awake again and reading the paper. 

He was shirtless and barefoot, of course, wearing only a pair of jeans slung low on his hips as he took up the entire length of the couch. We joked that he was the one barefoot and in the kitchen most of the time.

If we didn't have so many people working on our property now, he'd be naked constantly and still answering the door in his birthday suit.  

"And where did my babies run off to?" he asked, shifting his eyes up toward me. 

My heart warmed. He always called us that since we found out I was pregnant. He was so devoted and enamored with being a father. 

"I was craving lemons, so I got some. Is that okay with you?" I asked with a heavy dose of snark. 

He chuckled and returned his eyes to his paper. 

"Sassy woman you are."

A sudden, stabbing pain jolted through my abdomen and I dropped the lemon basket in surprise. 

I hissed and grabbed my stomach. My heart started to race and I squeezed my eyes shut through the pain.

“Babe! Are you okay?”

I opened my eyes to find myself staring into green, frantically worried ones. He was at my side so fast, I didn’t even notice that he moved.

“Pepper! Is it contractions? I’m calling 911.” 

“I’m fine,” I said, finally catching my breath. “Your son is a hell of a kicker.” 

His worried look didn’t fade in the slightest. 

“You’re sure that’s all it is?” 

“Yes, I’m sure.” I laced his fingers with mine. “I still got at least four weeks to go. First kids are usually late.”

Reagan finally relaxed and leaned his forehead on mine.

“Both of you are so precious to me.” His fingertips swept over my belly, igniting flutters within me and all over my body. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost either of you.”

I ran my fingers through the dark sea of his hair. He’d been growing it out and it started curling around his ears in the most adorable way. 

Secretly I loved seeing my strong, protective, shit-talking alpha get vulnerable with me. I loved knowing that my man had a heart and would always treat me and our children with love and tenderness.

“We’re not going anywhere, silly,” I told him, kissing the bridge of his nose. “It’ll take a lot more to take a Sage mama down.” 

“I know. I just can’t help loving you so much.” He lowered himself to his knees and kissed my belly. “Both of you.”

“And we love you. You’re already an amazing husband and father.” My caresses across his neck and shoulders slowed to a stop. “But babe?”

“Yes?”

“Will you please pick up these damn lemons I dropped? I can’t see past my stomach for shit.” 

Reagan laughed and slapped my ass as he stood, lemons already in his hand. 

“Sit yourself down and put your feet up, beautiful. I’m making this lemon vinaigrette you’re craving so bad.” 

With a firm hand still on my ass, he leaned down and nipped my ear. 

“And while you’re enjoying your dinner, I’m going to park right at your sweet pussy and feast on you.”

My whole body flushed with heat. This man was insatiable for me! We already made love this morning and twice yesterday too. 

I seated myself down and watched my husband’s broad, muscular back move with agility in the kitchen. Our son started moving again, more gently this time. I placed my hands on my belly to feel the kicks and flutters as I watched his father prepare our food. 

Two years ago, I never imagined this would be my life. If someone asked, I probably wouldn’t even have wanted this life. 

But now, without a worry in the world except to carry, protect and teach this baby, I couldn’t dream of ending up anywhere else.