Epilogue

Valentine’s Day…

“MMM…” FEELING EXTRA lazy and happy to be snug in her bed alongside her husband, Jenny asked, “How long do we have till the munchkin wakes up?”

He checked his phone on the nightstand. “I’m thinking thirty minutes. Maybe a little more since the weather’s on our side and it’s still dark.” A ferocious north wind battered their cupcake house. Just beyond the windows swirled snow.

“Happy Anniversary,” he said.

“Happy Anniversary. Want your present now or later?”

When he eased his big hand over her smooth belly and lower between her legs, she closed her eyes and groaned, opening for him. “Okay… I’m not opposed to an early celebration.”

She was already wet for him when he rubbed her to a near-instant climax. He then gifted her with another when he slipped his finger inside.

Leaning into him, rocking her hips in time with his pumping, she kissed him extra deep, relishing the slow sweep of their tongues. Hungry for more, she reached for him, eager to have him inside.

At first, his size was uncomfortable, but her body acted on autopilot, stretching to accommodate him when he established the slow and easy rhythm that had always worked for them. When the pressure built and spread until she feared losing her mind from the pleasure-pain, he stiffened, spilling inside her.

Clinging to him, kissing his throat and chin and finally again his lips, she said, “You never told me when you want your present. Now or later?”

“Color me confused. I thought I just got my present?”

“Nope. There’s more.”

“In that case…” He smiled. “Join me for a quick shower, then we’ll reconvene.”

“No time. Yes to the shower, but sadly, we can’t linger in bed all day. We have the meeting with our Realtor, remember? If we’re going to open a new fishing lodge by summer, we’ll need to find the right property and renovate all winter.”

“You’re right. Sorry. The seventh-grader in me still gets excited by waking up to find a naked woman in my bed.”

She laughed, but then eased out from under the covers to slip on the fuzzy robe she’d tossed across the foot of the bed.

“Hey, come back!” he complained.

“I will, but I need to get your present.” She ducked into the closet. Keeping her gift a surprise had been a nightmare, but with Hawk’s help, she’d managed to pull it off. He took his fatherhood duties seriously, and was always on hand when she and Tanner needed a sitter. He not only provided regular child support, but learned to change diapers and prepare bottles and make homemade gourmet baby food from recipes he’d found on Pinterest. Jenny feared Hawk and Tanner wouldn’t get along, but she’d thankfully been wrong. The two had developed a fun bromance that allowed for Jenny to spend plenty of time scrapbooking with Rose and Lilianna and even Stephie when she occasionally came to town.

Life was busy and full and incredibly good.

Standing on her tiptoes, she tried reaching the gift-wrapped box, but struggled. Why had Hawk put it up so high? “Tanner?”

“Yeah?”

“Sorry, but I need a little help with your present.”

“Be right there…” He strolled into her closet while still naked. Wanting him all over again, she had to remind herself to stick to the schedule. “What’s my assignment?”

“See that?” She pointed to the gold box with the red bow.

Meow…

“Are you kidding me?” That seventh-grader who’d discovered a naked woman in his bed? He now sported an even larger grin. “No way…”

Meow, meow…

Scratch, scratch, scratch…

“Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”

He gingerly took the box from her crowded shoe shelf, then set it on top of her built-in dresser to remove the lid. When he saw the box’s contents, he clutched his chest. Tears shone in his eyes. “You know I’m trying not to be so damned sensitive. It’s lousy for my tough guy image. But this is the sweetest frickin’ thing anyone has ever done for me. Where did you even find them?”

“At a Seattle shelter. Colby called in favors from a few friends to have them flown here in stages. He picked them up in Anchorage yesterday morning.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” He hugged her and kissed her and tried pretending his eyes weren’t again tearing.

“You’re so worried about acting manly, but what if I prefer your sweet, cuddly image?”

“Since you’re stuck with me, I guess that’s a good thing.” He reached into the box to draw out not one calico kitten, but two. “I can’t believe you remembered. This is perfect. Right down to the fact that I didn’t want just one, because she’d be lonely.”

“Of course, I remembered. I love you. It’s my job to remember. I never want to forget even the smallest detail of our lives again.”

“I love you, Mrs. Muldoon.”

“I adore and love you, Mr. Muldoon.”

Waaaaaggghah!

They laughed.

Tanner said, “Looks like our little Valentine is ready for breakfast. Think she’s up for trying bacon?”

“Not quite, but I am. Should we divide and concur? I’ll cook for Mckynley and you cook for us?”

“Is that fair? I mean, come on, her meal’s already good to go.” He pulled on flannel PJ bottoms, then doubled back for the kittens.

Jenny stuck out her tongue at him, knowing full well her sassy action would earn a tickle fight that would lead straight back to the bedroom after their daughter went down for her morning nap.

A chase ensued and they ended up out of breath and laughing in front of the baby’s crib.

Jenny gasped. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

“We’re raising a prodigy?”

Mckynley was barely seven months old, but standing in the center of her crib, hugging her favorite pink bunny and huffing at them in teary-eyed outrage for her delayed meal.

“Don’t move. I need a pic of this for Hawk.” Tanner snuck from the room only to then jog for his phone.

Jenny rolled her eyes. “Do you think you could forward me a copy for my Instagram?”

“Sure, babe.” As if he was a professional photographer shooting a supermodel, he took shots from a half-dozen angles. “But this is important. We need this for her baby book.”

“The one I’m in charge of?”

“Oops.” He snapped a few more photos before scooping their resident supermodel from her crib. “Mommy’s mad. Can you help get me out of trouble?”

“I’m not mad.” Jenny felt the baby’s diaper. “But I do sometimes feel like with the exception of breastfeeding, you and Hawk could raise Mckynley without me.”

“Aw, come here…” With the baby on the changing table with her safety strap fastened, Tanner tried drawing Jenny into a hug, but he still held his phone and both kittens.

“You’re not playing fair. You know how goofy I get around your bare chest. Toss in a pair of cuddly kittens and I have zero hope of resisting you.”

“Yep. That’s my plan. But—quick, put the angel back in her crib.”

“Why? I haven’t changed her yet.”

“Just do it. I promise you double your usual Instagram likes.”

Hands on her hips, she said, “Tanner, I’m not even fooling. If you don’t get started on breakfast, you’ll need to start looking for a new Valentine.”

“Hold that thought till you witness my genius…” With the baby plopped onto her rump, still hugging her bunny and chewing his satin-lined ear, Tanner set the playful kittens alongside her.

“O-M-G.” Jenny had to admit, the cute factor was off the charts! “You really are a genius.”

“True story.” He grinned.

She grinned.

And with their baby giggling and cooing over her fuzzy new friends, Jenny considered herself to be if not the luckiest woman in the world, then at least the luckiest woman in all of Alaska.

Would Tanner feel lucky when she gave him his most special gift? The news that she was once again expecting. And this time, there was no question she carried his child.

Keep reading for an excerpt of the next story in my

SEAL Team: Holiday Heroes series: Saint Patrick’s Baby!