"I'm really glad I came here to spy on you," she says a few minutes later.
"I'm really glad you're fucking terrible at it," I chuckle.
She gasps in outrage, pushing against my chest until I flip over.I land on my back, my hands beneath my head and a grin on my lips.She scrambles up over me, scowling daggers at me as she rises to her feet on the bed.
"You take that back right now, Cord Decker," she demands.
"Not a chance in hell, pretty baby."
She growls and launches herself at me.I catch her in mid-air, dragging her into my arms.Fuck, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life loving this wild woman.Keeping her happy is going to be my greatest adventure, I already know it.I'm already looking forward to it.
Epilogue
CASSIA
Five Years Later
"What are you doing?"Paige asks.
"Trying to convince Cord to breed me again," I say, putting the phone on speaker so I can snap a photo to send to my husband.He's somewhere out on the ranch, handling business.He won't be for long.If I know my husband—and after five years, I definitely do—he'll be rushing in the door to handlemybusiness in about five minutes.
Since the kids are all with Cleary until tomorrow, we've got the house to ourselves.I intend to put it to good use.I'm already naked.Well…mostly naked.I'm wearing a Stetson and a pair of boots.I also bought a lasso just for the occasion.It's coiled around me on the bed.If that doesn't get my cowboy in the door, nothing will.
Paige's groan fills the bedroom."You know I hate when you call it that.Also, TMI."
"You asked," I remind her."Besides, didn't you just tell me last week about that thing Cam does with his tongue that I never needed to know about?"
"Oh yeah."Her wicked laugh echoes down the line, followed by a dreamy sigh."He has the best tongue."
I giggle despite myself.Having one of my best friends as my sister-in-law is great.I love it so much.She and Cam and their kids spend half of their time here in Lake Tahoe and the rest in Austin with her family.I miss her like crazy when she's gone, but I have plenty to keep me occupied.We aren't the only ones who ended up finding forever in Lake Tahoe.Emmy, Zoey, and Clover did too.Mina comes to visit every chance she gets.Plus, Cleary is here too.I love it so much!
I never realized just how lonely my life was until I woke up one day with Cord wrapped around me, and Paige, Cam, and Cleary in the kitchen downstairs, yelling for us to get up and come and eat.Life has been a fairytale since.My cowboy might not be what anyone envisions when they think of Prince Charming, but he'smyPrince Charming.
The day I thought he didn't love me was the worst of my life.Trying to imagine my future without him hurt like hell.I couldn't even think about making it through the weekend, let alone the next sixty years.My heart wasn't broken.It was shattered.Right up until he showed up at the resort, dropped to his knees, and laid all my fears to rest.
He tells me every single day that he loves me.It's the first words that leave his lips in the morning, and the last thing he says to me at night.He never lets me forget for even a moment that he'smycowboy.He's so damn good to me every single day.He spoils me and our babies with love and affection.He's our protector, our hero.
If he doesn't give me another baby soon, I'm going to lose my mind.Our youngest, Caitlin, is only eight months old, but ever since Cleary got pregnant, I've had baby fever so bad!I want another one.Caitlin is already outgrowing snuggles.She wants to crawl after her big brothers and the dogs and play.I miss when she was tiny and wanted nothing more than to cuddle with me and watch them roll around on the floor like the crazy people they are.
I love our babies so much.Corbin, our oldest, is Cord made over.He's going to be an amazing man someday.He's the most patient, loving big brother.He's so protective over his younger siblings.I just know Cord was the same way when he was a little boy.
Cassius, our three-year-old, is…well, he's a mess like me.It's Cord's fault for naming him after me!I told him it was bad luck, but did he listen?No!He got all sweet and bossy and said that he wanted me to have a reason to learn to love my name, so we were naming our son Cassius.And then he did dirty things to me until I agreed.
My relationship with my mom hasn't really changed.Well, that's not true.She tried to put me down in front of Cord the first time—and only—time she ever came here to visit after Corbin was born.I didn't even have to say anything.She might not have any respect for me, but Cord certainly does.He told her exactly what he thought of her and the way she's always treated me.I don't think anyone has ever spoken to my mom the way he spoke to her.Once he said what he had to say, he sent her to stay at the resort until she was due to fly home.
She hasn't been allowed back since.And I…honestly have never been happier.We speak on the phone on holidays.She sends the kids gifts or visits when we fly to Seattle to see Rhys and his wife, Raven, and their kids.But she doesn't speak to me the way she used to anymore.I think she knows Cord will cut her out of our lives entirely if she does.When it comes to me and our babies, my cowboy isn't rational, and he isn't forgiving.He's a possessive, protective, crazy person, and we wouldn't have him any other way.
"Seriously, what are you doing?"Paige asks.
"Sending Cord dirty pictures."
"Oh!It's your anniversary!"she cries."Crap.I forgot."
"Five years," I whisper, blinking as tears fill my eyes.Five magical, amazing years."I'm so damn lucky."
"Galentine's in Lake Tahoe really was the best retreat ever," Paige agrees, a smile in her voice."It changed all of our lives for the better."
"All because Cord started reading my books and emailing me to complain," I say, laughing quietly at the memory.He told me not long after we got married that he complained because he knew it would get my attention.He wanted to rile me up.From the very beginning, he knew what he was after, and he was willing to play dirty to get it.Hell, he was willing to read my entire catalog to get it.Everyone teases him about it, but he doesn't even bat a lash.He has no shame when it comes to me.I love it so much.
