I can’t wait a second longer.
I pull her into me, one hand at the small of her back, the other buried in her hair, and kiss her like everything that’s ever mattered begins and ends right here.
The world spins back into motion when Bree’s voice cuts through the air like a firecracker. “Not yet, you savage!”
Laughter erupts around us, and I force myself to break away. My forehead rests against hers, both of us grinning like fools.
“By the power vested in me, and with great joy, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Knox, you may kiss your bride!”
I pull Juliette into my arms, dipping her low in a move that feels natural. This time, when I kiss her, it’s slower. Reverent. Like a promise sealed in skin and breath and heartbeats. The crowd erupts in applause around us, but I only hear the sounds of her breathless laughter on my lips. Nothing else matters.
When I pull away, she’s glowing, radiant in a way that steals my breath. My voice is rough with emotion as I whisper, “I love you, Mrs. MacKenzie. More than anything.”
She looks up at me with that smile that says I’m either about to get kissed or roped into something that’s going to change my whole life.
“You’re gonna have to share some of that love.” Her hand drifts to rest over her stomach.
I glance down at her hand, then back up to her eyes. “What?”
She nods, lips trembling around the smile she’s trying to hold onto. It’s the tears slipping down her cheeks that undo me. She laughs and cries at the same time.
“I’m pregnant.”
I thought I knew what it meant to love her. I thought my heart had already reached its limit, as full as it could possibly get.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. She’s not just my wife. She’s the mother of ourchild.
I’ve never wanted to fall to my knees for anything more than this.
I don’t think. I don’t even process it. I just move. One second, I’ve got her hand in mine, and the next, I’m sweeping her off her feet and spinning her around.Her laughter, that light, wild sound that slips straight into my soul, makes me feel like the luckiest bastard who’s ever lived.
When I finally set her down, I can’t bring myself to let go. My hands stay firm at her waist, grounding me to this new reality.
I press my forehead to hers, trying to absorb every second, every heartbeat.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve this,” I whisper. “But I swear, I’ll never take a single second of it for granted.”
epilogue
JULIETTE
ONE YEAR LATER
I’ve never seen a more perfect sight.
Knox lies on our bed, a baby in each arm. One tiny head nestled against his bicep, the other resting right over his heart. Both of them sleeping because they already know they’re in the safest place in the world.
Yep, two babies.
Our identical twin girls are four months old now, and I’m still not over it. Still not used to the sight of double bassinets or the fact that our laundry now includes ruffles.
They’re this perfect little blend of the two of us with his grin and my nose. But their eyes? I’ve got a feeling they’ll be all him. That wild, bright green. Like spring leaves after the rain.
And if I’m being honest, I’m thrilled. Because those eyes are my favorite part of him. Well…that and the part of him that helped make these two in the first place.
I lean against the doorframe, arms folded overmy chest, trying to memorize the way the morning light kisses all three of them. My whole world, right there in one frame.
Knox cracks one eye open as Keira starts to fuss. No wait, Maisie? Hell, this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten them mixed up. I pick her up from the bed, checking the colored dot on the bottom of her sock. Okay, yep, green dot.Keira.
