Needing You Close (Ex-Con Duet 2)

“You have nothing to worry about. You’re all I want.”

I lean down until our lips crash. “And you’re all I’ll ever need.”

Epilogue

GEMMA

FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER – FEBRUARY

Dear Gemma,

You’re too young to be worrying about your wedding day, but I will say the way you described it sounds perfectly you. Something simple, but elegant. To answer your question, I’ve never thought about getting married. Considering my mom and dad divorced and didn’t even want to be parents, I never had that desire, but never say never. Maybe if I meet the right woman, I’ll get down on one knee and propose, confessing my love…

Tyler wrote me that letter after I told him about how Everleigh, Katie, and I binge-watched Say Yes to the Dress all weekend long. The girls and I started talking about what dresses we’d wear and what theme we wanted. The next day, I wrote Tyler a detailed letter explaining my dream wedding.

As I look at our vow renewal photos from three months ago, I notice all the similarities that I told him when I was only sixteen years old. A part of me wonders if he remembers what I told him. Next to the one of Tyler and me kissing at the altar is a framed picture of our eight-week ultrasound from two weeks ago.

Sharing the news with Tyler over Christmas that I was pregnant was one of the most exciting and emotional days of my life. We’d only had our one-year wedding anniversary a month before that. We talked about starting a family soon, and it happened quicker than either of us anticipated, but we’re both over the moon about it. I have no doubt he’s going to be the best father because he’s already the most amazing husband.

Since we’re adding a bundle of joy to our family, we’ll be looking for a bigger house in the next year or two. I’ll be sad to leave the cottage and all the memories we’ve made, but we’ll need more room once the baby is able to walk. Until then, I’m soaking up every day being here.

The best part of still being in my first trimester is my brother will be here for some of our pregnancy journey. For the first time in ten years, he’ll be living back in Lawton Ridge, and though I’m nervous for him, I can’t wait to hug him again. Noah and I were very close growing up, and a part of my heart went with him when he was charged with unintentional manslaughter. He’s done his time, and now he’ll have to figure out how to be a part of society again. People in this town haven’t forgotten what happened, and they’ll judge Noah, as well as anyone who’s associated with him. I can only hope some of them will be forgiving, and I pray one of those people will be Katie.

Though I have a feeling she’s not gonna make it easy.

Tyler comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my stomach, and nuzzles his nose in my neck. “Morning, baby.” He slides one hand up and cups my breast. “Morning, sexy.”

I snort with laughter at the cute way he always tells me and our baby good morning or night. He’s ecstatic and already running wild with ideas and making a list of things we’ll need. Telling my dad was another highlight of my life. I’d only seen him cry a handful of times, one including the moment we gave him a custom mug with the words “Best Grandpa Ever” written on it.

“What’re you doing?” he asks.

“Just looking. I can’t wait to add more photos on this wall. Hopefully some with Noah.”

“I’m glad he’ll be able to meet the baby,” he admits. “It’ll be nice having another man around, too.”

“Me too. And I’m happy you two get along so well. That definitely helps.”

After the first time Tyler visited Noah with me, he joined me every month after. It became our thing, and when we told Noah we got hitched, he had to stop himself from reaching over and hugging us. He was so ecstatic for us and also because he was getting a brother he liked. I hate that he wasn’t able to celebrate the wedding with us, but after missing a decade’s worth of important events, I’ll take whatever I can.

“We should eat and get moving if we wanna meet the contractors on time. I’m gonna need extra coffee today,” he warns, slapping my ass. “Especially since my hot wife kept me up half the night.”

I turn around in his arms and scowl. “Hey, you started it! I was almost asleep when I felt your cock pressed against me.”

“And that’s an automatic invitation to jump me?” he taunts, flashing a smoldering grin. “I mean, I’m not complaining, but it definitely wasn’t one-sided.”

Rolling my eyes, I push past him and walk toward the kitchen. “Yeah, yeah. You blame my hormones, but you’re all over me all the time.”