Page 23 of Secrets on the Mountain

"Whatever you need, baby, just ask."

Cane's voice is hoarse, his breathing still heavy as he pulls me tight to him despite the sweat still coating both our bodies.

"Remember that when I expect you to fuck me four times a day."

"Four?" His voice cracks. He sounds a bit skeptical.

"Sometimes six," I add, twisting in his arms to look up to see his face.

"Good thing I'm tight with the boss," he says. "Sounds like I'm going to be using a lot of personal time off."

I get a kiss on the head and Cane pulls another blanket off the sofa to drape over us as I drift into a well-earned nap.

"Son of a bitch."

Cane mutters under his breath.

"What's wrong?"

"I just did the math," he kisses me near my ear, his whispered voice light with amusement. "Now I know why I can't keep Raine on the damn camp for a full shift these days."

EPILOGUE 2

2 1/2 years later

Hurricane

I slip my finger under the collar of the tuxedo dress shirt, trying to loosen it around my neck.

I didn't get dressed up for my own wedding, God only knows how I got talked into this.

Looking out at the woman in the front row of folding chairs lined up in front of the stage, the bright smiles from Junie and the two-year-old baby girl in her lap remind me.

I'd do anything for the woman with the chocolate curls and the sea green eyes.

Including wearing a damn tuxedo and standing up at my brother's wedding.

The preacher says he can kiss the bride, the crowd breaks into applause, and the newlyweds get introduced to their guests. All I want to do is get back off this stage. I might be stuck in the monkey suit for the rest of the day, but at least I'll have Junie whispering in my ear about all the things she plans to do to me later because she thinks I look good in the suit.

She's been filling my head with filthy ideas since I got dressed this morning.

Sunny's almost two now and we're ready for another one. I'm planning on putting baby number three in June-bug's belly before the night is over.

By the time the happy couple has made it off the stage and through the onslaught of bubbles and birdseed that was approved for throwing, no one's paying attention to the rest of the wedding party as I follow Rapid Jones and Raine down the steps, unsnapping the infernal bow tie and loosening my shirt collar as I go.

Apparently, my girl approves. Before June's even hands the baby off, she stands on her toes to kiss the space at the base of my neck where the collar is open.

"I swear, Cane, if you roll your sleeves up, you won't be present to make your toast."

I can take a hint.

I'm also more than happy to slip the coat off.

We had a bear of a winter, but the late May weather is already bringing warm days out here on the south face of the mountains.

Dropping the cuff links into my pocket, I make a show of rolling up the sleeves on the formal dress shirt, loving the way Junie's eyes rake over my bared forearms.

"You are a bad man, Hurricane Hart," she whispers as she takes my arm and leads me back to the big room where the reception is being held.

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