Page 314 of Steamy Ever After

“She’s fought to stay alive too, Brodie.”

His eyes, already red from tears, filled again as they looked from her face to her belly, then returned his gaze to hers.

“Peyton…I…”

She shifted on the bed and pulled him toward her. “Hold me, Brodie. Hold us.” She leaned forward so he could put his arm around her, and nestled close to him. He splayed his fingers on her stomach.

“I’ll never be cold when I sleep with you, Brodie. You keep me warm.”

He cried again then, his head resting against hers. “I don’t know what to say.”

“There isn’t anything more to say.”

Brodie heard the bedroom door creak and opened his eyes. Alex peeked inside, smiled, and closed the door behind her. He wasn’t sure how long he and Peyton had been asleep. Maybe a few minutes, maybe an hour.

The fatigue he’d felt earlier was gone. The hurt that had pulsed through his body was replaced by an energy so powerful that he worried he’d scald the woman sleeping in his arms. His woman. The woman carrying his baby. From his most shameful act came the most precious love he’d ever known.

“I love you, Peyton,” he whispered before letting his heavy eyelids close again.

“Mom?”

Brodie woke again at the same time Peyton did, and saw her two boys standing in the doorway. He motioned for them to come closer. When they came over, taking turns hugging him, he prayed he wasn’t dreaming. The scene surrounding him was almost too good to be true. He looked at Peyton, feeling the love he saw in her eyes.

“Did you tell him about our baby sister, Mom?” Finn asked.

She smiled. “I did.”

“Did he think of a name yet?”

Brodie smiled too. “Not yet, buddy.”

Finn was wearing shorts and pointed to his leg. “Look, you can hardly see my scar anymore.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. I hope my scars heal as well as yours did.”

Brodie’s eyes met Jamison’s, who hadn’t said anything since he entered the room. “Come over here, buddy.” Brodie pulled him close so the boy’s head rested against his chest. The same dampness he’d felt earlier from his own tears spread on his shirt.

Peyton rested her hand on her son’s head. “It’s okay, Jamie. Everything is going to be okay.”

“Don’t leave again,” Jamison said against Brodie’s chest.

“I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

The bedroom door flew open, and Alex spilled into the room. “Told ya.” She jabbed Maddox, who followed her.

“Yes, you did.” He smiled.

“Someday, you’ll learn.”

“What will I learn, Alex?”

“That I’m always right.”

Maddox looked at Brodie and Peyton. “What I’ll really learn is to tell her she’s always right, whether she is or isn’t.”

“This room is getting crowded,” Peyton’s dad said, shifting so her mother was standing in front of him. “Let’s take this party downstairs.”

Peyton tightened her grip on Brodie’s arm. “We’ll follow in a minute, okay?”

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