Page 24 of Rescued By the Ranger

“Totally worth it.” She claims my mouth and I fall even harder. As much as she thinks I protected her and Jazzy, what she has done to make my world brighter has probably saved me from years of self-hate and doubts.

She whispers in my ear, “You are my family. I love you, too.”

The gasps only put a nice punctuation on the moment and when we turn Shane and Quinton are smiling from ear to ear.

It’s still annoying, but I’ll take it.

They jump from their chairs and there are hugs all around. Quinton pulls out a nice bottle of champagne from the chiller and we all toast that this Christmas was one to be remembered.

I know I won’t forget.

EPILOGUE

LEESA

One yearlater

“Wait!I need to check your teeth!” Caia screams as I head toward the door.

“For what? I didn’t eat the last three days due to nerves,” I respond with a roll of my eyes.

Our genetics is strong.

“Lipstick. You chose the brightest red and I’ve already cleaned Harper’s teeth once.”

“Oh…”

She does have my best interests at heart.

I smile and she examines every crevasse in what seems to take hours.

“You’re good. Now, just keep smiling, don’t lick your lips, and when he kisses you, keep your mouth closed. Don’t French it up. I’ve seen you two kiss.”

I giggle. It’s true. We’re like two teenagers. Our daughter even rolls her eyes at us occasionally.

She’s six, going on thirty.

I can’t believe today is the day that I become Mrs. Leesa Anderson-Hawking. This year has been a whirlwind.

New niece was born. Congrats, Caia and Alexie.

Found out my other sister is pregnant. Congrats to Harper and Bastian.

Proposed to Rhodes on a trip to Cancun and he said yes.

And lastly, took a pregnancy test yesterday and found out that we’re going to be adding to our family.

Jazzy will be excited.

As for Rhodes, I’m not too sure.

We talked briefly about more kids. Like in a “sure, that’d be nice, someday” kind of way.

Todayissomeday and now I’m thinking that he needs to know before this happens. Just in case he can’t do it. I can. But God, I hope that he can.

“I need to talk to Rhodes,” I say to Caia and she stops messing with my train and looks up.

“No. It’s bad luck.”

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