Page 97 of The Keeper

“I think I’ve had enough excitement to last me several lifetimes,” I murmured, my eyelids growing heavier by the second. “I’m ready for some boring married life with kids now. The most drama I want is squabbling over whose turn it is to get the kids to bed.”

Dane pressed a tender kiss to my temple. “I could get on board with that. We can argue over preschools and whether to sign Avery up for ballet or soccer. It’ll be a blast.”

I hummed in agreement, my eyes already fluttering shut. “Love you,” I mumbled, the words slightly slurred.

“Love you too, darlin’,” he whispered back, smoothing my hair away from my face. “Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, a sense of peace washed over me. We’d made it through the nightmare. Not completely unscathed, but alive. Together.

A family.

The road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Ivy still had a long recovery in front of her, physically and emotionally. And god only knew what fresh hell this pregnancy would bring. But for now, in this moment, I let myself believe that the worst was behind us.

That maybe, just maybe, Dane and I had suffered enough to earn our happily ever after.

I’d spent most of my life waiting for the other shoe to drop. Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. But as sleep pulled me under, a new, unfamiliar feeling took root in my chest.

Hope.

EPILOGUE

GHOST

Ivy & Piper’s Guide to Life Rule Number Twenty-Six:

Whatever you’re going through, Celine and Taylor have a song for it.

The rumble of my bike seemed magnified as I pulled into the parking lot. It was just after four in the morning, and every storefront in the shopping center was dark, with the exception of one.

I parked my bike next to my Piper’s SUV and killed the engine, the sudden silence broken only by the jingle of my keys as I swung my leg over the seat.

Today wasSwoonworthy Pâtisserie’s grand opening. While I still wasn’t entirely sure what the difference was between a bakery and a pâtisserie, I’d seen how hard she’d worked the past six months to bring her vision to life, and I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to support my wife and take some of the stress off her plate.

Even if it meant stumbling my way through baking.

I scanned my fingerprint when I reached the door, waiting for the soft beep and click of the lock disengaging beforeentering. After the shit that went down in Dallas, Carnage and I installed top-of-the-line security systems on every building in the shopping center.

The scent of butter and sugar hit me as soon as I stepped inside. Well, that and Celine Dion’s powerhouse vocals blasting through the mounted speakers on the ceiling.

Piper was so focused on the dough beneath her hands that she didn’t hear me come in. I leaned against the doorframe, content to watch her in her element for a moment.

Her long brown hair was piled into a messy bun atop her head, wisps escaping to frame her face. She swayed to the music as she kneaded, the swell of her pregnant belly straining against the flour-dusted apron.

Finally sensing she wasn’t alone, Piper lifted her head and promptly let out a startled yelp before clutching her chest. “What the fuck, Dane? You know I hate it when you do that.”

“Sorry, darlin’,” I said with a chuckle, crossing the room to pull her into my arms. “Didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

She smacked my chest playfully. “You’re such a creeper.”

“Hey, you created this monster, sweetheart,” I said, lowering my head to trail kisses over her throat before sliding a hand down to cup her belly. “How’s Oliver this morning?”

“Pretty chill, actually,” Piper said, placing her hand over mine. “Which is a blessing, considering how hectic today is going to be.”

I brushed my lips against hers in a quick peck before crossing the room to grab one of the hot pink aprons off the wall. “That’s why I’m here, boss lady. Put me to work.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really? You want to help?”

I stripped off my kutte and rolled up the sleeves on my black henley before donning the apron. “Why the hell else would I show up here at the ass crack of dawn, darlin’?”

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