Page 72 of Lush Curves

“Perfect,” Annie said. “Next weekend we can start things fresh and shiny and new.”

“Yes, princess.” Sam took her face in both hands, lowered his mouth to hers. He ran his tongue over the curve of her lips, then kissed her like he was claiming her, like he was cherishing her. Like he was coming home. “Let's go back to the begining of the fairy tale, and start again. I think someseriousrewrites are in order.”

Epilogue

One year later

Annie held the front door of Sam's house and stood aside, trying to flatten herself against the wall as much as humanly possible. Sam, Noah, Mac, and Jax staggered past, loaded down with boxes of her stuff. They were closely followed by Sarah, who waddled as quickly as her protruding stomach allowed.

“OK, sweetie?” Annie asked her daughter as she shut the door against the pouring rain. “You need something?"

“The bathroom," Sarah grumbled. “Again.Jesus, being pregnant means peeing twenty-three hours a day, doesn't it?"

“Sure does," Jax said to his wife, setting down the boxes. “I think you've admired the inside of every bathroom in Denver."

Sarah's glare almost knocked him over backwards.

“This is allyourfault," she hissed at him as she toddled to the bathroom. “You'rethe one who wanted twins. 'It'll be fun to have two at once', you said. 'One pregnancy, two babies', you said. Well, the last timeIchecked, Hamill,youweren't the one who had to carry them around!"

“You look beautiful!" he called to her back. “Love you!"

“Haaarrruuummppph," she replied as she shut the bathroom door. “Don't talk to me ever again."

“Does she really hate you, Brother Jax?" Noah asked Jax. “Can you really never talk to her again?"

“No, Noah," Jax said soothingly. “She has hormone overload, and she can't sleep at night so she's tired, and the babies are heavy. She's just ready for them to come, I think."

“Soon!" Noah said with great enthusiasm. “Maybe today!"

“Oh, well," Jax said. “Today might not be the best day, what with Annie moving in here and all. Maybe tomorrow."

“Tomorrow!" Noah agreed. “I'm free tomorrow too."

“Excellent," Jax said. “I'll see what I can do."

“Daddy?"

They all turned to look at Cindy. She was staring at all the boxes, blinking a bit at the mess.

“Hey, sweet pea," Sam said. “You doing OK?"

“Is this all Annie's stuff?" the little girl asked. “In the boxes?"

“Yes, angel," Annie said gently. “You think it's a lot?"

“I don't know." Cindy contemplated the matter. “It's your clothes and shoes?"

“Yep. Any my books, and my CD's, and lots and lots of pictures."

“Pictures?" Her dark eyes lit up. “Of Aunty Sarah and Uncle Noah when they were little?"

“Yep."

“Ohhhhh. I'd like to see those."

“For sure," Annie said. “I'll unpack everything, and we can maybe ordre pizza and have a picture night. What do you think?"

“Yes!"

---