Page 54 of 40 and Flirting (with Disaster)
“No, I’m not.” His palm met her mound, turned, cupped her. One finger found her clit and lightly began to tease. “But knowing you like I do, this may be as close as I ever get to a proposal. And,” he said forcefully, staving off the objection that rose to her lips, “I’m perfectly fine with that in my future.”
She relaxed back into the water.
“But I needed to know…” He slid one thick finger down, found her entrance, and entered her, pushing deep. “I needed to know you were mine.”
Iris’s back curved instinctively, and she spread her legs as wide as the tub would allow, giving Jamie all the access he wanted. “I’m definitely yours, Jamie.”
“Good, beautiful.” He began a slow out-and-in motion that set her nerves tingling. “Don’t forget it.”
Her chuckle was more breath than actual sound. “I don’t think I can.”
Jamie added another finger. “Now, on to more important things.”
She forced herself to focus on his words even as she tilted her pelvis to meet his thrust. “More important than saying ‘I love you’?”
“Definitely more important.” He picked up the pace. “Let me rock you to sleep.”
He was rocking something, all right. She closed her eyes, breathed in his scent, his presence, and let go.
Epilogue
Three months later
* * *
Fall leaves drifted down from the forest of trees over their heads, showering Jamie and Iris in a cascade of oranges and yellows and browns as they made their way through the resort grounds to the massive cobblestone patio designed as an outdoor event space around one side of the main building. Black Wolf Resort had opened to much fanfare nearly a month ago, and was booked solid for the next year already. Erin’s crews were hard at work completing the remaining two main buildings before they began construction on a series of cabins dotted among the property. Iris took in the gorgeous space, now crowded with Erin’s and Carter’s closest friends and their families, officials from town, and locals who had known Erin since she was a little girl—all here to celebrate the arrival of Erin and Carter’s precious family addition.
The official celebration in Black Wolf’s Bluff had been held off until Thad could be included. Though Carter’s family held a baby shower in New York, only now could Thad get away for the fall break from school to spend a week at the resort. Erin and Carter stood to one side of the courtyard with their son, little Rayne held securely in Erin’s arms, to welcome the town and introduce their new baby to those who hadn’t met her.
When they approached, Carter reached across Thad to pull Jamie into a bro hug. “Thanks for showing up.”
“Of course.” Jamie slapped the man on the back, then reached down to shake Thad’s hand. “We wouldn’t miss it. It’s too important.”
“We’re welcoming Baby Rayne,” Thad said.
“That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Iris agreed, reaching to give the little boy a hug. The scent of candy and little boy wrapped around her heart. “And celebrating your family. That’s so special. Congratulations, Thad.”
The eleven-year-old beamed. “She’s named after me.”
Erin’s look was just as proud as Thad’s. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way, hon.” She patted the pink-blanket-enfolded bundle in her arms on the butt. “There’s no one else Rayne would rather be named after.”
A small, fussy whimper came from within the blanket. Thad immediately perked his head up. “Does she need a change?”
Carter leaned over, his sure fingers pulling back the blanket to reveal a full head of black hair on the sweetest face Iris had seen in a long, long time. A face that reminded her distinctly of Thad. Brother and sister definitely looked alike.
“Not sure, buddy,” Carter said. “I’m sure your sister is fi—”
That cute face screwed itself into a frown, and a loud cry burst into the air. Carter startled, and the rest of the group laughed with varying degrees of amusement. “And I think that is probably a yes.”
“She’s got lungs on her, that’s for sure,” Erin said, shifting the baby in her arms in preparation for handing her over to her husband.
Carter gathered Rayne against his chest. “Wanna help, Thad?”
The boy nodded, and Carter hefted the baby up to his shoulder, walking her off with Thad following.
“While he’s here, he can’t get enough of being with her,” Erin explained. “He sees her when we come home to New York, but I do wish they could be together full-time.”
“A blended family is rough,” Iris agreed, “but you guys are doing great. And he knows you both love him and that Rayne will too.”
