Page 151 of Tapped

“Damn,” I mutter against her lips. “Just when I think we’ve settled into a new normal, you bring me to my knees all over again. Thank you, baby.”

She looks up at me through her beautiful dark eyes. “Don’t thank me yet. I don’t have a green thumb. I can’t even keep a houseplant alive.”

I smile. “That’s interesting since you’re in the business of keeping humans alive.”

Her eyes flare. “That’s not lost on me.”

I press my lips to her once more before I let her go and start to unbutton my shirt.

“What are you doing?” she demands.

I toss my shirt to the grass and pick up the shovel she was using to cut out the grass. “I’m helping. Let’s get this done together.”

Her smile is wide but she doesn’t move. “Maybe I’ll get some wood shipped in just for you to chop. I can sit and drink wine while you work half-naked.”

I put a foot to the shovel and stomp on it. I unearth a hunk of grass and dump it to the side before I look down at her. “Baby, you just say the word, and I’ll be completely naked for you in a heartbeat.”

She returns to the plants and yanks one out of its pot. “You chopping wood makes my panties fall off. It’s the kind of dinner and a show that I prefer.”

“If that’s what you want, then that’s what you’ll get, baby. I’ll bend over backward giving it to you.”

EPILOGUE

Evie

Two years later

“Will this ever change, baby?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Then why did you ask if you already know the answer?”

I feel the bed move next to me, but I can’t look up. I’m too focused on the bundle snuggled on my bare chest. I didn’t know it was possible to fall in love three times in one lifetime, but here I am.

And it doesn’t matter what this little guy put me through to make his way into the world. “He’s perfect.”

Micah leans down to kiss the top of my head and cups his son’s in his big hand. Zane Emmett has thick, dark hair and the bluest eyes. Bluer than Chases were when he was born. I hope that means they won’t change. I want them to be the same color as his dad’s.

Chase and my family went home a little while ago. The agents have come and gone. My hospital room is full of balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, and love for our new son.

Now it’s just the three of us.

“Get comfortable, baby. I ran into your doctor in the hallway. He said he doesn’t care how well you think you can take care of yourself at home—he’s not discharging you until the day after tomorrow. You had major surgery.”

I brush my fingers along Zane’s chubby cheek and study his little hand that’s fisted on the swell of my breast. “You can’t blame me for trying.”

“He just didn’t want to come out. Who can blame him? His mom is perfect. I don’t want to come out either when it’s time.”

I look up and do my best to give my husband a dirty look but force myself to bite back a smile. “Don’t talk that way in front of our son.”

Micah’s tone turns serious. “You know we’re not done, right?”

I look back down at Zane. “Says the younger man.”

“Says the man who thinks we need a girl to round out the family,” he amends.

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