Dear Santa, Send Me a Cowboy

Epilogue

LAWSON

T wo years later…

“You think we should run by that coffee place Mom really likes and get her something? Maybe that’ll make her not puke so much,” Silvan suggested beside me, causing a wave of warmth to surge through my heart from the love that he had for her.

Even if she’d been hormonal and short-tempered lately, he still tried his best to make this pregnancy easier on her.

Today marks six months that she’s been carryin’ our little girl. It seems “taking things slow,” wasn’t meant to be our reality, especially now that she’s my wife too.

I wouldn’t have it any other way, though.

“I’m sure she’d like that.” I nodded in agreement, taking in his new cowboy boots that I had bought him a few months ago.

It warmed my heart to see how much he liked them, it seemed like he never wanted to wear anything else.

“They feel alright now?” I nodded toward his feet. “Took me about a week to break mine in.”

“Yeah, they feel better now. Never owned a pair of boots before, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to like them.”

“And do you?”

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the corner of his mouth tilt.

“Yeah, I like them. My dad doesn’t, but I don’t care.”

The mention of Jaxon had my muscles tightening. As much as I disliked the fuckwad, I had to admit he was at least trying to step up and be a dad now. Since meeting his new girlfriend who has a daughter, I think he finally realized how badly he screwed up things with Silvan and was now trying to make amends.

And I was so damn proud of Silvan for remaining strong through all of it.

For giving his father a chance and accepting me in his life.

After running through the drive-thru of Diana’s favorite coffee shop, we were finally pulling into our snow-covered driveway where I was hit with the familiar rush of emotions that greeted me every day that I came home.

It was a blend of amazement and profound gratitude that this was my life now. I had a family—a gorgeous fuckin’ wife, a son that I proudly called my own, and my baby girl that was already weaving her magic, sure to have me wrapped around her damn finger before I knew it.

And it was all because I decided to drop that tree off for my dad. The second she opened that door, I was a goddamn goner.

I never stood a chance.

After shifting the truck into park, Silvan had run inside to deliver Diana her coffee while I was left to unstrap the rope binding the tree down in the back. Then slinging it up and over my shoulder, I trudged through the snow-dusted sidewalk up toward the front door.

Once inside, I was smacked with the change of temperature that contrasted sharply with the outside elements. The fireplace was burning and the smell of holiday candles wafted in the air, a signature touch of Diana Boone during Christmastime.

Setting the tree down onto the ground, I laid it up gently against the wall before searching for my wife.

“Baby? You in the kitchen?” I shouted through the house while shrugging off my jacket and placing my hat onto a designated hook.

Seconds later, my pregnant wife came waddling out of the hallway with a decaf coffee in one hand and a relieved smile spread across her face.

“Thank god you're home.” She rushed toward me, her wild mane of brown curls dancing in the air behind her as she collapsed into my chest.

In an instant, my heart raced as a wave of worry crashed over me.

“Why? What happened? Are you okay?” I cupped her chin softly, and tilted her head back in search of any signs of distress or pain.

“I’m fine, I just… I just missed you. I missed you both.” She pouted as a single tear formed in the corner of her eye.

Fuck.

The entire pregnancy had been extremely hard on her. From morning sickness to her sporadic hormones, our baby girl was putting her through the wringer. I felt fuckin’ helpless at times, but my brave woman was takin’ it all like a champ.

“We missed you too.” I lowered my mouth down onto hers for a brief, gentle kiss before pulling back. “But we're home now and we got the tree.” I nodded in the direction over my shoulder.

“A balsam fir?” She quirked a brow in question.

I scoffed.

“What do you think?”

I knew everything there was to know about Diana Boone. From her quirks to the small things that she didn’t even notice herself. So, of course, I knew the type of fuckin’ Christmas tree she wanted.

“Hm, and how tall is it?”

I grinned.

“Around seven feet.”

Her eyes glossed over in heat.

Then peering over her shoulder as if to make sure Silvan wasn’t in the room, she leaned in close, placing both her palms onto my chest.

“And the?—”

“Lights? Silvan and I finished puttin’ ’em up when you were napping yesterday. And yes, they all fuckin’ work.”

Her claws dug firmly into chest, causing my cock to harden almost instantly.

“You’re too good to me, cowboy.” Her big brown eyes brimmed with emotion as she held my gaze captive.

“Told you from day one that I want to be the one you can lean on and trust. Doin’ these things make me feel like a better man—a good one. One that deserves this little family you’ve given me.” I released the hold I had on her chin and gripped her waist. Then sweeping my gaze down her swollen belly, I was overwhelmed with the irrational need to put another baby inside of her.

Leaning in close, I let my mouth graze the curve of her ear as I lowered my voice to a sultry tone I knew she couldn’t resist. “And seein’ you happy and lookin’ at me like you’d take my dick down your throat is just the icing on the cake.”

Undeniable heat flared in her eyes.

“Don’t piss me off, Lawson. The only thing that I’m ever hungry for is your cock and I can’t even have it without puking,” she grumbled in annoyance as that cute vein in her forehead throbbed to life.

Pregnant Diana was insatiable. Before, I thought she was addicted, but now she couldn’t seem to go a second without needing me.

“Three more months and you can have it all you want,” I reassured her. “But you ain’t the only one starvin’. Seein’ this swollen belly and knowing it was me who made it that way drives me fuckin’ crazy.” I cradled her bump with the width of my palm. “Makes me want to put another baby in you.”

Her eyes fluttered closed as a long gust of air blew past her lips.

Yeah, baby, I feel the same.

“God, I need you so bad, Lawson…”

Gripping a handful of hair, I drew her in closer as our mouths connected in an all-consuming kiss. I sought to silence the pent-up energy pulsing between us, or at least to channel it into this moment.

With our tongues tangled and breaths intermingling, my palm roamed soothingly over her pregnant belly as I devoured her mouth.

Fuck, I loved this woman so much—loved the three of them with every ounce of my being.

“Uh, Mom?” Silvan’s uncertain voice broke through, causing our mouths to swiftly break apart. A bright flush broke out across Diana’s face and neck as she turned to face him.

Chuckling at Silvan’s expression, I began to strip off my boots.

“Yeah, baby?” she asked while smoothing down her shirt that was riding up her belly.

“Uh, I was going to see if you guys wanted to play a board game but… you guys look pretty busy…”

A low rumble of a laugh tumbled out of my mouth as the two of them flushed red hot.

“Shut it, Lawson,” she snapped under her breath, then went all sweet for her son. “And we’re not busy, Silvan. We’d be happy to play a board game, wouldn’t we, cowboy?”

Warmth spread throughout my chest as both their eyes collided with mine in question. Couldn’t they see that they were my entire universe? That anything they asked, I’d gladly and happily do?

They were everything to me.

My entire world.

My goddamn Christmas miracle.

Feeling the love and warmth that they both shared for me, I intertwined my hand with Diana’s and walked us over to Silvan. Then slinging an arm over his shoulder, I guided us toward the kitchen.

“There’s nothin’ else I’d rather be doin’ than being with you two.”

THE END