Reclaimed (Powell Sanctuary #5)

Epilogue

Isla

Two Months Later

“Tell me you’re close,” Aiden growls in my ear.

I huff an exasperated breath. “Will you stop freaking out?”

“If I’d have known the two of you would be traipsing around in a damn blizzard I wouldn’t have let you go.”

I yank the phone away from my ear so fast Juniper whips her head in my direction. “Look at the road!” I throw my hand out at the windshield.

“Yes, Juniper, look at the road,” Aiden barks loud enough for me to hear.

After a cleansing breath, I put the phone back to my head. “I’m going to give you five seconds to rephrase that last sentence to me or I’m hanging up.”

The long pause sends my hormones into overdrive and not in the good way.

“You didn’t let me do anything!” I shout when he doesn’t respond.

“Sorry, starshine. I didn’t expect to worry over your shopping trip today.”

I flick a loose strand of bottle-brown hair over my shoulder. “You don’t need to worry. Juniper is an excellent driver.”

“You’re thirty weeks pregnant. You can’t blame me for being concerned when it’s snowed half a foot since you left.”

My heart melts a little at the direction of conversation. “I’ll give you a pass this time.”

“I’ll make it up to you later.”

“Oh, really? How will you do that?”

“I’m thinking dinner… in bed. And after, I’ll give you a nice rub.”

“That does sound nice.”

“From the inside.”

A coughing fit steals my breath. “I’m letting you go. We’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Be safe, beautiful. I’ll be waiting.”

“I won’t make you wait long.” I hit the red button and tuck my phone into my purse.

“I can’t believe you did it,” Juniper says cryptically.

I scrunch my nose. “Did what?”

“Snagged yourself a Powell brother.”

At her words, I recall an old conversation. It was after my move from the area three years ago. The two of us were catching up on a video chat, and I lamented about how lucky she was to find Lee. As a joke, I threw out there that I should come back and scope out one of the other brothers.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought three years later, I’d be doing exactly that.

The thought was nowhere near my consciousness on my return trip, but fate apparently had other ideas and turned that years-old manifestation into my new reality.

Do I ever thank my lucky stars for whatever force is at work that brought Aiden Powell into my life.

Juniper turns into Aiden’s snow-covered driveway a moment later. True to his word, Aiden waits in the open garage door. Remy prances around the snow, biting the falling flakes in his big mouth. The white ones disappear in his salt-and-pepper fur. Lee and Jack stand outside beside their brother nursing beers. If I’m not mistaken through the snowy scene, Lee’s features soften with relief as we park.

“How was shopping?” Aiden engulfs me in his arms, relieving me of the four large paper bags before kissing me sweetly on the mouth.

I melt into his arms. “Hopefully these new pants last the next two-and-a-half months. I don’t have any more room to grow.”

“He’s the size of a large cabbage. I’d say he’s going to get a little bit bigger than that.”

“That’s it?” I span my hands over my stomach. “I feel like he has to be the size of a watermelon, at least.”

“Not yet, starshine.” Aiden’s eyes crinkle in the corners. Over my head to Juniper he says, “Thanks for taking her.”

“Anytime,” she sing-songs as she burrows beneath Lee’s arm.

“Should we get going?” Lee brushes a melting snowflake off Juniper’s cheek. The two share a look. Interpreting would feel like an intrusion.

“I’m ready,” Juniper replies.

“I should get out of here too. Hunter’s watching the motel so I can get home to the family. Soren’s been giving Whitney a hard time.” Jack drains his beer and tosses the bottle into the recycling bin.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Just a growth spurt. But he’s eating so much he’s nearly constantly attached and refuses to take a bottle.”

I’m pretty sure my nipples invert themselves at the mental image and sympathy pain. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate having you back home during this storm.”

Something nostalgic passes over Jack’s face. “She definitely will. See you two later. Good luck, Aiden.”

“Why do you need good luck?”

Aiden scowls at his chuckling brother. “Come on. Let’s get out of the cold.”

My heart pumps harder as we make our way inside. The whirr of the garage door shutting behind us only heightens my excitement for what’s to come. It suddenly feels like a giant missed clue that Juniper took me shopping, and that the second we’re home, everyone cleared out.

“Tell me what’s going on.” I pitch my voice and rock on the balls of my feet.

Aiden deposits my bags near the mouth of the hall.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Is this like the pole room? Because that’s a surprise I wouldn’t mind repeating again.” And what came after. I definitely wouldn’t mind a repeat performance of that night.

Aiden’s eyes heat. “It’s a little different, but I hope you’ll like it just as much.”

“Then I’m all yours, lover. Show me what you’ve got.”

“Close your eyes.” Aiden picks up my hand and links our fingers. “No peeking.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

His spicy, citrus scent warms me as he leans in close and kisses my forehead. Then, he leads me straight down the hall.

A handle twists, and the latch scrapes against the strike plate. With a hand on my lower back, Aiden gently nudges me inside.

“Open your eyes, starshine.”

Blinking against the yellow ceiling light, I nearly start to cry. “Did you spend all afternoon on this?”

“I had to call in a team to get it done in time.” Aiden’s voice is a low timbre in my ear.

“By team, you mean your brothers, right?”

“Of course. Who else would come help me build a nursery during a snowstorm?”

I choke on a laugh as tears fill my eyes. “Who else indeed?”

My stomach fills with butterflies as I scan my surroundings. A gray wash crib is pressed up against the wall across from the door and adjacent to the window. The wall behind it is painted a jungle green while the three remaining walls are a softer green pastel hue. The hardwood is covered in the middle in a new gray fluffy rug that’s plush beneath my bare feet. In the corner of the room beside an empty bookshelf is a padded rocking chair that I can already picture Aiden or me rocking a sleepy newborn or reading books to him as he grows. My eyes grow wetter at the changing table atop a set of drawers I could guess is already filled with baby clothes.

“I don’t mean to assume, but is this your way of asking me to move in with you?”

Aiden turns me into his arms. “Asking is what you do when there’s a question. I have no questions about our future, Isla. You and our baby are the only things I want. The rest is just details.”

“This is a hell of a detail. A big, beautiful, memorable detail.”

Aiden catches a tear racing down my cheek with his knuckle. “We can change anything you don’t like. But I tracked down your Pinterest board, so I think it should be pretty close to what you wanted.”

“I don’t think it could have been any better even if I created it myself.” I press up on my tiptoes and push my lips against his. “Let’s go cancel my lease.”

“Later.” He kisses me softly. “There’s a snowstorm, and I have a few ideas how we can pass the time until the roads clear.”

Isla

Eight Weeks Later

“Who waits until three months before the wedding to find a dress?” Bree sips her champagne flute.

Cortney adjusts the skinny straps on her shoulders. “I’ve been busy. The vet office has been crazy this winter and Sebastian and I took a while to settle on the date.”

“Thank God you’re skinny. There isn’t time for alterations.” The bridal rep takes Cortney’s hand and tows her back to the changing room.

“Rude,” Whitney glares at the lady’s back.

My stomach gives a twinge, stealing my retort. It’s been happening a lot today. My doctor called them Braxton Hicks, but they seem to be getting stronger. I sip my glass of water as the girls volley gossip back and forth.

“Oh, that’s pretty!” Nancy remarks as Cortney reappears in another dress. Cortney’s face reflects uncertainty.

“I don’t know.” She twists in the four-paneled full-length mirrors. “I think my ass looks big.”

“Your ass looks fantastic.” Whitney salutes her with her champagne.

“I agree,” Frankie adds.

“Who doesn’t want their ass to look big?” Juniper says from the corner of her mouth.

“Right?” I laugh. My phone buzzes with a text, distracting me from another twinge.

Aiden:

Checking in on my girl and my leek

Me:

Is that the produce of the week?

Aiden:

In length. He’s gotta weight around seven pounds

Me:

Have you ever been so invested in fruits and vegetables?

Aiden:

Never. Maybe I should open a fruit stand. Is my sister driving you crazy yet?

Me:

Your sister is the most indecisive person I’ve ever met. She’s tried on at least twelve dresses that are perfect for her yet rejects each one

Aiden:

Want me to extract you from the situation?

Me:

Negative, lover. Don’t worry. I’m having a good time

The next squeeze nearly steals my breath. I grip my phone in one hand and my water in the other.

Cortney rolls her eyes and hops down from the dais to the gasp of the bridal rep. “This one is a no too.”

“It’s okay, Cort. You’ll find the perfect one.” Frankie smiles softly.

Cortney’s lip wobbles and a flush colors her cheeks. “Thank you.”

“This isn’t good.” Juniper addresses the group once Cortney returns to the changing room. “I don’t want this to end with her in tears, but I don’t know what to do.”

“Someone should suggest she comes back another day,” Bree adds.

“With three months until the wedding? She’s running out of time.” Whitney frowns at her nearly empty glass. “I need a refill.”

“Me too,” Juniper says.

“The three of you are going to be sloshed by the time this is over,” Frankie laughs, pulling out her phone. "We may need some backup soon.”

Nancy hums in amusement and holds out her own glass for a top-up.

I rub my tense stomach and frown. “Do we think she’s self-sabotaging?”

“You think she doesn’t want to get married?” Juniper turns with the bottle of champagne in her hand.

“Don’t let her hear you say that,” Bree whispers.

“Sorry,” Juniper loudly whispers back.

“Okay, what do we think about this one?” Cortney marches back over to the mirrors with a face for battle. She grips the light, flowy fabric and tosses it at her feet so that it swishes around her ankles.

Nancy ooo’s with a smile.

“You look beautiful.” I push myself out of my chair onto my feet.

“I love the neckline on that one.” Bree runs her fingers over the front of her shirt.

“I don’t know. It’s pretty. I think it’d be perfect for a beach wedding,” Cortney says wistfully.

“Then maybe you should get married on a beach?” Whitney’s question is cautious.

Cortney sighs. “I can’t. Sebastian doesn’t like to spend time in the sun and he loathes the sand.”

I go to step forward when my stomach pinches with a sharp cramp. “Oooh. That hurts,” I gasp.

Juniper and Frankie flank me in an instant. “What’s wrong?”

“Braxton Hicks.” I scrunch my face. “I think.”

Bree, Whitney, and Cortney exchange sympathetic glances.

“Those can be frustrating. I had them for weeks before Soren was born. You should sit down,” Whitney advises.

Cortney steps back off the platform. “Maybe this is too much for one day.”

“No, no, it’s okay. It’s—” I gasp as warm liquid gushes down my legs. “I don’t think these are Braxton Hicks anymore.”

“What, why?” Juniper looks me over.

“Because either I peed myself or my water just broke.”

Everyone jumps into action, including Cortney. She starts running toward me still wearing the wedding dress.

“Wait!” The bridal rep shouts after her, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’re going to get it dirty!”

Cortney has a hand on my arm while the others clean up glasses and gather coats and bags. She throws her chin over her shoulder. “I’ll take this one. Charge the card on my booking.”

“Go get changed.” I bat at her just as another contraction hits. My swing turns into a grip around her shoulder.

“Call Aiden. Tell him he’s about to be a dad.” For the first time all day, Cortney wears a genuine smile.