Rescued Love (Sweetwater Valley #7)

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

NATHAN

I lean back at my desk and glance around my office. For the last year, I’ve embraced the changes in my life and the new path I chose. I’m much happier because of it and there is not a thing I would change in the life I’m living now.

Okay, that’s not entirely true. The only thing I would change is seeing my wife, yes wife, pregnant with our baby.

Kimball and I got married six months ago after I followed through with my promise and slipped my ring on her finger the first time we walked into our newly bought home. She smiled and looked up at me like I’m her entire world.

I guess that’s fair since she’s mine as well.

Even though I wanted to get married a lot sooner, I didn’t want to rush my woman. She deserved to have the wedding she always dreamed of.

Still, it was a relatively small affair—at least when you consider most of the town came out to celebrate with us—but it was perfect. The only thing that didn’t go exactly according to plan was having Salt and Pepper as part of the wedding.

I tried to tell Kimball it wasn’t a good idea, but those alpacas love her, and she loves them. She was adamant about them walking down the aisle to kick off the procession. To say I was wary about the whole thing would be an understatement. I was downright terrified.

But what my woman wants, she gets.

The moment Salt got down the aisle, she looked at me and spit. Out of nowhere, Ansel, who I’ve grown close and was standing at my side, threw himself in front of me and took the hit. The poor guy. He looked disgusted and gagged more than once while everyone watching laughed.

I could hear Kimball’s laughter from inside Grandpa’s house since that was where we wanted to have the wedding. Since it’s where we met, even though that first meeting wasn’t the best, it felt right.

When I turned toward Ansel, who was turning a little green, it was not easy to stop myself from laughing. “Did you just take an alpaca loogie for me?”

Ansel gagged before swallowing hard, his hands in front of his chest like he wanted to wipe the offending liquid away while also not wanting to touch it. “I,” he took a deep breath and tried not to gag again, “I didn’t do it for you, man. I did it for Kimball, but I’m regretting it now, honestly.”

Lark, who was barely keeping it together, rushed forward with at least 20 baby wipes in her hands and proceeded to clean my best man up. To her credit, she didn’t even flinch or pull a face like I’m sure she wanted to. When she turned around and gave Salt a disapproving glare, I swear that plotting alpaca had the decency to look ashamed.

Once Ansel was cleaned up, and I had whispered my thanks to Lark before she returned to her seat, the rest of the ceremony was perfect. I married the woman I had no idea existed, the one who I would change my entire life again for in a heartbeat to make her happy, the one who rescued me from an existence that was stealing my soul.

“You look lost in thought.”

My wife’s voice pulls me out of my memories, and I look up to find her leaning against the door frame with a smile on her face. And just like that, I’m making a new memory and appreciating my new life.

The light streaming in from the windows hits my wife’s hair in such a way that it makes her look like a fucking angel. Or maybe she’s just glowing.

I’ve been noticing some changes in her recently but haven’t been able to figure out why. I’ve chalked it up to us finding our rhythm, settling into our life, and being happy.

But my gut is telling me there’s more going on.

With how busy I’ve been with the last of the transition with Kenneth leaving the practice while I take over completely, I have forgotten to ask my wife what’s going on more than once. And that’s on me.

“I was just thinking about Salt and our wedding,” I tell her honestly because that memory always makes my wife laugh.

I’ll do anything to hear to giggles, her chuckles, and her snorts of amusement.

“That was a good day,” there’s a wistful quality in her voice that has me narrowing my eyes.

Instead of laughing, Kimball’s eyes fill with unshed tears. I’m up, out of my chair, and striding across the room before I even realize what I’m doing.

I cup her cheeks, my voice strained and filled with panic, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Her big brown eyes meet mine and the love we share, the love that is always so tangible between us, fills the room. “I’m pregnant.”

Everything stops.

I’m not sure what I was expecting her to say, but that wasn’t even on my radar. It should have been. It’s not like we haven’t been trying after deciding that we wanted nature to take its course, and she went off her birth control. Still, I’m floored.

“You’re pregnant?” My voice is hoarse as I ask, but I just need confirmation.

She nods, a small smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “I’m pregnant.”

I slam my mouth against hers and kiss my wife with everything in me. When she moans, I take full advantage and deepen the kiss. The way she clings to me has me considering lifting her and taking her against the wall, but the last time we did that we were almost caught.

“Thank you,” I murmur against her lips and feel her smile against mine. “I love you, Kitten. Thank you for rescuing me.”

She giggles, “I love you, Nathan. Thank you for being my everything and building this life with me.”

This woman.

My woman.

I’m a lucky fucking man.