EPILOGUE

Nine months later

Bryce turned the car into the driveway of Chanel’s parents’ place and switched off the ignition. She let out a sigh of relief and turned to him and smiled.

“I can’t believe it. We made it. Our first long road trip with the girls and we’re here.”

Bryce glanced at the three babies who slept peacefully in their capsules, blissfully unaware of the stress they’d put their parents through over the twelve-hour haul from Sydney. The trip had taken almost double the time it usually did because they’d had to stop and feed the infants three times and then Zoe had developed a gas pain and had refused to settle down. Charlotte had gone out in sympathy and had exercised her lungs with such ferocity, Chanel was sure she’d suffered permanent hearing loss. Only Ginny, the smallest of the triplets, slept through the whole ruckus, much to her parents’ amazement and relief.

“I can’t believe it, either. Remind me next time to book plane tickets. The distance between Sydney and Grafton is mammoth, way too far for a road trip with three new babies. I thought with them being barely a week old, they’d sleep most of the way. Boy, was I wrong.”

Chanel reached over and ran a hand tenderly through his hair. “Thanks for driving us. It wasn’t easy. I’m not sure how you managed to concentrate over all that crying, but you did and you got us here, safe and sound. I love you.”

He turned his head and pressed a kiss against her palm. “I love you, too, but remind me again whose crazy idea it was to do this?”

Chanel rolled her eyes at him. “It’s Christmas. Okay, I didn’t exactly plan on driving up with week-old babies, but that’s the way things turned out. They arrived a month early.” She smiled and offered him a helpless shrug. “What was I supposed to do?”

He shook his head, but grinned back at her. “You’re a cheeky girl, Chanel Sutcliffe. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

She widened her eyes and stared at him, her expression a picture of innocence. “I’m sure you’ll think of a suitable punishment.”

Bryce growled low in his throat and his eyes darkened with desire. He pulled her closer and kissed her hungrily on the mouth. His hand reached down to cup her breast, full and tender. Her nipple jutted out against his fingers and he brushed it back and forth. Chanel gasped into his mouth and angled her body toward him. He took advantage of her silent invitation and pressed against her as much as possible in the confined space of the car.

“We’d better get inside. Mom and Dad will have noticed our arrival. Any second we’ll be surrounded by about one hundred Munros vying to get a look at the girls.”

Bryce groaned against her mouth, but reluctantly pulled away. “I’m going to find you later and steal you away so that you can attend to this.” He grabbed her hand and rubbed it against his cock. It was hard and thick and pulsing.

“I’m sorry I got you in such a state. How are you going to manage to ignore it while we play nice with my family?”

“Hey, they’re my family too, remember? They claimed me from the time you introduced me at the engagement party. Are you done with sharing them already?” he teased.

“Of course not. Everyone loves you, Bryce and they’ll be besotted with the girls. I can’t wait to meet Josie’s little boy. Mom says he looks just like Chase.”

“I can’t believe their baby and ours were born just minutes apart. How freaky is that?”

“Freaky or not, I couldn’t be happier for them. They’ve wanted a baby for so long.”

“What did they call him? Has anyone heard?”

“Clancy Duncan Barrington, I believe.”

“Your family’s going to have a tough time with our three. They look so much alike, even I get mixed up.”

Chanel giggled. “Me, too. Especially when they’re dressed the same.” She glanced over her shoulder at the triplets. “I couldn’t resist those little Santa suits. They were so tiny and cute. I just had to have one for each of them.”

“They’re beautiful, just like their mom. Grandma thinks so, too.”

“How is she? When did you see her?”

“I dropped by her cottage yesterday afternoon on my way home from work. She was thrilled we’d named Ginny after her.”

“How’s that cough she’s been suffering from? Is she over it now?”

“Yes, I think so. She seemed in high spirits when I spoke to her, talking about the bus trip she’s taking over Christmas with some of the other senior villagers. Moving her into that retirement place was the best thing we’ve ever done. She has people her own age to talk to, a social life that’s busier than ours and medical care at her fingertips. She’s thrilled with her cottage and is already talking about expanding the garden.” Bryce shook his head and smiled. “She might be nearly eighty-four, but you wouldn’t know it. She’s amazing.”

Chanel’s chest tightened with emotion and she had to blink back tears. She blamed it on the hormones that were still pumping through her body. Nowadays, the slightest thing turned her into a blithering idiot.

“You’re amazing, too,” she whispered in a husky voice. “I love every moment of our life together.”

Happiness beamed from his face. “I love you, Chanel Sutcliffe, more than I dreamed possible. I’ll love you forever and ever and ever.”

“Amen.”