Epilogue

Three Years Later…

The Harbor City Wake Up set had changed since the last time Zara and Caleb visited, but there were several people Zara remembered, including Asha Kapoor. The host walked over, her hand planted firmly on her lower back to support the weight of her pregnant belly.

“Oh, look at you,” Zara said, giving the other woman a hug. “You’re glowing! Pregnancy really agrees with you.”

“Not at two in the morning when this one likes to do his acrobatics,” Asha said with a chuckle. “He keeps early-morning-TV hours.”

“Enjoy even the little bit of sleep you’re getting now. Sometimes it seems like Lizzy has yet to sleep through the night,” Zara said. “She’s a total vampire baby and Anchovy only encourages her. I swear that dog sleeps under her crib just so he can be the first one to respond when she wakes up.”

“Speaking of your little angel, here she comes, ready to do her interview with Mommy and Daddy,” Asha said before turning to her producer for some last-minute show notes.

Zara turned around, and her heart sped up just like it always did when she spotted her family. Even after a baby and two years of marriage, she still was hit with wonder every time she saw them. Growing up, she never dreamed she’d get so lucky. Good thing she found just the man to prove her wrong.

Caleb had done his best to try to get Lizzy’s bright-red cowlick to not stick straight up, but despite the amount of water he must have put on her head, it stubbornly stood sky-high. As soon as Lizzy saw Zara, she let out a squeal and did the drunk toddler stumble walk all the way over, only falling three times before getting to the couch and lifting up her arms in an unspoken demand to be picked up.

“Come here, cutie pie.” She picked up her daughter and snuggled her in her arms.

“I see how it is,” Caleb said, sitting down next to her on the couch and giving her a quick kiss that kicked up her pulse rate. “I get splashed in the bathroom, and Mommy gets the cuddling.”

Lizzy let loose with a little baby giggle and reached for Caleb’s playoff beard.

“Are Cole and Ian still coming over tonight with their little broods?” she asked. The dads club they’d formed began when each of the players had given newborn jerseys with their own numbers on them instead of the baby’s daddy’s number. The three of them never seemed to get tired of busting one another’s chops.

“You can’t have your own all-star mighty mites hockey team unless you start early,” Caleb said as he made funny faces at Lizzy. “Cole’s boy might be three, but he’s already skating like his dad.”

“Somehow I think that might be a bit of an exaggeration.”

“Okay, he skates like me,” he said, grinning at her. “A defenseman who can’t wait to get home every night to his gorgeous and extremely talented wife and adorable daughter—at least when you two aren’t traveling with me so you can attend another gallery show opening now that your dad has found his true calling as your promo man setting up shows for you.”

Yeah, that wasn’t heart arrhythmia; she missed a beat every time he said something like that to her, which was pretty much all the time. “Don’t forget we have a couple plans tomorrow.”

His face got serious. “But it’s not a date.”

“Of course not—that would be breaking the rules.” She leaned close and brushed a kiss across his lips. “Five dates and it’s all over, remember?”

“I think I can manage to not date you for at least six more decades,” he said.

“That sounds like the best plan ever.” And it was. It really, really was.

The show’s producer finished chatting with Asha and hustled off the set.

“You two ready for this?” Asha asked, playing a quick game of peekaboo with Lizzy.

Caleb took Zara’s hand, the touch sending a sizzle of anticipation through her, and they both nodded. Then the cameraman started the countdown, and after five, the red light above the lens clicked on.

“So,” Asha said, beginning the interview, “it’s been a little over three years since you two sat on this set after your first Bramble date. I have to say, it looks like it went well.”

Zara didn’t even have to think about it. “Better than I’d ever dared to hope.”

…

Want more? Turn the page to start reading book two!