Epilogue

Several months later, Christmas morning, California

Finn, still in his pajamas, beat Jane to the door when the bell rang at precisely seven a.m. If anything, he was more excited than she was about seeing Cole this morning.

He’d been awake since five thirty, asking how much longer, Mommy every ten minutes. He was always excited, of course, to see Cole, who had an apartment only a ten-minute drive away, but this was a very special morning, after all.

“Cole!” Finn exclaimed as he pulled on the doorknob with gusto, the giant wreath decorating the front of the door swinging precariously.

“Matey.” Cole grinned at him, accepting the enthusiastic hug as Finn threw his arms around Cole’s waist.

Jane’s heart fluttered in her chest as it always did at the obvious love and affection between her two guys. They were a true mutual-admiration society, and she never tired of witnessing the way Cole was with Finn.

“Merry Christmas, Cole,” Finn said, his voice muffled by Cole’s ridiculously over-the-top Christmas sweater with a red reindeer nose at sternum height.

“Merry Christmas, Finny,” Cole said, ruffling Finn’s hair. And then he switched his attention to Jane, and his gaze went from playful and PG to something hotter and definitely not PG. “Merry Christmas,” he murmured, his mouth curving up into a slow, lazy, knowing smile.

A smile that told her he remembered their Christmas Eve session over Skype last night, which was also not PG. In fact, she was pretty sure they’d breached several telecommunication laws. What could she say? The man was good at phone sex.

And he’d been away in New York for a few days until late last night.

Jane returned that smile with a similar one of her own. “Merry Christmas,” she said, her voice a little breathy.

And then they just stared at each other for long moments because it had been a few days and she’d missed him. Having Cole so close these past months had been wonderful. He’d respected her requirement they take things slow for Finn’s sake and had let her set the boundaries and call the shots. He’d gotten his own apartment, hung out with them whenever he could, showed up when he said he would, was fine with squeezing in sexy times to her schedule and in secret, and helped out with Finn when he wasn’t away, which was usually only a few days a month. And he’d never pushed for more.

She couldn’t have asked for a better, more patient man.

Aware suddenly of the cool air coming inside despite the bright blue sky outside, she laughed and said, “Let Cole in, Finn. We’ll catch our deaths out here in this cold air.”

Okay, it wasn’t snowing, like it currently was in Credence, but it was cold for California.

“C’mon, Cole!” Finn separated himself, grabbed Cole’s hand, and tugged. “We have a present for you.”

“Hey,” Cole said, pressing his lips brief and hard and urgent against hers for the two seconds his mouth came close enough to snatch a kiss before he was whisked away.

Jane laughed as the little boy pulled the giant man with apparent effortlessness across the main living area. Luckily, Cole no longer needed a cane.

“C’mon, Mommy!”

Finn’s voice grew fainter as he disappeared into the living room, where the Christmas tree sat all bright and festive and bursting with gaily wrapped presents awaiting the arrival of Tad and his parents in a couple of hours. They were all—Cole included—sitting down to lunch together, and Jane was looking forward to it. Tad had grown a lot these past months. He’d picked up a teaching job, and he and his parents had accepted Cole as part of her and Finn’s life.

It didn’t mean everything was plain sailing all the time, but everyone was making an effort, and it was working.

Jane’s heart rate picked up a little as she followed at a more sedate pace. She was pretty damn excited, too.

“Can I give it to him now, Mommy?” Finn asked as soon as she took a step through the doorway.

Finn, who was sitting on his haunches in front of the tree, was practically vibrating off the ground, and she laughed. “Yes. You can give it to him now.”

Cole, who’d parked his ass on the arm of the couch right next to the tree, looked from one to the other as Jane came to a halt behind Finn. He narrowed his eyes and waggled his brows as he said, “What are you two up to?”

Predictably, Finn giggled. “It’s a secret. Mommy says I can’t tell you.”

“Oh does she now?” He regarded her with faux exaggerated suspicion, but that smile playing on his mouth ruined the effect.

“But it’s okay because now it’s Christmas!” And Finn picked up a present about the size and shape of a shoebox and thrust it at Cole.

Taking it, Cole smiled at Finn, then at her. “I wonder what it could be,” he said, returning his attention to Finn, then giving it a little shake, playing to his audience.

“Open it. Open it,” Finn demanded, almost bunny hopping closer to Cole on his haunches.

Cole chuckled. “Okay, okay.”

And then Jane’s heart really started to thud. She was equal parts nervous and excited. She was pretty sure Cole would approve of the gift, but there was a lot at stake. When the paper revealed it was a shoebox, Cole raised an eyebrow at Finn. “Cool. You got me shoes.”

Finn shook his head. “No, no, no. Open the box.”

Another chuckle, and Jane watched as Cole opened the lid. Watched as his smile died and he went very still. Watched as he glanced at her sharply, all kinds of hope and desperation marring his rugged, sexy face. “Really?”

Jane had promised herself she wouldn’t cry, but her heart was full. Hot tears scalded her eyes as she nodded. “Really.”

Cole reached in and pulled out the pliers from the bed of rich velvet fabric she’d used to line the box. Around the handle, hanging from a piece of red ribbon, was a small card that said we do in big black print.

“We’re getting married!” Finn announced, throwing his hands in the air. Then, as if it was too much for him, he leaped up and hugged Cole again.

And Jane, her heart overflowing, joined them.

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