Epilogue

Four months later. Carter family farm.

If it had been anyone else’s wedding, any other bride, Wade would have been muttering about the ridiculousness of a hundred-pound hog with a pink ribbon around its neck and an eighteen-month-old Border collie with a blue ribbon around its neck walking down the aisle together.

But this was his wedding and his wife, and if she’d wanted a mariachi band and jugglers, she could have had them. She’d already turned their Credence house—one that didn’t need any more attention drawn to it—into an indoor petting zoo, with several piglets at varying stages of bottle-feeding, an orphaned baby goat, and two fluffy bunnies she’d assured him were both girls—until they’d had babies.

And now there were eight fluffy bunnies.

But that didn’t matter, either. All he wanted was his ring on her finger. And the fact it had taken four months to finally get here meant nothing right now.

Wade was a patient man. Unlike Wyatt, who had been like a cat on a hot tin roof for the month it had taken his mother and Jenny to organize their wedding. He smiled at Wyatt now while he waited for CC at the end of the aisle. His brother smiled back, but all Wyatt really had eyes for was Jenny and her very slight baby bump.

Henry came down the aisle next, looking very country-kid in his jeans and vest and cowboy boots, a ten-gallon hat pulled low on his head, throwing rose petals on the ground from a small basket. Jenny beamed at her son, as did Wade’s mom and dad, who’d made it their mission in life to spoil Henry rotten.

The barn looked a picture. When Ronnie had suggested it for the ceremony, Wade had been doubtful, but he’d been wrong. It was big enough for all the guests, including the ones with giant celebrity egos, and with the long side doors open, crisp November sunshine flooded the space.

Suddenly, CC appeared on her brother’s arm in a long, flowing dress, and Wade’s breath stuck in his throat, his chest too tight for his ribs. It was a simple design—no frills, no lace, no fuss—but given that her preference had been jeans, the dress was a revelation.

He already couldn’t wait to get her out of it.

And he thanked God for her douchebag ex-boss with the grabby hands. His loss had been Wade’s gain that day in a Denver hotel lobby, even if it had taken Wade almost six years to get a clue.

Six years of professionalism, bickering, and friendship.

Best. Foreplay. Ever.

…

Several hours later, CC’s head was spinning from the whirlwind of the day. She wouldn’t have thought it was possible to be this happy, but her cheeks literally ached from smiling. And still, the best was to come. If she could only get a spare second with her husband, she was sure he’d agree. She’d been hugging this information close since this morning, and she was practically blowing a gasket keeping it to herself.

Spying her superhot husband in his sexy tux with a bunch of ex-jocks, she excused herself from one of Ronnie’s crazy Southern relatives, as Cal called them. If she didn’t do it now, they’d be sitting down to their meal and a bunch of speeches and she probably would blow her gasket.

Picking up her dress, she pressed through the crowds, ignoring anyone trying to gain her attention—she was on a mission and she was not going to be stopped.

“Ah,” Wade said as he saw her approaching. “My wife, gentlemen.”

There was general good-natured teasing as CC joined them, slipping her arm around Wade’s waist. One of them shook his head and said, “Man, anyone tell you you’re punching way above your weight?”

Wade dropped a kiss on her temple. “All the time.”

CC laughed and said, “Excuse me, gentlemen, but I’d like to borrow my husband for a moment, if that’s okay?”

She didn’t wait for their permission, just slipped her hand into his and tugged.

“I hope you’re taking me somewhere to have your way with me,” Wade said close to her ear as he followed.

CC smiled. “I think you’re going to want to see this.”

“Mrs. Carter, are you not wearing any panties under that big ol’ gown?”

She laughed. “That’s for me to know and you to find out, Mr. Carter.”

Finally, CC rounded a corner and they were blissfully alone, the sun slowly sinking over the fields to the west. “I’ve got something for you.”

He smiled and pulled her close, nuzzling her neck. “And I’ve got something for you.”

CC shivered at the brush of his mouth before pushing gently against his chest. There would be time for distractions later. She fished down the front of her dress.

“Mmm.” Wade nodded appreciatively. “I like where this is going.”

“Trust me, you’re going to love it.” CC produced the test stick she’d shoved down there this morning after she’d changed into her gown. Why didn’t wedding dresses have pockets? “In fact, you’re going to be over the moon.”

Her hand shook as CC passed the stick over, her heart beating loud in her ears. He took it and, for a second, looked at it uncomprehendingly. Then his expression changed as he stared at the small pink positive sign in the test window and realization dawned.

“Congratulations, Wade,” CC whispered around a sudden lump in her throat. “You’re going to be a daddy.”

He smiled, tentatively at first, a little disbelievingly, looking at CC, then back at the stick, then at her again. Then he was grinning and laughing and then he bent her over backward and kissed the hell out of her until CC was breathless and half-crazed with lust.

“Thank you,” he said as he righted her.

CC’s heart ached in her chest, she was so damn happy. “Your turn to be left tackle now.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “It is. And I’m going to be the best damn left tackle there ever was.”

Then he picked her up and spun her around and around and around as the last golden rays of the day blended into night.