“Suits me.”
Austin holds me, and though family and friends have joined us, we might be the only two people on the planet.
“I love you, Austin McLaughlin,” I whisper so only he can hear.
“I love you, Brooke Marsh.”
As Austin kisses me, our families tease the hell out of us and toast us, which is fine with me. I’m surrounded by love and laughter, and know I’m exactly where I belong.
Epilogue
Seven months later
Ryan
As I look into my daughter’s eyes, I know the most precious thing in my life is in my arms. She’s so like Calandra that her face blurs a few seconds, and my breath catches.
Calandra’s watching me from the hospital bed, her dark hair disheveled, a smile wide on her tired face.
“Hello, Tara,” I say to my daughter. I swear Tara burbles at me, knowing I’m her proud papa.
“We did it,” Calandra whispers.
“You did it.” I can’t believe her strength and her courage. “I about passed out three times.”
“I did it, because I had you next to me.” Calandra reaches for my hand, grasping it with plenty of strength.
Calandra’s tucked in bed, and Tara is with us. Soon the rest of the family will come in and meet our daughter, but right now, it’s just the three of us.
When I think how close Calandra and I came to not being together at all, I shudder and hold Tara closer. How could I ever contemplate not being with Calandra, and not having the chance to cradle this beautiful child in my arms?
My family thinks they know the whole story but they don’t. Only Calandra and I do. One day we’ll tell Tara, but for now, Calandra and I alone share the tale.
I glance at Calandra, and her smile deepens as though she reads my thoughts. She’s always understood everything about me, all the way back to when we were kids.
I carefully hand Tara to Calandra, already terrified I’ll drop her. Calandra takes our daughter and snuggles her with confidence.
Tara is hungry—I’ll come to know that Dad, I’m hungry, will flow from her lips throughout her busy childhood—and Calandra moves her gown so Tara can feed.
It’s a beautiful moment, mother and child, and me watching over them.
When Tara finishes—for now—I kiss Calandra’s lips and then Tara’s downy head.
“Love you,” I say softly. “Both of you. I can’t tell you how much.”
“I know.” Calandra kisses me in return. “Because I feel the same.” She glances at the door. My family and hers is hovering, waiting with excited anticipation. “Should we let them in?”
“Sure,” I say. “Let’s put them out of their misery. But first …” I give my wife another long kiss until Tara blurts a sound that draws our attention to her again. Smart girl.
“Thank you, Calandra,” I murmur.
“For going through labor?” She grins. “Sure, no problem.”
“For sticking with me.” I touch her hair, brush her cheek with the back of my hand. “For giving me a chance.”
“For giving you a night,” Calandra says, her smile impish. “And what a night.”
It had been. Damn, it was the best. But it couldn’t compare to living with Calandra this past year, and nothing can top today.
We exchange one more kiss, then I stride to the door and throw it open, admitting Tara’s uncles, aunts, and grandparents, who will spoil the hell out of our daughter for the next twenty years.
* * *
Thank you for reading! The story of how Calandra and Ryan come together is told in Give Me One Night, Book 4 of the McLaughlin Brothers.
Also by Jennifer Ashley
The McLaughlin Brothers
(Contemporary Romance)
This Changes Everything
Why Don’t You Stay? … Forever
Never Say Never
Give Me One Night
Riding Hard
(Contemporary Romance)
Adam
Grant
Carter
Tyler
Ross
Kyle
Ray
Snowbound in Starlight Bend
Shifters Unbound
(paranormal romance)
Pride Mates
Primal Bonds
Bodyguard
Wild Cat
Hard Mated
Mate Claimed
“Perfect Mate” (novella)
Lone Wolf
Tiger Magic
Feral Heat
Wild Wolf
Bear Attraction
Mate Bond
Lion Eyes
Bad Wolf
Wild Things
White Tiger
Guardian’s Mate
Red Wolf
Midnight Wolf
Tiger Striped
A Shifter Christmas Carol
Iron Master
Shifter Made ("Prequel" short story)
The Mackenzies Series
(Historical Romance)
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron
The Duke’s Perfect Wife
A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift
The Seduction of Elliot McBride
The Untamed Mackenzie
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie
Scandal and the Duchess
Rules for a Proper Governess
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride
A Mackenzie Clan Gathering
Alec Mackenzie’s Art of Seduction
The Devilish Lord Will
A Rogue Meets a Scandalous Lady
A Mackenzie Yuletide
(in print in A Mackenzie Clan Christmas)
Stormwalker
(w/a Allyson James)
Stormwalker
Firewalker
Shadow Walker
“Double Hexed”
Nightwalker
Dreamwalker
Dragon Bites
About the Author
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Ashley has written more than 100 published novels and novellas in romance, urban fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction under the names Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. Jennifer's books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have earned starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist. When she isn’t writing, Jennifer enjoys playing music (guitar, piano, flute), reading, hiking, and building dollhouse miniatures.
More about Jennifer’s books can be found at
http://www.jenniferashley.com
To keep up to date on her new releases, join her newsletter here:
http://eepurl.com/47kLL
Never Say Never
McLaughlin Brothers, Book 3
Copyright © 2020 by Jennifer Ashley
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All Rights are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.
Cover design by Kim Killion
Never Say Never: McLaughlin Brothers, Book 3 Page 11
