by Jo Jones
He laughed, his entire being overflowing with gratitude. He drew Brie into his arms, relishing the knowledge that this hug, wouldna be the last. There’d be hugs and kisses, all the days of their lives.
He’d already waited too long, to get started.
“I love ye, Brie,” he whispered, capturing her mouth with his own, gently at first, as they explored the taste and feel of each other. But when Brie moaned and slid her hands into his hair, he was lost. He deepened the kiss, filling it with all the promises of a future he’d been unable to grant her, until now. He couldna wait for all the days and nights, ahead, to fulfill them.
EPILOGUE
Alistair set his armload of wood beside the fireplace. Despite being late spring, they still needed a fire at night. Besides, he dinna ken he and Brie would ever tire of cuddling together in front of one.
“Hmm.” Brie folded the newspaper she’d been reading, laid it beside her on the sofa and reached down to give Gus a scratch. “They finally sentenced Calvin Blanchard.”
“ ’Tis good he’ll no be harming anyone else.” They’d both testified at Blanchard’s trial, then walked away determined to put everything associated with him, behind them.
Alistair settled on the floor, picked up the half-sheet of paper and frowned.
Brie raised an eyebrow, struggling to stifle her look of amusement. “I thought you decided to finish the hand-outs for your class, before you tackle that.” Brie commented. “After, you decided we needed more wood, of course.”
“Aye,” he grumbled, turning the paper over and deepening his scowl. “But I left my notes in town.”
“Mac,” Brie scolded. “Why would you need notes, to prepare for your Scottish Emersion lecture?”
He grinned up at her, loving that she still used the name she’d picked for him. “So I remember tae make all that history sound like research, no’ experience.”
She laughed, came to sit beside him and nodded at the paper he held. “Would you like some help with that?”
“Aye,” he grinned, pulling her onto his lap. “After a little research of my own.” He kissed the tender spot below her ear and trailed his mouth over her jaw. “I canna seem tae ever get enough of yer intoxicating scent, or yer kisses.”
“I hope you never do,” she breathed, as their lips met.
’Twas a long, leisurely, kiss full of promises Alistair intended to spend a lifetime collecting.
“Mmm,” Brie murmured. “That was a lovely distraction, but I’m afraid you’ve only put off the inevitable.”
“Och!” He grumbled, scanning all the parts and pieces scattered around him. “ ’Tis this wretched sheet o’ instructions. I canna make heads nae tails o’ ’em. All these pieces! ’Twould be easier tae carve the thing out o’ a log!”
“Well, before you do,” Brie reached inside the pocket of her sweater. “I have something for you. I wanted to give it to you here, at the cabin.”
“Just promise ’tis easier tae ken than all this,” he scowled at the boards, hinges, and dowels.
Brie pulled out an envelope and handed it to him. “I don’t know if it is or not. You tell me.”
He opened the envelope, pulled out a photo, and studied it closely. Pure joy surged through him when he realized what he was looking at. “Two?” He grinned and kissed Brie soundly.
“You said you wanted a family,” she laughed. “Looks like we’re taking the short-cut.”
Unable to take his eyes off the picture, he trailed a finger over each image. “Which do ye ken we’ll call Angus, and which Gregor?” Alistair asked, proudly.
“Neither if they’re girls,” Brie laughed.
He shoved the crib boards aside and laid Brie down, covering her face with tender, grateful, kisses. “All the better if they are girls. Then we can get busy getting their brothers here. We’ll have tae build onto the cabin, Brie, for all the family we’ll have.”
Family. He let the word settle in his head and heart. ’Twas everything he’d ever dreamed of.
THE END
About the Author
Jo Jones lives in the red-rock area of southern Utah, where she keeps a tight hold on the ancestral string of her Scottish heritage and keeps a piece of her heart in the Highlands.
With a lifetime love of reading and writing, she has a soft spot for richly detailed historical novels with characters who draw their strength and purpose from the land and their environment. And of course, each other.
You can sign up for her newsletter to learn of new releases, or reach her personally through her website— www.jojonesauthor.weebly.com or on Facebook at Jo Jones - author Follow her on her Amazon author page at Jo Jones author
If you missed Duncan’s, Rory’s, or Angus’ stories, go here
Duncan
Rory
Angus
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