Page 31 of Arrested By My Mate

Five Years Later…

The morning sunlightstreams through the kitchen window as I flip the last pancake onto the plate, smiling as I hear the sound of little feet padding across the wooden floor. Our daughter, Ella, bursts into the room, her messy blonde hair a wild halo around her head, and her bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Daddy, can I help?” she asks, already reaching for the spatula.

“Sure thing, sweetheart,” I say, handing it to her and pretending not to notice as the last pancake gets a little too much syrup drizzled on it. “Just don’t tell Mommy how much syrup we’re using.”

Nori’s laugh comes from the doorway, and I turn to see her leaning against the frame, her hands resting on her growing baby bump. She’s radiant, her blue eyes filled with warmth and happiness.

“Oh, I think Mommy knows,” she says, arching a brow at me before crossing the room to kiss Ella on the head. She pauses to give me a lingering kiss, her hand brushing over my arm. “Morning, Sheriff.”

“Morning, podcaster,” I reply, my grin widening. I still get a thrill every time I see her like this—happy, confident, and mine.

Life has been good to us. After everything we went through to get here, it’s almost hard to believe how perfect things are now. Ella’s giggles fill the kitchen as Nori sits down at the table and starts talking about her latest podcast episode. Her true crime series has taken off, and she’s gained a loyal following of fans. She even records interviews with experts and law enforcement—and yes, I’ve been a guest a few times. Her fans really seem to like that. They say we have great chemistry, and I have to agree.

“So, what’s today’s big case?” I ask as I set the pancakes down on the table and sit beside her. Ella climbs into her seat, already munching on a piece of bacon.

“A local mystery,” Nori says, her voice tinged with excitement. “The Twisted Oak train robbery from 1885. There are rumors the gold is still hidden somewhere in the forest.”

“Let me guess. You’re planning on dragging Ella and me out to go treasure hunting this weekend?”

“Of course. Who better to have on my team than the Sheriff and his junior deputy?” Nori winks at Ella, who beams proudly.

Before I can respond, the doorbell rings. I groan and rise from my chair, heading toward the front door. Even on a day off, duty calls.

Opening the door, I’m greeted by Crew’s familiar smirk. He’s holding a box of donuts and balancing two cups of coffee.

“Thought you might need reinforcements,” he says, stepping inside.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I reply, taking the coffee and leading him into the kitchen. Ella’s eyes light up at the sight of Crew, and she leaps from her chair to give him a hug.

“Uncle Crew!”

“Hey, kiddo,” Crew says, ruffling her hair. He turns to Nori and gives her a nod. “Looking good, Nori.”

“Thanks, Crew. Ready to be interviewed for my podcast again?” she teases.

He groans. “Do I have a choice?”

“Not really,” she says with a grin.

The rest of the morning passes in a blur of laughter and stories. Crew eventually heads out, and Ella runs off to play with her toys, leaving Nori and me alone in the kitchen.

I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my hands on her belly. She leans back against me, her contented sigh filling the space between us.

“I can’t believe how much has changed,” she murmurs, her fingers brushing over mine. “Five years ago, I never would have imagined this.”

“Me either,” I admit. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

She tilts her head up to look at me, her eyes shining. “Not even the chaos of a toddler and another baby on the way?”

“Not even that,” I say, kissing her gently. “You’re my everything, Nori. You and Ella and this little one.”

Her smile is soft as she reaches up to touch my face. “And you’re ours, Tucker. Always.”

After lunch, we take Ella outside to play in the yard. She’s full of energy, running around with her favorite stuffed wolf, a toy that Crew gave her on her third birthday. She’s convinced it’s just like the one her daddy turns into, and I’m not going to argue with her.

As I toss a ball for Ella to chase, I glance over at Nori, who’s settled into a chair on the porch, a notebook in her lap. She’sscribbling down ideas for her next episode, her brow furrowed in concentration. She looks so at peace here, and it fills me with a sense of pride and gratitude. We built this life together, and it’s everything I ever wanted.

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