Page 94 of Wilder Heart

Lain stood. “I’ll have the new papers drawn up this week, and then you two can get started on your plans.” A slow smile grewinto something giddy and excited. “I’m—I’m really glad you two found each other. You seem well-matched, and I couldn’t think of a better man for my brother.”

Cash shrugged one shoulder shyly. “I think I’m the lucky one, really.”

Lain clapped him on the shoulder as he rounded the desk. “That’s exactly why you’re the one for him. He deserves to feel wanted like that.”

Cash didn’t know what to say. He was certain his face was aflame.

More than anything, it was nice to finally have Lain’s blessing to be with Wilder. Everything was finally out in the open, and no one had any more secrets. He could finally love Wilder out loud like he wanted.

And he couldn’t wait to get started.

EPILOGUE

WILDER

One year later

Thick snowflakes brushed the ATV’s windshield as it trundled down the icy path. Wilder clutched the pie tin in his lap as Cash guided them around the side of the familiar farmhouse. The front door opened as they got out, and the icy air sucked the breath from his lungs as golden light spilled across the front porch.

“Uncle Wilder, Uncle Cash! Momma, Daddy, they’re here!” Annalise launched herself out into the snow to greet them, wearing a red and green sweater with little white horses on it.

“Careful, wild thing, you’ll make me drop the pie,” Wilder said, catching her against his side and holding the pie up and out of the way with his other hand. “How are the boys? Eating you out of house and home?”

“Yes!” she declared seriously, brushing snowflakes off her face as she peered up at him. “Little Wilder likes sweet potatoes the best, and Bobbylovespeaches. Momma keeps running out of the peach puree because he eats so much.”

Wilder guided her around the ATV to join Cash, and together the three of them trailed up the perilously slick porch steps and into the house, where two towels were laid down around thewelcome mat to help contain the worst of the mess tracked in. They all kicked their shoes off and left them on the towels to dry, but Wilder spotted some telltale paw prints on the otherwise clean wood floor as they followed Annalise into the kitchen.

“Hello? Any grownups in this house?” Cash called.

“Yes, in here!” Mary-Beth said from the kitchen. She was sitting at the table, turned sideways to feed the boys. She gave them a wave with a baby spoon

Just over a year old now, the twins were growing like weeds. With sandy blond hair like their Momma and their Daddy’s ocean blue eyes, they lookedmostlike Annalise. Wilder liked to joke that the parents weren’t really that involved at all, and the hospital had just copied and reprinted Annalise two more times with the ‘boy’ setting turned on.

“Merry Christmas,” Wilder said, setting the pie by the stove and swooping down to kiss the top of Mary-Beth’s head. Leaning over her, he studied the boys intently for a moment, looking from one to the other. Finally, he pointed at the boy on the left and said, “Mini-me.”

Mary-Beth shook her head.

“Goddammit.” It was so hard to tell them apart at this age. He wheeled away—and came face to face with Lain, who was holding out a large glass jar with an arched brow. There was an opening cut into the center of the jar lid, and it was half full of coins and single dollar bills. ‘WILDER’S SWEAR JAR’ was written in permanent marker on a slip of paper taped to the side.

With a sigh, he took out a dollar and put it into the jar.

Lain grinned, returned the jar to the shelf by the door, and then pulled Wilder in for a hug.

“Merry Christmas, potty mouth,” Lain said warmly.

“I think I should get a pass on holidays,” Wilder replied, patting him on the back.

“Heck no, are you kidding? That swear jar bought your Christmas gift this year,” Lain said with a devilish smile.

Wilder gaped. “What? You boughtmyChristmas present with the moneyIput into that jar?”

“There was a hundred and seventy-seven dollars in that jar from this past year, Wilder, and we didn’t even start the collection until March.”

Well, that didn’t sound right at all. “I… I don’t cussthatmuch.”

Leaning in the doorway, Cash laughed loudly. “Wilder, if we had a swear jar at home, your whole paycheck would just be going into that each week.”

Mary-Beth snorted indelicately.

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