Page 45 of Daddy's Girl

But it's too late. The Boone brothers smell blood in the water.

"Anursingchair," Cade repeats, lips twitching. "Those are for—"

"Shut it," Jack warns.

"—mothers," Cade finishes, dodging the dinner roll Jack hurls at his head.

"You work fast, brother." Beau whistles low, raising his beer in a mock toast. "All that talk about staying alone on your mountain, and you're already building baby furniture."

"Says the grease monkey who can't commit to the same brand of motor oil," Cade snorts, pulling his flask out again. "At least Jack knows what he wants."

Jack's hand slides higher on my thigh, a reminder of what's coming later. "Just planning ahead."

My face burns, but something warm unfurls in my chest at how easily they include me in their future. Like I've always belonged here.

We stay longer than I expected, the memorial dinner evolving from solemn remembrance to raucous storytelling. When Jack finally pulls me toward the door, his brothers follow us onto the porch.

"Please, don’t leave him," Cade tells me, flask glinting in his hand, genuine warmth in his voice. "Someone needs to civilize him."

"Ignore him," Beau counters, giving me a once-over that's appreciative but not creepy. "Stay wild. It's more fun that way." Then to Jack: "Bring her by the garage sometime. I'll give her first oil change free."

"You'll keep your greasy paws off what's mine," Jack retorts, but the brothers just laugh.

Cade follows us to the truck. "Got a journalist coming through next week for some survival training," he tells Jack. "Five days in the bush with a city girl. Should be interesting."

"Don't scare her off," Jack warns, but there's a gleam in his eye, like he knows something his brother doesn't yet.

Colt simply nods, his badge catching the last light of evening. The approval in his eyes means more somehow. Like praise from him counts double.

Jack bundles me into the truck, his hands already working under my dress before we clear the driveway. "Told you they'd love you."

"I think they just love giving you shit," I laugh, gasping as his fingers find me already wet.

His smile is pure predator. "That too." His eyes darken as he pulls over at the first secluded turnout. "But they know you're taken. That you belong to me."

As he drags me onto his lap, pushing my dress up around my waist, I realize I've gained more than just Jack from that river.

I've found a whole family of mountains.

Thirteen

Delaney

Epilogue 1 – One year later

The porch is warm again.

Same creak of the old rocking chair under my bare thighs. Same quiet hum in the air. But now it'sourchair—the one he made from walnut, the grain curling around the armrests like fingerprints. I watched him carve it. Sand it. Love it into being.

He's splitting logs again. Shirtless. Sweaty. Perfect.

We've been married six months.

There's a cradle inside the cabin. Built by his hands. Waiting. And this morning, I confirmed what his body somehow already knew two months ago—there's life growing inside me. Our baby. His legacy carved into my body the same way he carves beauty into wood.

He catches me watching. Nods. Points.

My heart kicks.

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