Page 23 of The Blacksmith's Heart
“Ready?” I ask, my voice low.
She nods, her smile softening. “With you? Always.”
I lead her to the center of the room, the world fading until it’s just us. My hands find her waist as hers loop around my neck, and we sway to the gentle rhythm. Her touch is everything—steadying, grounding, and somehow still electric.
“You’re beautiful,” I murmur, my voice rougher than I intend. “Every damn day, but tonight especially.”
Her lips twitch. “Even with bare feet?”
“Especially with bare feet.”
She tilts her head back to look at me fully. The room is spinning around us, but all I can see is her. “You know, I used to think I had my life figured out,” she says softly. “The yoga studio, the retreats, everything. But then… this.”
“Is this good?” I ask, my forehead pressing against hers.
She laughs, quiet and breathy. “Better than I ever could’ve imagined.”
The song shifts, the melody swelling, and I tighten my hold on her. “We’re forged in fire, Callie,” I whisper. “Nothing’s breaking us.”
Her breath catches, and for a second, I think I’ve gone too far, gotten too sentimental. But then she leans in, her lips brushing my ear as she says, “I hope you’re ready for our next big adventure.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
Her smile is secretive, a little mischievous. “I’m pregnant.”
The words hit like a bolt of lightning. I freeze, the rest of the world falling away.
“You’re serious?” I manage, my voice barely audible.
She nods, her eyes shimmering. “You’re going to be a dad.”
A laugh bursts out of me, uncontrollable and full of something raw and overwhelming. I lift her off the ground, spinning her in a circle as the crowd gasps and cheers.
“Hey, everyone!” I bellow, grinning like a fool. “I’m gonna be a dad!”
The room erupts, applause and shouts blending into a chaotic symphony. Callie laughs against my shoulder, and I press a kiss to her temple, my heart so full it feels like it might burst.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” she asks, her voice muffled against my shirt.
I pull back, cupping her face in my hands. “For you? For this? I’ve been ready my whole damn life.”
The music shifts again, and I kiss her, the rest of the world be damned. Because right here, in this moment, I have everything I’ve ever wanted.
Second Epilogue
Callie–one year later
The warm glow of late afternoon sunlight streams through the tall windows of Devil’s Peak Lodge, spilling golden hues across the gathering. The hum of laughter and chatter fills the air, punctuated by the occasional burst of giggles from kids darting around tables and chairs. The place is alive, a celebration that feels like a living, breathing thing.
I stand near the large fireplace, leaning against the stone mantle, watching Liam cradling our twins with a tenderness that never fails to steal my breath. Alexander and Allison, our perfect little miracles, are swaddled in matching blankets, their tiny hands curling and uncurling as Liam coos softly to them.
“Look at you, Mr. Grayson,” I tease, walking over to him. “Big, grumpy blacksmith reduced to a puddle of mush by two tiny humans.”
His lips twitch, the faintest hint of a smirk ghosting across his face. “Don’t let it get around. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
I grin, reaching out to brush a hand across Allison’s impossibly soft cheek. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
The sound of Zane Warner clearing his throat draws our attention to the front of the room. He’s climbed onto a chair, aglass of whiskey in hand, his usual mischievous grin firmly in place.
