Page 104 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
“What’s this?” She looked at the gold band and read the inscription on the outside of the ring. “Forever Sophie’s?”
“You said I could only have a billboard saying you were taken if you had one saying I was.” He held up his left hand, and she slid the ring on his finger. “I’m yours, baby. And see that tree over there? That’s one of our forever-kiss trees. We’ll have two. One in Oak Falls and one in our home here.”
“Oh, Brett!” She launched herself into his arms as her entire family, along with Grace and the rest of Brett’s family, rushed the stage. “Oh my gosh! My family…?” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love you so much.”
“Did I hear baby?” Nana asked as she pried them apart and hugged Sophie. “I knew all that fierce lovin’ would lead to something, but I figured a ring. This is so much better!”
They were passed from one loving embrace to the next, and when they finally landed back in each other’s arms, Brett saw his father holding Adeline in his arms, standing with his brothers and his mother, and he knew if Lorelei could see them now, she’d be proud of them all. He gazed into Sophie’s beautiful eyes, ready to be the husband she deserved and a father to their children she could be proud of.
Sophie went up on her toes and kissed him. “Marrying you was one of my secret fantasies.”
“Baby, I have a slew of new fantasies, each involving my gorgeous, pregnant fiancée.”
Epilogue
SOPHIE STOOD IN the master bedroom of hers and Brett’s new vacation home in Oak Falls, which they’d built on the acreage her parents had subdivided from their own property and given them as an early wedding present. She could see her parents’ house from the window, and in the distance, the roof of her grandparents’ home. She put her hand on her burgeoning belly and sighed happily. The last six months had not flown by, and she was thankful for that. She wanted to savor every minute, moving her things into Brett’s—their—home, going together to her doctor appointments, disagreeing on baby names, enjoying Naked Saturdays, and hosting brunch on Sundays. Her gaze traveled to their young weeping willow by the creek. It was too small to carve their initials into just yet, but Lindsay’d had a metal plaque made with their initials inside a heart, which now hung from the lowest branch.
“You’re not supposed to see your groom yet,” Grace said as she closed the curtains. “It’s bad luck, and I’m not taking any chances with my best friend’s love life.” As the maid of honor, she had been there every step of the way, as had Lindsay, their mother, grandmother, Brett’s mother, and all of Brett’s sisters-in-law, as they’d planned the wedding.
Then I won’t tell you that he snuck in and we made out before everyone arrived. Or how I already peeked at him standing with his family by the creek, and how my knees went weak at the sight of his father with his arm around his shoulder.
Grace’s eyes widened. “Oh God. Sophie! Really?”
“What?” She should know better than to think about kissing Brett when she was trying to keep it a secret—especially from Grace.
“As if I can’t read that expression? You are wicked!” Her gaze shifted over Sophie’s shoulder as Nana approached.
“Wickedness seems to run in our family,” Nana said. She fiddled with the chiffon skirt of Sophie’s ivory wedding gown and then touched the slim, pink silk bow tied above her baby bump. “You look beautiful, honey.”
“Thanks, Nana.” Sophie and Grace had set aside several weekends solely for wedding dress shopping, but they’d found her beautiful gown in the first shop they’d gone into. The princess-cut and flowing material left plenty of room for her expanding belly. Only the halter neckline had to be altered to accommodate her bust, which Brett was thoroughly enjoying.
“I still don’t know why you two were in such a hurry to build a house when your parents have plenty of room.” Nana smoothed her dress over her hips.
“Because they’d like a little privacy,” Sophie’s mother said.
