Then, in the third week of January, Archie’s birth father finally answered his messages and showed up at the bar.
Bull took him into the office, stony-faced, and with anger coming off him in waves.
My heart thundered, and I stared at the door. So much could change depending on what he had to say.
Ten minutes later, the man slipped out and left, not making eye contact with anyone.
He didn’t even glance at his son who sat at a table with Lena, Benjamin, and me.
I jogged in to find Bull at his desk. He held out his arms, and I went to him, curling up on his lap.
“He’s given him up,” he said into my neck. “He had the nerve to ask for money, and I told him how much Cindy’s funeral cost, and he shut his stupid mouth.”
“Archie’s safe?” I murmured, wonder filling me.
Bull pulled his head back. “He’s mine. I’m already on his birth certificate, but if that man put up a fight, he could’ve had him.”
I knew this. We’d discussed it in Bull’s apartment while the boys slept in hastily erected cots in the spare bedroom. We’d talked it through with the authorities who opened the case on Cindy’s suicide.
With the bar busier than ever over New Year’s, and all the arrangements Bull had taken on for Cindy’s affairs, I’d propped him up, taking shifts and working at his side. Without any real discussion, we’d fallen into a routine. I wanted to keep it.
“And you’re mine,” I told him.
Bull’s eyes flared, and his fingers gripped my waist. “Hold that thought.”
Standing, he led me to the bar and to where Lena sat. She rose, lifting Archie to her hip and taking Benjamin by the hand.
“Back around six?” she asked with an eyebrow raised at Bull.
“Aye, and thank ye.” He patted the boys on the head, and Lena left.
I stared after her, racking my brain for something I’d forgotten. Lena had babysat for us any number of times, but I didn’t remember planning anything today.
Denise bustled out of the kitchen, a backpack in hand. “Here you go.” She handed it to me. “I put two flasks of coffee, the second for the drive home.”
I bounced my gaze to Bull. “Drive? What’s going on?”
My mysterious man only smiled and pulled me under his arm before escorting me to his truck. We took off through town and out onto the forest road.
“You remember what you said to me when we met?” Bull sat in the driver’s seat, looking finally at ease after a horribly busy and stressful time. “You said I’d make one big vampire.”
A laugh erupted from me. “I did.” Then I got with the program. “Is that where we’re going? On the Twilight tour?”
“Autumn Phillips”—he now knew my real last name—“you’ve lived under my roof for weeks now, caring for two wee bairns that are neither yours nor mine by birth, and you’ve never complained. Ye make me happy, and it’s been bothering me that I haven’t done anything for you. I’ve never even taken ye on a date. I couldn’t let that lie.”
“All I want is you.” The mirth in me slowed, replaced by another sensation entirely. “From the moment I first saw you, I wanted you.”
“Ah, Autumn, you’re going to make me jump the gun.”
“What are you talking about?”
Bull pulled the wheel, stopping the car at the side of the road. “Out,” he ordered.
I complied, jumping down to crunch in the snow. Around us, tall trees soared, and a soft light filtered through. There were no other cars around, and the pristine beauty of the wilderness reigned.
Bull reached my side of the car then, without pause, dropped to one knee in the snow.
My hands shot to my mouth.
“Autumn, in all my years, I’ve never met anyone as kind and selfless as ye. Ye are the most beautiful lass I’ve ever known. If it takes me the rest of my life, I’ll show ye how much ye mean to me.”
He reached into his pocket and produced a box.
Tears pricked my eyes.
“I’ll build ye a home, and I swear I’ll take care of ye. We already have two boys, but if ye want more, I want that, too. Lasses with your hair. Boys made of ye and me. A house full of happiness and love. I never had it, but I want it with ye.”
“I want all that. I love you,” I whispered, trying not to sob. I loved the huge man more than I thought possible.
“And I am in love with ye. I know it happened quick, but I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. Autumn Phillips, will ye marry me?”
“Yes!” I croaked, and Bull rose, taking my mouth with a hard kiss.
His lips lingered on mine, his passion soaking through. He loved me. It had been a whirlwind, and so unexpected, but what we had was perfect.
Finally, he remembered himself, and he dragged his lips from mine and placed the ring on my finger. It slid into place, and I’d never loved an item of jewellery so much.
I gazed at it—a gold band with a ruby setting.
“It made me think of ye, the red, like autumn leaves. Ye should see it here when the trees change colour. Come autumn, it’s even more beautiful. Like ye.”
I tried to answer, but a sob escaped me, and Bull bundled me into his arms. Then there was no more need for words.
Eventually, we made it onto the tour, but not that day. An empty apartment and a picnic on the floor—and other actions—stole our time.
My world became his, and his mine. Together, we made it so much more.
I was going to marry the Scot of my dreams.
Epilogue
Autumn
In the spring, Bull and I married in a gorgeous ceremony in Falls Ridge’s tiny church, with our two sons as cute-as-buttons page boys. The whole town was invited, and joy filled the air.
Everyone loved Bull, and he received endless compliments on how his grumpy scowl had been replaced with a happier expression. They’d also accepted me with open arms, and Benjamin and I couldn’t have found a better home.
I’d written to my father and sister to tell them the news of our marriage, but neither replied. I couldn’t blame them. They faced years in prison, or more, following the evidence I’d uncovered. Both sets of solicitors had harangued me endlessly, to the point where my hot alpha non-vampire fiancé took my phone and warned them that if they ever called me again, they’d answer to him.
The calls stopped.
My family knew where to find me. If, in time, they wanted to reconnect, that was their choice. I had a whole new life to get on with living.
A few weeks after our wedding, I’d dropped the boys off with Lena for a playdate, and returned home to our apartment to find it unexpectedly empty. A note sat on the kitchen worktop, written in my husband’s hand.
Follow me, it read.
I turned it over and, on the back, was a hand-drawn map with local roads marked and directions leading into the forest.
I frowned at it for a moment, but as I did, my gaze snagged on the kitchen calendar, one we kept to mark important family dates. I stared for a moment, then an excited shiver ran through me. I was late. By a couple of weeks, at least.
Oh heck. What to do first? Grab a test or chase my husband?
Maybe both.
I darted to the bathroom and riffled through the cabinet. Bull wanted more kids, and so did I. We’d agreed to let nature decide our fate, but this was pretty soon.