It’s been three weeks since we returned from our honeymoon, and we’ve settled into married life. I officially moved out of the apartment a few days before our wedding, and I love living next door to my brother and Darla.
The sound of the garage door opening sends excitement coursing through me. Hudson is finally home from work. He stomps into the kitchen, and his stormy expression warns me of his mood. “I took care of our reporter and informant issue today.” As he wraps his arms around me, I melt into his warm body,
“What happened?” I’ve been busy and had forgotten about the article. Evidently, my husband didn't though.
“The dumbass reporter tried to blackmail Dad. He called and threatened to release an article detailing confidential Russo Inc. information unless we paid him off.” Holy cow. “We did some digging and discovered my ex-assistant happens to be the asshole reporter’s brother.” Hudson kisses me before smirking. “Alan won’t be working anywhere but fast-food restaurants from now on, thanks to my very pissed off father.” My husband runs his hand over my still flat tummy and smiles. “If the magazine keeps the moron, he’ll be lucky to get the story reporting on which Build-a-Bear store has baby Yoda toys.” Ouch. Don’t mess with the Russos. “Now, give me a kiss and tell me what you did today.”
“Nothing as fun as you.” I smile and pull out my phone to show him the baby crib I found online.
Epilogue 1- Hudson
Seven Months Later
I have to force myself to leave for work. When Kat blinks sleepily and whispers goodbye, I fight the urge to crawl back into bed with her. Her hair sticks up all around her face, and she’s curled up on her side in the rumpled bedding. My wife is the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen, and I want to stay in bed all day and run my hand over the baby bump peeking out of her short nightshirt. Fucking work. After devouring Kat’s juicy lips, I take the time to say goodbye to my little one. As I kiss the soft skin that stretches across her abdomen, our daughter kicks my lips and I whisper goodbye. “You could stay home with us,” my wife tempts me, and I groan. She’s reading my mind and making it harder for me to leave.
“I have to finish the Tomas case or I would.” I lay my forehead against hers and smile. “I’m all yours once our little one comes. You’re going to be tired of me after a month.”
“Never. I love you.” She kisses my cheek, and I leave while I have the willpower.
After knocking, my dad sticks his head in my door. “Hey, son. You busy?”
He fucking knows I’m slammed. Rubbing the back of my neck, I take a deep breath before answering. “Yeah. Did you need something?”
“Your phone is off. I thought you might want to be at the hospital when your daughter is born.” My chair hits the wall behind me as I jump to my feet.
“What the fuck?” I shout, and my dad thunders into the room.
“That’s what your mother wants to know. She’s wondering why the hell your phone is off when your wife is about to give birth at any time.”
I pull my cellphone out of my pocket and it’s off. Fuck. “I never turned it on this morning.” I close my eyes and take several deep breaths. “Is Kat really in labor?” I have to be sure. My family lives to fuck with me.
“Yes. Your mom’s getting her to the hospital. Come on, I’m supposed to drag your ass there or we both die.”
Eric is leaning against the main desk in the lobby. He follows us as we walk by, and I turn and glare at the smug fucker. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m not going to miss this show.” He laughs and hops in the back of my dad’s SUV. “I missed Jake passing out when the twins were born. I’m not about to get cheated out of all this fun.”
My dad grabs my arm and drags me to the passenger side. “Ignore the asshole and climb your ass in.” He shoves me and looks over his shoulder to flip off my brother. The little shit’s day is coming, and I can’t wait to see it.
After my dad pulls out of the parking lot, he looks in the rearview mirror and growls at Eric, “This shit is stressful enough. One more word out of your mouth and I’m going to leave your ass on the side of the road.”
We ride in silence the rest of the ten-minute drive to the hospital. By the time my dad drops me off at the main entrance, I’m a nervous wreck. The secretary at the information desk directs me to the third floor. I step off the elevator and find Bianca pacing the hallway. “Thank God. It took you long enough.” She grabs my arm and drags me toward the second to last room on the left. Before I can push it open, my sister turns to me and hisses, “Kat is scared to death. You’re going to pull up your big boy pants, walk into this room, and act like a thirty-nine-year-old man. No passing out or I will kick your ass and then turn Mom loose on you.”
“I’m not going to pass out like your loser husband. I have self-control,” I growl, and my sister slams her foot down on top of mine. “FUCK.”
“Asshole.” She glares at me while pushing the door open. My worry eases when I see my wife sitting up in the hospital bed.
My relief is short-lived. Thirty minutes later, Kat is squeezing my hand in a death grip, yelling, “I hate you.”
An hour after that, my self-control deserts me and I hit the floor when our daughter makes her appearance.
“I told you the dumbass couldn’t handle the blood. Remember the nail gun incident? Jake had the nail sticking out of his palm, and Hudson was passed out on the driveway.” As Bianca grumbles to my mom, I ignore her and glance down at my adorable daughter. I’ve been holding her since Kat fell sound asleep. Tatiana is still red and wrinkly, but she’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. Well, except for my stunning wife.
I’m enthralled watching her blink her eyes open and trying to focus on me. Her little fist waves around, and I lean down and kiss her forehead before my mother comes over and takes her from me. She walks away whispering to my baby, and I glance at my dad and sigh. The women are ganging up on us.
When I turn back, I see my wife smiling from the bed. “How’s your head, Daddy?”
Hearing those words from her sends a thrill through my body. “Still hard as a rock.” Both of them.
Epilogue 2- Kat
Three Years Later
Tatiana runs around the room, dancing, and I laugh. Hudson is pulling into the garage and will stroll in the door any minute. “Daddy!” Yep. Her favorite time of day. “What’s that?” As our three-year-old points at the wiggling mass in his arms, I glare at the love of my life. He didn’t.
“Yes, Daddy. What do you have there?” I raise my eyebrow, and my husband has the nerve to shrug sheepishly.
Hudson holds out the ugliest kitten I’ve ever seen and smiles. “Our new kitty.”
Sighing, I look down at the wiggling mass and back up at my husband. “Cat? That’s a cat?” The pink kitten has rolls of skin everywhere, but the animal has one thing missing. Its fur. There’s none. The tiny cat is entirely bald. And ugly.