Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Rayna nods, bringing up a picture on her phone that shows multiple positive pregnancy tests. “I only found out a few days ago. I couldn’t wait to tell you.”
Uncaring of the fact that other people’s eyes are on us, I shoot to my feet and grab my wife, hugging her tightly. “This is amazing, baby,” I murmur as I kiss her deeply.
“Are you ready for even more chaos in nine months?” she laughs, looking up at me with sparkling eyes.
“Bring it on,” I reply, unbelievably excited for what’s to come.
There’s nothing I love more than my wife and the family we’re creating, and I can’t wait to grow it together.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
RAYNA
Five Years Later
If you’d told me ten years ago that Rhett and I would be celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary on holiday in the Caribbean with two, nearly three, kids in tow, past me probably would have fainted in excitement. Sometimes, I still can’t believe this is my life, a life I dreamed of but never thought I could have.
Now, as I watch Rhett try to wrangle our six-year-old and four-year-old into putting sunscreen on, I’m filled with total and utter gratitude and love. Oh, and amusement.
Roman squeals and runs away, slippery with sunscreen and fueled by childhood cheekiness. His little brother tries to follow suit, but Rhett is ahead of him this time, wrapping both arms around Ryder and picking him up, leaving him nowhere to run. Ryder shrieks, laughing loudly as Rhett tickles him, managing to use the distraction to cover him in the sun protectant.
Roman, however, is now on the other side of the private villa garden, barefoot and sprinting, clearly having no plans of protecting his skin from the hot sun.
“Do you want some help?” I ask from my lounge chair, unable to keep the laughter out of my voice.
Rhett releases Ryder, who goes running off after his big brother, and turns to me with a huge grin on his face. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him, so damn handsome and absolutely made for fatherhood.
“No, baby. You’re already taking care of one kid. Let me get the others,” he says, walking over to kiss me and then kiss my belly. “I’ll get the boys. You just keep growing our little girl, yeah?”
I’m not about to argue with that plan, so I just kiss him again, reveling in how spoiled he makes me feel. He made a promise years ago to take care of me and treat me like a princess, and he’s done just that every single day since. The luxury hotel villa we’re staying in just shows one side of it, but the way he looks after our children and makes sure none of us want for anything is what fills my heart with adoration for him.
I watch as Rhett jogs over to where the boys are hiding and calls out, “I bet I can hug Mommy before Roman and Ryder can!”
Instantly, our two giggly little boys rush out of their hiding place, never able to turn down a competition. Though I know they get that competitive streak from Rhett, he will always let them win, even when it pains him.
I push myself up to sit, holding my arms out as my family runs into them. My boys practically tackle their little sister in my belly with how eager they are, and Rhett wraps his arms around us all, encasing us in love. The baby kicks wildly, making Ryder giggle where he’s pressed against my bump.
“Got you!” Rhett shouts in victory as he scoops Roman up, finishing getting his sunscreen on while I push myself to stand and get Ryder’s pool shoes on his feet.
Rhett is an incredible dad, and I can’t wait to see how our little girl has him wrapped around her pinky finger, just like the boys do. Sure, we’re going to be outnumbered soon, but I’m not worried about it at all. I know that when we’re together, there’s no challenge we can’t face, and that no matter how hard things might get, we’ll have each other to lean on.
“Pool time!” I call out, nearly getting bowled over by a very excited Roman rushing to show us that he’s memorized the way to the pool.
The second we get to the poolside and find the private cabana we’ve booked to guarantee some shade, the boys rush to the water. Rhett goes with them, getting splashed immediately as Ryder jumps into the pool, soaking his brother and dad.
I set our towels down then join them, floating under the warm sun with my family around me, knowing there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.
The End