Hard to Handle

Epilogue

Snow drifted down from the sky, blanketing the front of Mike Downey’s yard in a few inches of the stuff. Sadie stood at the front window, clasping her arms around herself and watching the serene picture outside.

The neighborhood was quiet, the holiday lights strung white on some houses, red or blue on others. It made for a twinkling, happy backdrop to the happiest time of Sadie’s life.

“Here you go.” Crickitt handed over a hot mug of cocoa. “Yours has Bailey’s in it.” She took a long, appreciative sniff and rubbed her protruding belly. “I’m so jealous you get to drink alcohol. Does that make me a horrible mom?”

“Not at all,” Sadie said, palming her best friend’s arm. “How are you feeling? Better?” Dinner tonight had featured a slab of perfectly seasoned, red, juicy prime rib. Crickitt had turned green at the sight of it and Shane and Aiden had whisked the platter back into the kitchen before Crickitt’s unborn baby kicked the food right out of her stomach.

“Better.” She rubbed her tummy. “I might have to stick to fish and chicken from here on out.”

Deep laughter rumbled from the den, and Sadie’s arm broke into goose bumps. Aiden was in there, she could hear his distinct chuckle apart from the others.

“You’ve never looked so happy,” Crickitt said.

Sadie smiled at her, shrugging her shoulders to downplay her emotions. Love was a vibrant light and Sadie emitted it like the Gloworm she’d bought for Celeste for Christmas. Well, for her niece or nephew currently incubating in Celeste’s belly, anyway.

Aiden had come with her to her mother’s Christmas Eve dinner last night. It was the first time he’d met her mother and stepfather, her sister, and Trey. Sadie was a nervous wreck, despite having mended things with Celeste last month.

Celeste’s pregnancy had been a rough one, and that had brought out Sadie’s kind side. She saw Celeste several times a week, either to bring her food or magazines, or just to sit and talk to her about things they should have resolved long ago.

Yes, she and Celeste were a-okay…it was Aiden she’d worried about around Trey. She shouldn’t have worried. Aiden had glided into her mother’s house and greeted her family like he’d known them for years.

When he met Trey, he pulled Sadie flush against his side and rubbed her arm as he talked to her ex, simultaneously calming her and letting Trey know unequivocally that Sadie was his. Not that Aiden needed to claim her, but she’d appreciated his protection—so much she pulled him into a back bedroom after dessert and made out with him for several minutes.

“I’ve never been this happy,” Sadie told Crickitt, belatedly responding to her statement. Aiden meandered into the living room from the direction of the kitchen and suddenly Sadie was even happier. Crickitt excused herself as Aiden ambled his way over to Sadie and stopped in front of her.

His hair was getting longer, just brushing his jaw. A piece fell over his cheek and he moved it aside. “Hello, beautiful.” He embraced her, resting his hands on her hips the way he always had. They fit there like she was made for him. She’d begun to believe maybe she was.

“Hi.” She held her mug out of the way. Aiden took it from her hands, setting it aside. “I love you,” she told him.

There went his dimple. “I love you.”

She beamed, no doubt lit up like the decked out Christmas tree standing behind him. She couldn’t get enough of Aiden. Couldn’t get sick of him no matter how hard she tried. Once she’d flipped the switch and allowed herself to love him, it had become impossible to flip it the other direction. She was his, through and through. There was no going back.

She never wanted to.

“One week,” Aiden whispered in her ear before pressing a kiss to her neck. “And then you’ll be mine. We can finally have sex legally.”

Sadie laughed at his joke. Their wedding wasn’t going to rival the royals, but it wasn’t going to be at the courthouse, either. They’d settled on something in between, something that suited both of them. A small church Aiden and his family used to attend would perform the ceremony, with the reception being held at Shane and Crickitt’s house in Osborn.

Sadie couldn’t wait to become Mrs. Aiden Downey.

She stroked the scruff quickly turning into beard on his face. How did he look mouthwatering clean-shaven or hairy? Long ponytail, or short hair? Oh, right, she realized as he grinned down at her. The dimple. She stroked her hands down his arms. The biceps weren’t hurting matters, either.

“I’m ready,” she breathed, trailing her hands up his body and linking her fingers around his neck. The ends of his hair tickled her wrists.

“And then,” he snuggled her closer and whispered, “babies.”

Sadie’s breath caught.

Aiden’s fixed smile remained in place. “You’re freaking out,” he observed.

“No, I’m not.” Yes, she was.

“Yes, you are.”

She bit her lip. “A little.”

“Why don’t we start with one baby, and then work our way into multiples?” Aiden stroked her back as he held her, his face growing serious. “You are going to be an amazing mother, Sadie.” Then he kissed her, and she melted into him, pretty sure he could talk her into absolutely anything.

“Come on, you guys.” Shane’s exasperated voice lifted through the living room.

Aiden’s lips left hers. “Go away,” he told Shane, not taking his eyes off Sadie’s.

“Gift exchange time.”

Sadie pulled her hands away from Aiden’s neck and clapped. “Oh! I have the best gift! You’ll want to end up with mine,” she assured Aiden.

“No, you want mine,” Shane told Aiden. “It’s an island,” he deadpanned.

“Yuppie.”

“Hippie.” Shane drained his scotch glass and grimaced. “Come on, Aid, your dad’s making me drink this, and you should have to, too.”

“Right behind you,” Aiden told him.

Shane wandered into the den, calling, “Yeah, yeah,” over his shoulder.

Aiden faced Sadie again. “You’re going to want to get my present.”

She pursed her lips and pretended to consider. “I don’t know…I really could use an island. What’d you bring?”

“Remanned carburetor.”

She grasped the waistband of his jeans and tugged. “Ohh, sexy. You know what I like.”

Aiden’s eyes darkened and a feral spark lit the sea of green. “I do know what you like.”

Sadie’s heart kicked up about three hundred notches.

“I bet we could sneak out to the tree house and be back before they start the gift exchange,” Aiden said. Another whoop came from the den, and Sadie imagined everyone tossing back another mouthful of scotch. “They’ll probably forget we were ever here.”

He kissed her neck as she sighed and weaved her fingers in his hair. So sexy. “But it’s freezing out there,” she protested weakly as his rough jaw abraded her neck.

“I’d keep you warm,” he murmured into her hair, his fingers sliding just beneath the edge of her sweater.

“I bet you will.” She gave him a gentle shove. “Let’s go to the den and open presents.”

He curled his lip in protestation.

“And afterward, we’ll check out the tree house.”

Landon entered the living room next, swaying slightly, probably caused by the drink in his hand. Sadie had never seen him so loose. He looked more approachable with his hair mussed, wearing a casual V-neck sweater. “Shane bought an island? Seriously?” He frowned, gave them assessing glances. “You two at it again?”

“Leave us alone,” Aiden growled, but his eyes danced with humor.

“I’ve never seen my brother so horny until he met you,” Landon told Sadie. “And I knew him when he was fourteen.”

Sadie covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Aiden looked murderous.

“This one time, our neighbor—” Landon started, then his eyes widened as Aiden tore through the living room after him. Sadie followed. When she reached the doorway, Aiden and Landon were scrapping with one another, each trying to get the other into a headlock.

This was her family now, too, Sadie realized as she glanced around the room. Angel and her husband, Richie, were at the bar, sharing one glass of wine and smiling over the rim at each other.

Evan sat, glass in hand, a cautious half smile on his face. He looked content, which was nice to see, though she wouldn’t go so far as to say he was happy. The happiest she’d seen him was when he’d tucked Lyon into bed after the kid slipped into a sugar coma from eating the contents of his stocking.

Mike leaned on the mantle, his own glass of scotch nearby, watching his brood with a mix of sadness and pride. He missed Kathy, Sadie knew. They all did. Even Sadie, who didn’t need to meet the woman to know the world was less special without her in it.

Crickitt was settled on Shane’s lap, his wide palm covering her middle. Crickitt lifted her mug in a silent cheers to Sadie. Sadie smiled, knowing just how her best friend felt. They’d both lucked into this family. Into forever. It was almost too much.

Aiden came to Sadie a second later, smoothing his hair and issuing an empty warning at Landon, who uttered the very un-CEO-like retort of, “Whenever you’re ready, bro.”

“Miss me?” Aiden asked, pulling her attention from his family. He dropped a kiss on her lips as Landon and Shane booed, and Evan insisted they “get a room.”

Angel and Crickitt argued they thought it was sweet.

Sadie crooked her finger and Aiden leaned down so she could whisper in his ear. She grasped his face and whispered, “We would make beautiful babies.”

He lifted his head so he could look at her, the emotion in his eyes leagues deep, and filled with desire.

Finally, Sadie had let herself want all the things she’d longed for deep in her heart. And, finally, she believed she could have it. With Aiden, she could have anything. She could have everything.

There never should have been any doubt.