by Ella Goode
I run a hand over her damp back. “I guess it’s true,” I whisper into her hair.
“What’s that?”
“Beauty really does tame the beast.”
Epilogue
A few years later
“Not so fast,” I hear my husband growl from behind me. I turn to see him jogging toward me down the long hallway. He comes to a sliding stop in front of me. “Should you be carrying this?” He takes the platter from my hand. “We have staff to serve the food tonight for a reason.”
I stare up at him.
“Shit. What?” He looks around. “What did I do? Are you about to cry?”
“No.” I sniffle.
“I’m not sure I believe you.”
“Oh, not only am I fat, I’m a liar too?”
“When did I ever call you fat?”
“You’re a dick. Calling your pregnant wife fat,” Len says as he walks past us in the kitchen to go out the back doors where the party is in full swing.
“Why do I keep letting these people come over?”
“Because they’re family?”
“You’re my family.”
“They don’t call me fat.”
He lets out a curse, running his hand down his face.
“I’m going to show you just how much I love every fucking inch of your body.” He grabs my hand, trying to pull me from the kitchen.
“No! No! No!” Tina jumps in front of her brother. “I know you. She’ll want to come back and you won’t let her up for air long enough to get back out here either.”
“He’s upset. He called me fat.”
Tina’s mouth falls open before she smacks her brother in the chest.
“When did I call you fat?”
“You don’t have to yell. I’m right here.” He glares down at me. Beast, I mouth, making his lip twitch.
“Out with it, wife.”
“My plate.” I point over toward the counter. “You thought my plate was a serving platter.”
“It’s not?” Tina doesn’t look convinced either. I huff turning around to leave. An arm comes around me, stopping me. “The dress isn't going to cut it. I can see your bra.”
“It’s not a bra, it's a swimsuit. The dress is supposed to be like this.”
“We’re going to have to agree to disagree.”
“We can do that all you like, but I’m not changing. Now get my platter.”
“Pregnancy makes her bossy.”
“It’s not me, I swear,” I tell Tina. “It’s his baby inside of me. I think it’s going to be just like-” Kale’s hand covers up my mouth. Tina purses her lips.
“So close.” She turns, heading out back.
“That was close.” I huff a breath.
“I would never call you—”
“I know. I'm sorry. My hormones are all over the place. I missed you while you were gone.”
“When I went to the bathroom?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Why did you say it like that?”
“I just meant I don’t know why you didn't come with me. A couple that pees together stays together.”
“You made that up.” I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“Got you to smile.” He leans down, kissing me. I sigh into his mouth. I love this man more than anything. He really has given me the whole world. He made me believe in family again and the fact that he loves Colby and treats him as his own means everything to me.
“I’m sorry I’m a mess. I love you.”
“You’re not a mess. What you’re doing for us in my eyes is truly a miracle.” He rubs his hand along my stomach, giving me another kiss.
“Mom, Dad! Come on! You guys are killing us. We have a betting ring going on out here on the baby's gender,” Colby shouts.
“We’re coming.” I give my husband another peck as Colby takes off running outside.
“It never gets old hearing him call us that.” He’s right. It doesn’t.
“You did that for us,” I remind him. He was the one to do all the leg work and get the best lawyer. In no time Colby was ours in every way. There was no more fear that anyone would ever try taking him from us. The judge granted us full custody. I thought the day Kale and I got married was the happiest day of my life, but seeing the tears in Kale’s eyes when Colby called him dad for the first time brought my heart so much joy.
Kale grabs my plate before putting his hand on the small of my back as we walk outside. Kale has really gone all out. He always does for parties, down to the smallest details. Especially for someone who claims to hate these types of gatherings.
He can try to deny it all he wants, but I know that he enjoys spending time with the people from town. For so long he stayed holed up in his house, afraid of what people would say or think. It’s nice to see the relationships he’s formed.
He pulls me down into his lap, setting my plate on the table. I’m as excited to find out the sex as everyone else. Except Kale and I have been keeping a small secret of our own. Kale kisses my neck, his hand coming around to my stomach.
“Can we do this?” Colby asks, standing in front of the giant box filled with balloons. I look around. Most of the town is here. Kale kisses my neck again.
“Don’t cry on me,” he whispers in my ear, reading my mood easily. I still get choked up sometimes with all the people that are now in Colby’s and my life. We’ve gone from thinking it was us against the world to having a whole town behind us.
“Go on,” Kale tells Colby.
“Be ready to pay up.” Colby gives Chief Dane a pointed look.
“The chief is in a gambling ring?” Connie teases from next to me, making me laugh.
“Lift the lid already!” someone shouts. Colby pulls it off, causing the blue balloons to escape into the sky.
“I knew it!” Colby starts to shout, but more balloons keep coming, pink ones slipping free too. For a second there I thought it was two boys.
“What the hell is this?” everyone grumbles, not sure now how they are going to handle the bets, causing me to laugh.
“Twins! We’re having twins!” Connie hops up. “We’ve never had twins in our town before.” Everyone cheers, as excited as we are. I turn in Kale’s lap, wrapping my arms around his neck to kiss him. Everyone keeps on cheering before music fills the air.
I don’t know if it really takes a village to raise a child, but I know we have a small town that will do their best. Kale keeps on kissing me. He’ll never let me go. Not that I want him to.
Who wouldn't want to be locked away in this castle with my handsome grumpy beast?
My loves!
Many people have been asking about the “Castle” connection and it’s the location although this one is tied more closely to Alpha’s Castle.
I hope the summer heat is not too exhausting. Remember to drink plenty of liquids and get at least six hours of sleep (it should be eight but I can’t do that either).
I’m working on my next story and it’s halfway done so expect something on your Kindle toward the end of August. Stay cool, loves.
Yours always,
Ella
Also by Ella Goode
Against the Rules
Always Loved You / Still Love You
Killer Love / Killer Crush
King’s Castle / Alpha’s Castle / Beast’s Castle
Secret Baby / Love’s Secret Baby / Rock ’n Roll Baby
Oh Snowy Night
FU High: Ace of Hearts, Deuces Wild, and Two of a Kind
Loyalty Card
She’s the One & My Only One
Spark
Priceless
Smooth Kisses, Sweet Kisses, Saved Kisses
Finding Home & Bring Him Home
Captured, Kept, Stolen
Make Me Yours
She’s All Mine
Pretty Prize
Three of Us (Twins #1) and Belong Together (Twins #2)
Their Private Need (Michigan, Easy and Annie)
His Bold Heart (Chel
sea & Wrecker)
Her Secret Pleasure
Captive Ride
The Last Christmas Present: Billionaire Holiday Romance (a Daddy story)
The Wolf’s Mail Order Bride
Beauty in Summer
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Copyright © 2020 by Ella Goode
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