Tinsel (Lark Cove #4)(98)

The same place where our dear life had started.

I looked up at Dakota, my eyes glistening with happy tears.

He just smiled down, hugging me closer to his side. “Good?”

“Magnificent.”

Dakota winked then watched as Hazel handed Joseph over to Willa and Jackson.

“Joseph,” Willa started. “I’m Willa. This is Jackson.” The pair shared a loving look, then looked down to him and said aloud, “Be bold.”

They were the first ones to say something aloud. And knowing Jackson and Willa’s love story, no words could have been more perfect.

Kaine and Piper took Joseph next. “Joseph,” Kaine said, “I’m Kaine. And this is Piper.” The couple shared a look and Piper stroked her pregnant belly. She was due with their daughter in a couple of months. Then, in unison, they smiled and said, “Find your magic.”

I smiled, thinking of the magic cake recipe Piper had given me months ago. Those two had a lot of magic, but she swore up and down that cake could cure all ailments.

Aubrey and Landon were next in line. Though my parents had stayed in the city for New Year’s, Aubrey had decided to bring Landon out for his first trip to Montana.

“Joseph, I’m your aunt Aubrey.” She smiled up at Landon. “And this is your soon-to-be uncle Landon.”

“Soon to be what?” Logan asked. “Uncle?”

As the room broke out into excited whispers, Dakota smiled wider at Landon. The pair of them had become friends over the last year, meeting occasionally for beers and to watch a game in the city.

I guess he knew about the engagement ring I was just now noticing on Aubrey’s finger.

It was a lot like the solitaire ring Dakota had given me, modest but striking, much like the men who’d given them to us.

“Congratulations,” I mouthed to her across from me in the circle.

“Thank you.” She dropped her head to Landon’s shoulder, still holding Joseph in her arms.

Before we could find out more about their engagement, Joseph reminded us all with a wail that we were stealing his thunder.

Aubrey handed him over to Logan and Thea, who were the last in the circle. Besides my parents, they’d spent the most time with our son, since we balanced our time between Montana and New York.

This trip was the beginning of a three-month stay in Lark Cove. We were back in Dakota’s house, settling in for some time to relax. We’d be working on some of his projects on the reservation and spending more time with Lyndie.

Joseph would be getting quality time with his cousins too. Once the ceremony was over, he’d be going with Hazel and Xavier to spend the night at their cottage and relieve the babysitter who was watching Logan and Thea’s kids.

“Joseph.” Logan smiled at his nephew. “I am your uncle Logan.”

“And I’m your aunt Thea.” She stood close to her husband, settling one of her hands over his. Then she bent close to his tiny ear, whispering loud enough that only Logan and I could hear her say, “Chase the impossible.”

Be bold.

Find your magic.

Chase the impossible.

I wasn’t sure what Xavier and Hazel had said to Joseph. Aubrey and Landon either. But those three sentiments were perfect.

They would complement what I knew was coming next. The same thing Dakota had told Joseph on the day he was born.

Thea handed me back my son, and I held him in my arms as Dakota bent over us both. Then he looked to me and I nodded, knowing he’d been waiting two months to say this again.

“Burn bright, little star.”

He said the same thing when our second son, Xavier, was born two years later.

And again for our daughter, Penelope, the year after that.




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Enjoy this preview from The Birthday List, the first book in Devney’s Maysen Jar series.





“Poppy!” Jamie came rushing out of the office and into the kitchen.

The grin on his face made my heart flutter, just like it always did, which meant I’d been a mess of flutters since the day I’d met him five years ago.

We’d run into each other on the first day of our sophomore year at Montana State. Literally. I’d been rushing out of an economics lecture, my arms overloaded with books, notepads and a syllabus. Jamie had been rushing in, too busy looking over his shoulder at a buxom blond to see me in the classroom’s doorway.

After the two of us had recovered from the crash, Jamie had helped me off the floor. The moment my hand had slipped into his, the buxom blond had been all but forgotten.

That was the day I’d met the man of my dreams.

My husband.

James Sawyer Maysen.

“Guess what?”

“What?” I giggled when he picked me up and set me on the counter, fitting himself between my open legs. Excitement radiated from his body and I couldn’t help but smile at the light shining in his eyes.

“I just added a couple things to my birthday list.” He pumped his fist. “Best ideas yet.”

“Oh.” My smile faltered. “Please tell me these ones aren’t illegal.”

“Nope. And I told you, the fire alarm one might not be illegal. I might legitimately need to pull a fire alarm before I turn forty-five.”