Dark Sexy Knight (A Modern Fairytale)(85)

“I want the baby. I already love the baby,” he murmured. “When?”

She smiled up at him, all apprehension gone. “Spring.”

“We’re getting married tomorrow,” he said, frowning at her.

She giggled, and it chased the lines from his face as she arched up on her elbow, then shimmied onto his chest, half covering his body with hers and cradling his face with her hands. “I love you, Colton Lane, my Viking Knight in shining armor. I will marry you tomorrow or any other day you want.”

“I love you too, baby,” he said, leaning up on his elbows for another kiss, and knowing certainly—for good and forever—that Verity Gwynn, his sunshine, his love, his fiancée, and the mother of his spring baby, was the sweetest place the world could ever offer.





EPILOGUE


One year later



The sun was high and bright outside the bedroom window, but the worst of the hot Atlanta summer was behind them, which was why Verity had insisted on late September for the wedding.

Leaning over the bed, she finished changing three-month-old Jane Faith, cooing at her pride and joy, who had just started smiling back at her mama last week.

“Who’s the prettiest flower girl in the whole world?” she asked again, and baby Jane gurgled and squealed, pumping her fat baby legs with glee.

Verity chuckled softly, pulling the sweet white baby dress back on and putting Jane on her stomach so she could tie a pink bow in the back before picking her up.

“You’re beautiful, you know,” she said, looking into her daughter’s bright blue eyes.

“Of course she’s beautiful,” said Colton from behind her. She turned to find him leaning against the bedroom door, a megawatt smile on his face as he gazed at his girls. “Look at her mama.”

“Look at her daddy,” said Verity with a touch of sass, crossing the room to hand him Jane and stepping up on tiptoes to offer her lips for a quick kiss.

“Yeah, look at him,” he said, kissing her twice before looking down at Jane, nestled in the crook of his muscular arm. “Look how dang lucky he is.”

“You come to hurry us along?” she asked.

“Uh-huh,” he said. “The bride’s impatient, and since I’m supposed to walk her down the aisle, Mrs. Lane, she said I better come up and get you. Pronto.”

Verity sighed, her eyes misting. “How’s the groom doing?”

“Last I checked, he was rocking back and forth like crazy. Could probably use a kind word from his little sister before he says ‘I do.’”

“I’m on it,” she said. “Joe here yet?”

“Sure is, and waiting to get his hands on missy,” said Colton, looking down at Jane, who was already fast asleep.

Joe had not only continued to be a surrogate father to Ryan, but after retiring from The Legend of Camelot just after Christmas, and with no family to call his own, the Gwynns and Lanes had more or less adopted him. He was Jane’s godfather, and today, while Colton walked his cousin down the aisle and Verity stood beside her brother, Joe would be holding little Jane in the front row.

Taking Colton’s free hand, she let him lead her out of Melody’s apartment and down the stairs to the first-floor common room, where Melody, dressed in a white wedding gown and veil, had never looked more beautiful.

Verity kissed her cheek, giving her a careful hug.

“You look so lovely, Mel.”

“Thank you. If C-C-C-Colton c-c-c-couldn’t g-g-g-get off work, I was g-g-g-gonna ask you to walk me down the aisle, Ver’ty.”

Colton had earned his personal trainer certification in August, so his job at Carlson’s Gym was still relatively new, but he’d taken the position with the express understanding that he’d have today off. And his boss, Nik, who was a genuinely good guy, had made it happen.

“In a million years he wouldn’t have missed it,” she said, grinning at Colton over Mel’s shoulder.

His eyes shone with tenderness, and he mouthed the words I love you, baby. She nodded at him. I love you too.

“Ver’ty,” said Melody, straightening her glasses, “did you know we’re almost sisters now?”

She leaned away, smiling at Colton’s cousin, huge tears welling in her eyes. “That’s right.”

“Don’t be sad, Ver’ty. We’ll always be family. You c-c-c-can c-c-c-come and visit Ryan whenever you want to. And Jane c-c-c-can c-c-c-come to Slip’N Slide day when she’s old enough, okay? You’re not losing a brother. You’re g-g-g-gaining a sister! Don’t c-c-c-cry, okay?”

Verity nodded and reached up to swipe a tear that was trying to get away. “I’m crying because I’m happy. Because you make my brother so happy.”

“Ryan makes me happy,” Melody insisted, clicking her teeth together and grinning. “No more c-c-c-crying, Ver’ty. It’s my wedding day.”

Verity took a deep breath and nodded, taking Jane from Colton, careful not to wake her up. “See you at the altar?”

“I’ll be there,” he said, winking at her.

She turned from them and headed out into the garden behind complex F (Is For “Friendship”). Ten neat rows of white chairs faced a trellis under which a Methodist pastor waited for the bride and groom. All the CMs were in attendance, and most of the residents. A bubble maker (Mel insisted) was shooting bubbles into the air, and Verity grinned, thinking her brother’s wedding was a lot more festive than hers had been.