as far as the kid question was concerned.
“But you love kids, Cole. You live and breathe kids. Have you really, truly thought this through? Are you really ready to be okay with not having your own?”
He took both of her hands, his eyes intense. “Jess, I love you. So you can’t have children. That is a crime committed upon you that I will be angry about for the rest of my life. Angry for you. With all I have, I wish that you could have kids. Of course I do. Because you would be the best mother in the world.
“But here’s the thing. Daniel and Hayley already have two, and I wouldn’t be surprised if more were on the way someday. Kyla and Decker are on their way to the big family they want, and good God. We have piles of kids here every week. We will definitely have kids in our life, whether they’re ours or not.
“I’m okay with that, Jess. I’m okay with whatever we decide, when we’re ready to decide. But what I do know is that the thought of you ever leaving Whisper Creek would kill me. You belong here. We want to make it your home. I want to make it your home.”
He squeezed her hands gently. “So what do you say, cowgirl? Will you stay? Will you marry me?”
Jess closed her eyes, wanting the warmth and magic of this moment to last forever. When she opened them, his eyebrows were comically high.
“This is the part where you say yes.” He nodded slowly, like he wanted her to mimic him. “I mean, in case you haven’t done one of these before.”
Jess laughed, throwing herself into his arms. “Yes, Cole. Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes. I will marry you.” She pulled back. “But—I can’t promise I won’t drive you crazy once in a while.”
He smiled, his dimples making her want to trace his face with her fingertips. “I look forward to it, cowgirl.”
Epilogue
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Cole glanced over from the driver’s seat as he put on his blinker to turn down the Whisper Creek driveway.
“Ready.” Jess nodded, barely able to contain her smile.
“Because we could still turn around. We could go back to the hotel for a few more days. I would totally be fine with that.”
He slowed down, inching toward the main lodge. “Speak now, because once they see us coming, it’s all over. We won’t have any peace for a month.”
“Peace is overrated, right? Isn’t that what you said?” Jess reached over to slide her hand into his.
“Definitely.” He squeezed her fingers, then let go to steer into a parking spot near the front entrance. “I’m assuming there’s no point going straight to the cabin.”
She shook her head, laughing. “No point at all.”
Two minutes later, Cole opened the lodge door and ushered her through it, and the great room erupted in cheers and squeals. Jess laughed as she looked around the room. The whole family was here, and a big welcome banner had been hung across the giant stone fireplace.
Ma stepped forward first, enveloping first Cole, and then Jess, in huge hugs. Tears were streaming down her face as she looked down at their feet, and she reached down to unbuckle the car seat straps.
“Come here, little one. Come meet your gramma!”
She lifted the tiny baby up and cradled her like she’d done it just yesterday, and everyone else crowded around to get their first look at Jess and Cole’s baby girl.
Kyla touched her tiny head in wonder, then lifted her little boy to see. “This is your cousin, DJ! You have a little bitty cousin!”
She handed two-year-old DJ to Decker, then pulled Jess into a warm hug. “Congratulations, mommy.” Her eyes sparkled with happy tears as she pulled away from Jess. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been this happy before.”
“Sure you have, sweetie.”
“Not this happy for someone else before. How’s that?”
Jess smiled as she watched Ma pass through the room with the baby, who had nestled right into her shoulder. Then she pointed at Hayley’s belly. “That works. But in a few months, you’ll have to do it all over again.”
Kyla laughed. “Can you believe this? Who could have ever predicted the three of us would end up having this life?” She pulled on Jess’s arm. “Come on. Let’s reclaim your baby before Ma disappears with her.”
Jess grabbed Cole’s hand, and they followed Ma toward the windows, where a giant buffet table was laid with enough food to feed fifty people.
“Ma? Did you invite