“Who are you looking at, Karly? I want you to only have eyes for me,” Jason growls in my ear, kissing my neck.
I turn back, kissing him.
“Well?”
“Oh, you wanted an answer to that silly question?” I laugh.
Jason nibbles on my earlobe. “If I don’t get one, I’ll have to take you somewhere private and make love to you until you can’t see straight.”
Because he’s had a little too much to drink and because he isn’t the kind to make idle threats, I tell him, “Look around, Jason.”
But his eyes don’t come off me.
“I’m serious, look around. Look at all the people in love.” When he finally looks around, I continue, “See? I’m telling you we are looking at the next bride and groom and the one after that and the one after that and so on.”
“Yeah, you could be right about that. Or maybe you’ll be the next bride.” He’s smiling, but the look in his eyes tells me he’s not joking.
“Maybe I will.”
Epilogue 2
Karly
Three Years Later
I still sometimes have to pinch myself. How is this my life? I went from being all alone in this world to now having a husband, family and friends. I don’t take it for granted even for an instant.
“What are you smiling about?” Olivia asks me. “Or can I guess?”
I just smile because I know exactly what she’s talking about. Thankfully, she’s going to let me be the one to tell everyone. My wonderful husband hasn’t been able to keep his mouth shut so I planned to tell our friends tonight at our weekly dinner.
“Hey honey.” I hear in my ear as big warm hands land on my shoulders.
I turn so fast in my chair I almost get whiplash. All the other ladies, Olivia, Lacy, Carrie, Chrissy, and Rose, have to be watching us because the conversation around the table has ceased.
“Jason Keller, what are you doing here?” I ask him.
He holds his hands up innocently enough, but I don’t trust him, not with this.
I give him my best stern look I can muster. “You had better not say a word.”
He makes a big to-do about zipping his lips and throwing away the key. “My lips are sealed. Well, as long as you get to it. You keep stalling and I can’t make any promises.”
I want to be mad at him. But I can’t. He’s so excited, and I sort of love that about him. He has told everyone at the ranch, he told my friends at the hospital, only because he was worried about me and wanted to come in and check to make sure I wasn’t doing any heavy lifting.
So of course, Lacy and Olivia know since Trent and Derrick were the first people he told. However, Lacy and Olivia promised me I could be the first to tell our friends. So here we are at Patty Cakes for our weekly dinner to gossip and catch up.
Jason is practically vibrating with the news, and I see Trent and Derrick now, over at the counter watching him. “Fine. I’ll tell them.”
I turn to my friends and don’t even have to try and get their attention. They’re all staring at us expectantly. “Ladies, Jason and I have some news.”
Jason is standing behind me, and all of sudden I hear him start to talk and then a big commotion behind me. Derrick and Trent are standing on each side of him with their hands over his mouth. Derrick nods his head at me. “Go on, Karly. But you better be quick.”
I just shake my head at them before turning back to my friends. “I’m pregnant,” I say excitedly.
All of them, even Lacy and Olivia, jump out of their seats and are wishing me congratulations. I laugh as I hug Chrissy and Carrie around their own baby bumps. I love all these women, and I’m so thankful that my child is going to have so many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
When the commotion starts to die down, I turn to Jason, who’s standing next to me. “So now I have a surprise for you, and I guess now is as good as time as any.”
Jason gives me that cocky smile of his with a big wink. “Oh, I love surprises.”