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Dakota appears at the end of the aisle with Stede by her side.
“Fuck,” I croak.
She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
She looks stunning in a draped gown with a bow at the waist. Her black hair is sleek and shiny, spilling around her slender shoulders. The smile on her face is devastating.
I love seeing her like this. Free and beautiful and happy. Everything Dakota deserves. Everything I will give her for the rest of our lives.
And in her arms, our son Duke.
Three weeks after the nightmare with Aiden King, Dakota went into labor. It was a middle of the night drag race to the hospital. With seconds to spare, our son was born in the lobby of Bear Creek Clinic. But it’s what I’ve come to expect. The unplanned—the chaos—in this life with Dakota. I’ll take it all. Every second, every unexpected moment with this woman and our son.
“Hey, Hotshot,” Dakota says softly as Stede hands her over to me.
A muscle in my jaw tics. “Hey, yourself.”
Chest tight, I look down at Duke. The baby is all Dakota. Tufts of dark hair, jet-black eyes. But he’s as much mine as he is hers. When I met him for the first time, and he wrapped his tiny finger around mine, I was done. He claimed my heart as much as his mother has, and we made it official when Dakota put my name on the birth certificate as his father.
Dakota gives me a watery smile, then turns to hand Duke to Fallon. Instantly, Keena swaps sides. She noses beside Fallon tostare up at Duke. Ever since the baby was born, Keena has been a loyal protector.
I can’t wait anymore. Hands shaking, I reach for Dakota and haul her into my chest, earning chuckles and sighs from the guests.
A clog of emotion settles in my throat. She’s locked in my arms, her heart against mine. “You look beautiful.”
She palms my chest. “Not too shabby yourself.”
“Last chance to run,” I gruff.
Tears well in her eyes dangerously fast. She curls her fingers around mine. “Never,” she says on a broken whisper. “You’re stuck with me.”
In Fallon’s arms, Duke begins his tiny whimper.
Dakota’s wide eyes slice to mine. Fuck. By now, we’re well accustomed to our son’s demands. We have minutes until he nears meltdown status.
“Marry us now,” she commands the justice of the peace.
He does. No dry eyes in the house. The ceremony goes on even when Dakota nurses Duke mid-vow. We’re not waiting. Not any longer.
After we say “I do,” Mama Belle wails in the front row. Stede blows his nose into a big white handkerchief, breaks out a flask, and passes it around the guests. Duke screams his tiny head off and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
Then it’s time for the real party. Everyone crowds into the lodge for the reception and drinks. Music pumps out over the newly installed speakers.
I glance over my shoulder to where loud cackles float from the lawn. My brothers, sister, and Ruby are trying to two-step across the front porch of the lodge, blitzed out on moonshine from Stede’s stash. Fallon is suspiciously absent.
I use the distraction to snag Dakota’s wrist and pull her back behind the lodge. “Peace and quiet.”
She falls into me and loops her arms around my neck. “No more peace. We have a baby and my boobs are about to burst.”
I cup her breast. “Where is the baby?”
“With your mother.” Dark eyes laced with lust, she giggles and grips my tie. “I have to say… Marine mode is hot, but daddy mode is hotter.”
I kiss her shoulder, the tiny freckle on her lip. Dakota’s gaze drifts as she watches Fallon, cigarette in hand, bound down the front steps, headed for God knows where.
“What if he broke her, Davis?” she murmurs.
“Not Fallon.” I tip her chin to meet my eyes. “She’ll be okay. We won’t let her break.”
