Page 175 of Beautiful Trauma

“I hope so.”

“I know so, and we both know I’m never wrong.”

Grinning, I replied, “Just because you’re pregnant, it doesn’t mean I won’t spank you for being a cheeky lass.”

“You better. I”m not going to be one of those pregnant women put on a pedestal.”

“Oh yes, you fucking are.”

“Kellan,” she groaned.

“I can put you on a pedestal and still spank you and fuck you in a sex club.”

Mila laughed. “I think I can handle that.”

“Good.” I kissed her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you more.”

Squatting down, I kissed her flat stomach. “And I love you .”

After all the trauma, life was so fucking beautiful.

EPILOGUE: MILA

Three Years Later

As I rubbedLightning’s flank, his muscles contracted under my hands. “Does that feel good, boy?”

He snorted his appreciation. “You’re such a beautiful boy,” I crooned.

Since he was a complete attention whore, he preened under my compliments.

There was nothing I enjoyed more than my time at the farm. If you would’ve told me three years ago, I would enjoy mucking stalls and grooming horses, I would’ve said you were crazy.

But the unexpected was truly one of the most amazing gifts in life. It had brought me the most wonderful husband a woman could ever ask for. It had given me a second family who I adored. And it brought me to another season in my life.

Motherhood.

A tiny hand joined mine on Lightning’s skin. “Ning, Ning!” my two-year-old son, Liam, shrieked with joy.

“That’s right. Give Ning, Ning love.”

Since the time he was born, Liam had grown up surrounded by horses. I’d become even more rural in my motherhood era, and we’d added chickens and goats to the farm. One of his favorite things was to ride on horseback with Kellan through the property.

As I gazed into my son’s face, it was so much his father’s. They had so many of the same mannerisms as well. Thankfully, Liam had also inherited Kellan’s sweet temperament and caring heart.

“Care?” Liam questioned.

“Yes, we can give him one carrot.”

I reached into my bag to dig out the carrot. “Can you say care-ot?”

“Care,” Liam replied determinedly.

I laughed. “Almost.”

As I handed over the carrot to Liam, he then waved it at Lightning. “Ning, ning, here!”