Page 21 of Claiming the Fake Boyfriend

My heart does a somersault. "Babies? Plural?"

"At least two," he says confidently. "One with your eyes, one with your smile. Both with your heart."

"And your stubborn streak," I add, trying to sound casual while my mind fills with images of golden-haired children running through Autumn's Embrace, tiny feet on the brewery stairs.

"Naturally." He squeezes my hand. "What do you think? Ready to expand the empire in a few years?"

"With you? Always."

The autumn wind picks up, swirling golden leaves around our feet as we walk through the town that brought us together. Whitetail Falls hasn't changed much in two years, but I have. I'm no longer the woman who was left behind, defined by what she lost.

I'm the woman Tucker Hughes loves. Strong, wanted, enough.Morethan enough.

As we reach the door of my boutique, Tucker pulls me back for one more kiss, his hand gentle at the nape of my neck. "See you tonight, future Mrs. Hughes," he murmurs against my lips.

"Count on it, Mr. Hill," I tease, using the nickname that still makes him groan and laugh simultaneously.

He heads off toward Storybook Brewery, turning once to blow me a kiss that makes me giggle like a teenager. I watch him go, this man who changed everything by spilling my latte and stealing my heart, and I know with bone-deep certainty:

This is what happily ever after feels like.