Page 39 of Flare (Bearpaw Ridge Firefighters #17)

She hadn ’ t intended to step away from her kitchen duties, but the knowing looks from Dane and Elle had finally become too much to bear.

Of course, all the shifters could smell her pregnancy.

Yet they ’ d respected her privacy, allowing her the joy of making her own announcement during the traditional “ gratitude sharing” that preceded the Thanksgiving feast.

Through the windows, Emily could see the organized chaos that was the Swanson family at work. Three enormous turkeys roasted in the oversized ovens that Tyler had installed when he rebuilt the back of the house after a major fire twelve years ago.

The long kitchen island was covered with mixing bowls and cutting boards, where Grandma Elle supervised the preparation of more side dishes than Emily could count—mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, three different kinds of stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, and at least four varieties of pie cooling on the sideboard.

In the dining room, the youngest members of the clan carefully arranged silverware and napkins on the massive oak table that had been extended to its full length with all three leaves inserted. Emily had learned that Ward had built the table soon after becoming a journeyman carpenter.

The screen door creaked open behind her, and Emily turned to see Ward stepping out, balancing two steaming mugs of cocoa.

His hair was slightly mussed, with a smudge of flour on his cheek from where he ’ d been helping roll out pie crusts.

The sight of him—this strong, gentle man who had given her a new life, a new family, and now a child—filled Emily with such overwhelming love that she felt it might spill from her in visible waves.

“ Thought you might get cold out here,” he said, offering her one mug. “ Grandma Elle said the baby needs extra warmth.”

Emily accepted the cocoa with a laugh. “ So she definitely knows.”

“ Bear shifters,” Ward said with a playful eye roll. “ Can ’ t hide anything from them. But don ’ t worry—they ’ re all pretending they don ’ t know, so that we can make the announcement.”

“ That ’ s sweet.” Emily sipped the rich cocoa, tasting cinnamon and a hint of chili pepper. It was Annabeth ’ s recipe. “ I was just thinking about how different this is from last Thanksgiving.”

Ward stepped behind her, wrapping one brawny arm around her waist while balancing his own mug in his free hand. His warmth enveloped her, far more effective than her cardigan at keeping the chill at bay. “ I imagine it wasn ’ t a happy day for you.”

“ Mom had just passed away a couple of days earlier. Andrew was at his grandmother ’ s house, and I wasn ’ t invited because I was a teary mess, and he didn ’ t want to announce our engagement until I could look my best for his family.

I ended up having a turkey dinner delivered from the neighborhood diner and I ate it alone in Andrew ’ s McMansion, while watching a movie in the living room. ”

Ward ’ s arm tightened around her waist, his chest rumbling with a protective growl. Through their bond, Emily could feel his fierce protectiveness.

“ Never again,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. “ From this day forward, you ’ ll never spend your holidays alone.”

“ I know.” Emily turned in his arms to face him, reaching up to wipe the flour from his cheek. “ That ’ s what I ’ m thankful for this year. Having a real family.”

They stood together in comfortable silence, sipping their cocoa while the sun began its descent toward the mountain peaks. From inside, Emily could hear Elle calling everyone to bring dishes to the table.

Soon the clan would gather around that massive oak table, join hands, and take turns sharing what they were grateful for this year.

Emily already knew exactly what she would say.

She was grateful for Maggie ’ s friendship, which had given her a refuge when she needed it most. Grateful for Ward, whose selfless love had shown her what a real partnership looked like.

And most of all, grateful for the tiny miracle they had created together: the newest member of the Swanson clan, growing beneath her heart.

“ Ready to go in?” Ward asked, finishing the last of his cocoa.

Emily nodded, taking one last look at the mountain view before turning toward the warmth and light of the house. “ Ready.”

As she went inside, Emily felt the last lingering shadows of her past life with Andrew finally dissolve completely. This was where she belonged—in this town, with these people, building a future filled with love and safety for their child.

Bearpaw Ridge was her home again. Her forever home, this time.

∞∞∞

Thank you so much for reading Emily and Ward ’ s story!

If you ’ re wondering how Ward ’ s mentor Nick Evans got famous on Reviving Snowberry Springs , check out my enemies-to-lovers romance, Flippin’ Cowboy .

When her two-timing fiancé leaves her at the altar, home renovation expert Winnie Snowberry needs refuge.

Life sucks and her career is in flaming ruins after the network cancels her successful Restoring Seattle show.

Now her beloved Grandma Abigail is begging Winnie to come home to Snowberry Springs and restore the town ’ s historic inn.

And if Winnie can bring the inn back to life and revive her dying hometown, maybe she can also salvage her career?

Well, it ’ s not like she ’ s got anything else going on…

Except, on Day Two Winnie discovers the building ’ s co-owner is Nick Evans, a grumpy historical preservationist extraordinaire who happens to be all muscled cowboy, sexy grins, and arrogant digs. She can ’ t decide whether she wants to kiss him… or kill him.

Nick hates her trademark pink toolbelt. He can ’ t stand that he ’ s forced to work with a “ fake celebrity flipper” who probably can ’ t tell a screwdriver from a nail gun. And above all, he hates that he ’ s attracted to her.

Then a surprise discovery of the inn ’ s scandalous past puts the whole project in jeopardy. Will they get the town ’ s only hotel ready in time for visitors to the town ’ s First Annual Vintage Railroad Festival?

And can two contentious flippers unite to become a team… of the heart?

Flippin’ Cowboy is a standalone enemies-to-lovers romance with heart, humor, sizzle, and a guaranteed HEA. It ’ s the second book in a series about a small Montana town on the brink of a great reawakening.

Excerpt:

“ This was the hardest year of my life. But I survived, and you know what they say about ‘ what doesn ’ t kill you.’”

A scattering of applause as the montage shifted to a drone ’ s flyover footage of Snowberry Springs’ town square.

“ Now, I ’ m back in my hometown of Snowberry Springs, Montana,” Winnie ’ s voiceover continued as she appeared on-screen feeding and petting the ranch ’ s horses.

More drone footage, an aerial view of Snowberry Springs Ranch this time, was followed by footage of Sunday family dinner, with everyone laughing and passing around dishes of Mom ’ s home-cooked food.

“ Because there ’ s a special project near and dear to my heart: working with noted historical preservationist Nick Evans to restore my great-great-grandmother ’ s legacy and give it new life as a place to welcome visitors. ”

On-screen, the Snowberry Springs Inn ’ s derelict interior transitioned to a time-lapse sequence of construction activities, then slowed to the footage of Jason, Nick, and Winnie carefully lifting the newel post of the beautiful old staircase to reveal the roll of architectural drawings.

“ Looking good, Jason!” Brock called, and everyone laughed.

“ I ’ m doing my best to look forward, not back, and keep doing what I love.” On-screen, Winnie buckled on her trademark pink tool belt, put on her pink hard hat, and smiled straight at the camera. “ Reviving Snowberry Springs ,” she finished.

The teaser ended on a shot of her and Nick posing back-to-back on the inn ’ s porch while a banner on the screen read, “ Winnie Snowberry ’ s next chapter! Coming soon to The Renovation Channel.”