After the Fire Read online

  “Been there, done that. I really didn’t want to do it the first time,” she said.

  “Me neither.”

  “Honestly, my idea of the perfect wedding would be to do it on top of my parents’ boathouse with just family in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt,” she said.

  “I could be on board with that.” He held up her hand. “If you don’t like pearls, we can get something else. I’m pretty easy.”

  “That you are,” she said with a laugh. “But I love this one. And it was your grandmother’s. That makes it special.” Renee took in a deep breath. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He kissed her nose. “Let’s go find out if we’re pregnant.” He curled his fingers through hers and tugged.

  Butterflies filled her gut. “You go look.”

  “All right.” He stepped into the bathroom and lifted the stick that she’d left on the sink. He held it up to the light and scrunched his face.

  “Well? What does it say?”

  He shifted his gaze between her and the test in his hand.

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Looks like I’m a stud.”

  “What?” She jumped up, reaching for the test. “I’m pregnant?” The window clearly showed a positive sign. “Holy shit. You are a stud.” She wrapped her arms around Fletcher and smacked her lips against his mouth. While nothing could last forever, she’d found her forever home.

  Epilogue

  Nine Months Later...

  Renee closed her eyes, kissed her baby's bald head, and inhaled sharply. There was nothing like the sweet smell of a newborn. And her little boy had the aroma of a warm summer sun shower. She blinked her eyes open and smiled. "You're staring."

  "Kind of hard not to," Fletcher said. "There's something wrong with me. I'm jealous of a baby that's only a few hours old and what's worse, he's my son."

  Renee laughed as she adjusted the pillow under her arm. "He takes after you."

  "What does that mean?"

  "Well, you're a breast man, so I would think your son would be too."

  Fletcher sat on the edge of the bed, his son gripping his index finger while he nursed. "That is wrong on so many levels." He laughed. "I can't believe he's finally here."

  "Eighteen hours of hell," she said, letting out a long breath. Labor hadn't been a walk in the park. But her husband had been her rock, keeping her from losing her shit and screaming at every person who walked into her room.

  "But look at what we have for your hard work." Fletcher leaned over and kissed her forehead. "What are we going to name this little fella?"

  "Definitely not Fletcher," she said with a laugh.

  "I had a thought, but I don't know how you'll feel about it."

  "I'm listening," she said.

  "I was hoping, since we had a boy, we could name him after my father."

  "Merrik? I like that," she said with a bright smile."

  "What about Merrik Devon Cain?"

  She gasped. Tears stung her eyes. Devon's name often made its way into conversations, and it was never awkward or uncomfortable. Actually, Fletcher encouraged her to keep his love and memory alive in her heart. He never wanted to take that away from her, and that just made her love Fletcher more.

  "Are you sure?" she asked.

  "I've only been surer of one thing and that's marrying you."

  "How'd I get so lucky?"

  He reached out and wiped the tears burning a trail down her cheeks. "I'm the lucky one."

  Life was full of love and loss. Happiness and heartache. She'd learned she couldn't have one without the other, and right now, she knew everything she'd experienced had led her to this moment.

  And she couldn't imagine what her world would look like without Fletcher.

  There would always be a fire to put out. But it was what you did after the fire that counted.

  Thank you for taking the time to read After the Fire. Please feel free to leave an HONEST review on Amazon!

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  About the Author

  Welcome to my World! I'm a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.

  I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.

  I'm currently enjoying the next phase of my life...the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.

  Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/6atcf7g1be) where I often give away free books before publication.

  Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where I post exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!

  Never miss a new release. Follow me on Amazon:amazon.com/author/jentalty

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  Also by Jen Talty

  BRAND NEW SERIES!

  With Me In Seattle

  INVESTIGATE WITH ME

  The Monroes

  COLOR ME YOURS

  COLOR ME SMART

  It’s all in the Whiskey

  JOHNNIE WALKER

  GEORGIA MOON

  JACK DANIELS

  JIM BEAM

  Search and Rescue

  PROTECTING AINSLEY

  PROTECTING CLOVER

  NY State Trooper Series

  IN TWO WEEKS

  DARK WATER

  DEADLY SECRETS

  MURDER IN PARADISE BAY

  TO PROTECT HIS OWN

  DEADLY SEDUCTION

  WHEN A STRANGER CALLS

  NY State Trooper Novella

  HIS DEADLY PAST

  Brand New Novella for the First Responders series

  A spin off from the NY State Troopers series

  PLAYING WITH FIRE

  PRIVATE CONVERSATION

  THE RIGHT GROOM

  AFTER THE FIRE

  The Men of Thief Lake

  REKINDLED

  DESTINY’S DREAM

  Federal Investigators

  JANE DOE’S RETURN

  THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS

  The Aegis Network

  THE LIGHTHOUSE

  HER LAST HOPE

  THE LAST FLIGHT

  THE RETURN HOME

  THE MATRIARCH

  The Collective Order

  THE LOST SISTER

  THE LOST SOLDIER

  THE LOST SOUL

  Coming soon!

  THE LOST CONNECTION

  Special Forces Operation Alpha

  BURNING DESIRE

  BURNING KISS

  BURNING SKIES

  BURNING LIES

  BURNING HEART

  BURNING BED

  REMEMBER ME ALWAYS

  The Brotherhood Protectors

  Out of the Wild

  ROUGH JUSTICE

  ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES

  ROUGH RIDE

  ROUGH EDGE

  ROUGH BEAUTY

  The Brotherhood Protectors

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  A Christmas Getaway

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  WHISPERS

 
; Heroes & Heroines on the Field

  Taking A Risk

  Tee Time

  The Twilight Crossing Series

  THE BLIND DATE

  SPRING FLING

  SUMMER’S GONE

  WINTER WEDDING

  Witches and Werewolves

  LADY SASS

  ALL THAT SASS

  Coming soon!

  NEON SASS

  PAINTING SASS

  Boxsets

  LOVE CHRISTMAS, MOVIES

  UNFORGETABLE PASSION

  UNFORGETABLE CHARMERS

  A NIGHT SHE’LL REMEMBER

  SWEET AND SASSY IN THE SNOW

  SWEET AND SASSY PRINCE CHARMING

  PROTECT AND DESIRE

  SWEET AND SASSY BABY LOVE

  CHRISTMAS AT MISTLETOE LODGE

  THE PLAYERS: OVERCOMING THE ODDS

  CHRISTMAS SHORTS

  CHRISTMAS DREAMS

  All That Glitters

  INVINCIBLE SECRETS

  UNFORGETABLE SUSPENSE

  Novellas

  NIGHTSHADE