Tania fixes one hand to her hip and squints her eyes, unamused by the childhood nickname he loves to torture her with. “It’s Ta-nee-a! Now hush it and let this child blow out her candles.”

We all share a laugh before Daisy Mae squeezes her eyes shut, blowing with all her might as she extinguishes every last one. When her eyes open they seek mine, and the smile on her face turns my heart into fucking mush. “I don’t need any boys, just my daddy.”

I smirk as she repeats the words I’ve said to her since the day she was born. “That’s right, baby girl. No one but me.”

“And me,” Walter adds.

I nod, unable to refuse, considering he let me marry his granddaughter. My eyes move to Liv to find her watching me with a soft smile, the same one that still lights a fire in my chest no matter how many times I’ve seen it.

We settled here on the farm because I knew she could never leave this place, and as long as I have Liv and the kids, I don’t give a shit where we live. We outgrew the guesthouse after Daisy Mae was born so we built a bigger one on the other side of the property with a wraparound porch and plenty of room for the kids to run around.

“Mama, can me and Maya go eat our cake with Cookie and show her my new cowgirl boots?” Daisy Mae asks as Liv plates the cake.

Walt bought her the Welsh pony three years ago, and if we allowed it, she’d live out there in the barn with Cookie and Rosie both.

“All right, but don’t feed her any, okay?”

“No, Ma’am. Promise.”

The girls take off, carefully balancing the cake in their hands, sporting their matching outfits and boots.

“All right, who else wants cake?”

“Me!” Terrell shouts. “And double up on Becky’s since she’s eating for two.”

Everyone freezes and all eyes shoot to them.

“What did you just say?” Tania asks, hope prominent in her voice.

Becky’s smile is unmistakable as tears fill her eyes. She nods. “It’s true. We’re finally gonna have a baby.”

Cash covers his ears when Liv and Tania squeal with excitement before rushing over to pull Becky in for a group hug, while Walter, Jay, and I all shake Terrell’s hand.

“Congrats, man. That’s great news.”

Becky and Terrell married five years ago and have been trying for a while now to have a baby. They met through Liv and Tania when Becky came to work at the center they started together, shortly after we got back from Paris. They named it the U.N.I.T.Y. Center, which stands for…

Understanding

Noble

Integrity

Trust

Youth

It’s a government-funded outreach program where they offer counseling and after-school activities for the youth of our community. It’s made a huge impact here. They not only educate but also give them hope when there might not be any. For some of those kids, the center is all they have. Brandon has come in on numerous occasions to talk to kids about making good choices and how it only takes one person to stand up and make a difference. Mrs. Jenkins volunteers her time there often, too. I’m proud of them both, they’ve done a lot to help others and make an impact on the youth here. But I’m not surprised, if anyone can find light in the darkness, it’s Liv.

“I’m so happy for y’all,” Liv’s voice is filled with emotion, pulling me from my thoughts.

Tania leans down and wraps her arms around Terrell’s neck before giving him a loud kiss on the cheek. “I can’t believe I’m finally gonna be an auntie. It’s about damn time.” She looks up at Jay with a smile. “We need to get crackin’ on number two, babe. I want to have our babies close together like Maya and Daisy Mae.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice, woman,” he replies with a wink.

Terrell scowls at him. “Don’t say shit like that around me.”

The girls all laugh, as he gets riled up. Whenever Jay makes any references toward his sister, no matter how long they’ve been married, Terrell gives him hell.

Once Liv is finished handing out plates of chocolate cake to everyone, she comes over to bring me the last piece. I grab her by the hips and pull her down on my lap before pressing my lips to her smooth, bare shoulder. I swear I’ll never tire of feeling this woman against me.

Wrapping her arms around my neck, her body melts against me. “Hi,” she whispers, her pretty pink lips tempting me like they always do.

My hand spans her hip, holding her closer. “Hey, baby.”

“It’s been a great day, huh?”

“Yeah, it was a great day,” I reply, staring back into her big doe eyes. “But tonight is going to be even better.”

Daisy Mae is sleeping over at Tania and Jay’s while Cash is going to stay with my mother, giving Liv and me a night home alone.

Her smile spreads, desire staining her cheeks as she leans her forehead against mine. “I can’t wait.”

I’m just about to draw her in for a kiss when high-pitched screams pierce the air. I look over to see Maya and Daisy Mae running for their lives as Cash chases them with his water pistol, laughing hysterically.

“Mama, Daddy, Pap-Pap. Somebody help us!”

“Cash, that’s enough,” I call out.

With a giggle, Liv brushes a soft kiss against my lips, giving me only a small taste of heaven before she gets up to do damage control. She chases down our son then scoops him into her arms. Her eyes hold mine as she whispers something in his ear before putting him down and sending him my way.

His small feet pound the floor as he races over, stopping right in front of me. “Mama said you’ll pway cops and wobbers with me. Teach me how to catch da bad guys.”

He’s been going through a phase lately of wanting to become a cop. He’s always asking to go to work with me to help catch the bad guys.

I lift him, settling him on my lap and look into his curious eyes. “You want to know how to catch the bad guys?”

“Yes, sir, I do.” The oversized hat falls over his face as he nods with excitement.

Pushing the hat back, I find his dark blue eyes once more. “Seek the truth and you will find justice.”

He blinks, his icing-covered face completely expressionless. “Dat’s it?”

I grin. “Yeah, son, that’s it. But it’s not always as easy as it sounds. It can mean hard work and even harder choices. Think you can handle that?”

Something sparks in his eyes. It’s the same fire that I’ve carried with me for as long as I can remember. “Yes, sir. I can handle dat.” He hops down, turning to Walter. “Come on, Pap-Pap. Yet’s pway cops and wobbers. You’s the wobber and I’m da cop.”

I chuckle, watching as Walter allows him to handcuff his wrists together before leading him off to God knows where.

Looking over, I see my mother watching me with tears in her eyes, clearly hearing the words I spoke to Cash. She smiles, a silent exchange of understanding between us.

I will always feel that sting of betrayal when I think about my father, but I’ve since forgiven him. Despite what he was brought up to believe, he never inflicted any of it on me. He never taught me to hate, and for that I’m grateful. I’ll always remember the man I knew, the one who taught me how to fish, how to catch a football and, most importantly, about honor and loyalty. I’ll remember that he taught me right from wrong.

As Liv’s rich laughter echoes on a breeze, from where she blows bubbles with Daisy Mae, I vow to always use those lessons he taught me. To not only ensure peace for Harmony Falls but to love and protect those who matter to me most.

And as long as I live, I vow to never allow hate to hurt my family again.

THE END

Keep reading for a sneak peek from the authors’s upcoming releases.

An Act of Salvation

Acts of Honor – Book 2

K.C. LYNN

Coming early 2016

PROLOGUE