EPILOGUE
Three months later ...
Heart so full it felt as if it might burst, Mackenzie tightened her grip on Muttley’s harness, and she heard the bus pull up.
Earlier that morning, Tia had stopped by with amazing news: Guide Dogs of Tennessee was so impressed with her and Muttley’s progress, they’d made Muttley’s placement permanent. To celebrate, Mackenzie decided to show off her new skills and head downtown to catch a bus.
Not just any bus, though,she thought with a grin.
The door swung open, and over the rush of air from the hydraulics, Mackenzie could make out enough distinct voices to tell her the bus was at full capacity.
“We got this,” she told Muttley, who barked in agreement, then started up the steps with a confident stride.
Taking a deep breath, she followed his lead—and her heart—as they took one more step toward their happy place. Muttley stopped right inside the door. Before Mackenzie could say a word, the conversation on the bus came to an abrupt stop and the collective attention swung to Mackenzie.
“Hey, y’all,” she said with a shyness that took her by surprise.
Her greeting was met with a fewHowdys and the occasionalHey, darlin’, but one voice stood out from the rest. A voice that made her lips curl into a big grin and her heart give an even biggerthump-thump.
“Trouble?” Hunter said, his pleased surprise at seeing her on his bus loud and clear. “What are you doing here?”
“I have good news,” she said.
Two warm, strong hands slid around her waist as Hunter tugged her toward him. “I love good news. Almost as much as I love seeing you.” He brushed a kiss across her lips, short and sweet but with plenty of promise for later.
Whoof,Muttley barked but kept his butt cemented to the floor.
“Hey to you too, buddy.” Hunter gave him an ear ruffle, his other hand twining with Mackenzie’s. “Now what’s this news?”
“Tia called to say that the home study went amazing, and GDT doesn’t see a reason to have another.”
“I guess that means we’re stuck together,” he said to Muttley. Then, to her, he said, “I am so proud of you.”
“It was all the trips to the market and around town that sealed the deal,” she said, and no statement could have rung truer.
Hunter had been beyond amazing these past few months, helping her expand her world while showing her that love and independence didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. Real love was as comforting as it was liberating.
“It was all you. I was just along for the ride,” he said, giving her another kiss—this one a bit longer and a bit hotter.
Brody cleared his throat. “And we’re all along for this ride with you, and I’d like to get off, so please tell me the meeting is over, because I’m about to see things I won’t ever be able to unsee.”
“I can come back,” she offered.
“No way,” Hunter whispered. “From this angle I can see a red piece of lace beneath that dress. Celebratory red.” The gruff in his voice toldher exactly what kind of celebration he was imagining. “Plus, these guys were all leaving anyway. Said something about throwing back a few brews at Big Daddy’s. Right, guys?”
“It’s been sprinkling all day and is supposed to really come down tonight, which is why I’m staying inside tonight,” Quinn informed them. “Not to mention the bus leaves at oh-dark-hundred.”
The band was heading out in the morning for New York, where in a week’s time they would be hosting the listening party for their new album. To build some hype around the upcoming release, they had also scheduled a mini radio tour, hitting a select few stations on their way north. It was the first time the entire band would be required to be present at all the radio stops.
Not surprisingly, the band had agreed unanimously to limit the trip to just major-market stations.
“Then you’d better get going so you avoid the rain, get a jump on packing your things,” Hunter said.
“My things are already packed,” Quinn argued. “They’re here. On the bus. Which is where I am planning on sleeping.”
“Well, change of plans. Big Daddy’s or head on home.” When no one moved, Hunter added, “I can always text your women and see which they’d prefer.”
There were a few grumbles, but one by one the band members told Mackenzie goodbye, except for Quinn—who hugged her while telling Hunter to go fuck himself.
