When we can breathe again, he settles down beside me and tucks me to his chest, holding me like I’m precious. Like I’m his.
And later, in the dark of night, I put my mouth on him to wake him up.
He mumbles about a blowjob ambush, then flips me onto my back and makes me his good girl again and again.
Settling in his arms as the sun comes up over the mountains, I realize we’ve come full circle.
Life dragged us away but couldn’t keep us apart.
We’re meant to be together.
EPILOGUE
DORIAN
One year later
“No, it has to be a library,” Mae says, pointing a pair of tongs at Thomas as I walk into The Switchback.
Thomas adjusts his faded Hollow Peak Feed Co. hat and shakes his head adamantly. “Rose garden. Everyone knows it but you, Mae.”
“There’s nothing I don’t know in this town. It’s a library.” She gives me a warm smile as I approach the counter. “Here’s the expert. He’ll tell you.” She looks at me expectantly.
I cock an eyebrow.
Thomas chuckles. “She’s been breathing in too much flour.”
“That coffee just cost you double,” she tells him, then turns back to me. “Since you’re rebuilding Beast’s castle, we’re betting on what you put in it. I say a library, but Thomas is convinced it’s a rose garden.”
The Beast jokes started shortly after Lisette came back into my life and people realized I wasn’t actually going to bite them. They have not improved.
Lisette was devastated by the near destruction of the old Victorian, and the family betrayal that caused it. Conspiracy and arson charges were filed, and four people went to jail, including Philip Weeks and her stepdad, Richard. Somehow her mother managed to get by with only community service, but they haven’t spoken in months.
Once Florine’s will cleared the probate process, Lisette became the proud owner of a waterlogged Lincoln from last century and half a burned-down Queen Anne Victorian. It took some convincing, but Lisette finally let me help rebuild it. With the money she inherited and the insurance payout, plus my labor, it’s almost complete.
Hollow Peak has taken to calling it Beast Castle since I’ve done much of the work.
“So which is it?” Thomas asks. “A beautifulrose gardenor a dusty library no one will ever use?”
“Six cinnamon rolls,” I reply.
Mae throws her hands up like I’m impossible. “All right. Are these for Lisette? Tell her to bring me some Madeleines.” She grabs a box and adds the fresh baked sweets for me.
Lisette loves them. I’m home a day early from Montana and thought I’d surprise her.
“Bring them to me,” Thomas cuts in. “I’ll decide if Mae should have any.”
They immediately begin bickering.
At this rate, I won’t get home until tomorrow. I toss some cash on the counter, take the box from Mae, close the lid, and head for the door.
“Beast, I’ve changed my vote,” Mae calls.
I look back.
She’s leaning on the counter with a mischievous grin. “Instead of a library, that castle needs a nursery!”
Thomas claps, the pearl snaps on his shirt flashing.
