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Until there is nothing…just us.
For many, many minutes.
When reality returns, I discover that I’m slumped over him, my head on his chest, a breathless mess of satisfaction. His skin is sweaty beneath mine. The strength and heat of him is all that I need now.
Though apparently he possesses strength I don’t since he cups my face, lifting my gaze to his. “I’m awaiting your answer, Mallory.” His expression is as serious as I’ve ever seen it.
I’m momentarily brainless. “Answer about what?”
He arches a brow as his reply.
That arrogant look fills in the missing pieces, and my brain starts to work again. “Yes, Jackson, you have certainly won your case,” I say with a soft laugh. “To be perfectly honest with you, I can’t exactly remember what my original thought was, but it no longer applies anyway. I want you. All of you. All the time.” Because that’s how simple this all is. This Jackson, the man free from his anger, is the Jackson I met in Muskoka, and it’s the Jackson I wholeheartedly want in my life. “Is that enough of a confirmation that I want to give this a real shot, too?”
Jackson’s mouth parts but Muskoka pushes his way into us, licking the tip of my nose. Without my arms to defend myself, I squeal and turn my head from side to side but there is no avoiding him.
Jackson chuckles, grips my arms, and rises up to sitting, pushing Muskoka off me. Once I’m straddling his waist, he cups my face, his eyes warming in ways I’ve never seen before. “We’re doing this then? Us, we’re together now?”
I lean into his strong hold, oddly sensing that I’m staring into my future but how can anyone be sure? “We are most definitely together.”
Life is so full of surprises. Some good. Some bad.
As I stare into Jackson’s gorgeous eyes, I realize he’s the best surprise of all.
Epilogue
Jackson
SIXTEEN MONTHS LATER…
“Muskoka,” Mallory calls.
I stay back, leaning against a tree, watching her as white and brown fluff comes charging toward her out of the forest. His mouth is open, tongue out and wagging. Behind the Alaskan shepherd is a six-month-old husky, Daisy, named after Mallory’s favorite flower.
With that puppy’s appearance, Mallory gives a visibly relieved sigh.
“Stop worrying about her,” I call.
Mallory glances over her shoulder then and smiles. “She’s a baby still, and she refuses to listen.”
I whistle and Daisy beelines straight toward me. She happily sits at my feet, tail wagging. With a grin, I arch my brow.
Mallory sighs, rolling her eyes. “Or I should say she doesn’t listen to me.”
I chuckle. “Muskoka will keep an eye on her.” I watch the beauty approaching me and add, “Besides, she can’t get in too much trouble here.”
“I guess you’re right.” Mallory stops in front of me and shrugs. “But she’s already cost us fifteen hundred dollars because of her love of eating socks. I don’t want her falling off a rock or something.”
It’s true the dog has been expensive so far, but there is no price that I wouldn’t pay for that look I’d seen on Mallory’s face when I brought the dog home on our first anniversary. “I have a feeling she’s going to cost more than that in the years to come.”
“Probably.” Mallory laughs softly and glances down at Daisy, who’s staring at me, awaiting my next command. “You are such a traitor,” she jokes. “Have you forgotten you’re supposed to be my puppy?”
I laugh, taking Mallory’s hand, pulling her closer.
She leans against me and adds, “You know, I’m beginning to feel like they both love you more.”
“Nothing can possibly love anything more than the way that I love you.” I wrap my arms around her, capturing a kiss. I pour all the heat I can into the kiss, stealing away those thoughts.
I keep up the kiss until she’s melting beneath my touch. Only then do I break away, finding her cheeks flushed and eyes dilated. I reach for her hand and kiss the ring I’d placed there a month ago. “Or have you forgotten how much I love you already?” I had proposed right here in Muskoka, on the rock overlooking my mother’s cottage.
