AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Van stands there surveying the room until his gaze lands on me.
“You’re here?” I ask.
He smirks and nods. “Brinley, I always thought of myself as a loner, definitely never thought I’d be husband material, much less a dad. But ever since you stepped into my life, I’ve changed. All I want to do is make you happy. Your smile is like being struck by Cupid every damn time. I fall more in love with you than the minute before. I wouldn’t even think it was possible. I was a fool for running away, for leaving you, lost in my own shit. But it will never happen again, I promise you. If you give me a second chance, I’ll catch you and never let you go.”
I grin at him and stand. “What took you so long?”
“I had to make sure I had everything in order.”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s that mean?”
Nate comes over and hands Van some keys. “Take care of her, okay?”
He shakes Nate’s hand. “You have my word.”
“What am I missing?” I look between them.
Nate pats Van on the back. “Everyone, meet the new owner, Van Adler. I’m retiring from the bar business and I’m gonna go start a life with my favorite person.”
Everyone stands and approaches Nate, giving him their congratulations and asking for details.
Van guides me away from the masses for some privacy.
“I thought you reenlisted?” I ask.
“Turns out my commander never turned in the paperwork. He said he took this young woman out for coffee and figured I’d be changing my mind.” He smiles at me.
“He’s a really nice guy.”
Van nods. “The best mentor ever. But I was hoping you could help me with one part of my relocation back to Lake Starlight?”
“Anything.”
“You don’t happen to know of a place I could rent, do you?” He smirks, and I bite my lip.
“Funny you should ask. I just put an ad in the paper and I put up a sign looking for a roommate.” I point at the bulletin board with a variety of business cards pinned to it.
He walks over to the board as another guy rips my number off the bottom of my flyer. Van yanks the flyer off the board and plucks my number from the guy’s fingers. The guy’s eyebrows furrow.
“The position has been filled,” Van says, then turns to me. “If you’ll have me?”
“Who else is going to make me dinner every night?”
I laugh and he steps closer, brushing my hair behind my ear, and we stare into each other’s eyes.
“Thank you for saving me,” I whisper.
“Hell, you saved me.” He dips his head, kissing me as if he’s been dreaming of this moment since we’ve been apart.
Maybe he has because God knows I have been.
Epilogue
Brinley
One Year Later…
* * *
