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Emerald nodded. “Okay, I’ll give you that.” She turned to me. “This guy’s a good one, and a woman like you is exactly what he needs.”
“You could say that again,” Gage said. “In fact, the two of you may be in our wedding a few months from now.”
“A few months.” Bo’s eyes widened. “That’s quick.”
“Well, we know a good wedding coordinator,” Emerald said.
She and Bo turned to the right, where Erika was standing. She was motioning to the photographer, but Emerald’s words gave her pause.
“Let’s get these pictures snapped before we all freeze to death,” Erika said. She looked at me. “I’ll give you my business card later.”
We had to separate for some of the pictures, but every time we came back together, Gage and I stuck together like glue. I couldn’t imagine how I’d lived twenty-four years without this man in my life. Without even knowing he was out there, living in this town that was only twenty minutes from where I grew up.
Yes, this man was my future. This man and Blackbear Bluff. These people who now surrounded me were my new family. I’d finally found home, and I never take it for granted.
EPILOGUE
JILLY
“Jilly Russell, massage therapist.”
I read the print on my new business card with a smile as I stood in front of the mailbox at the end of our driveway. This made it official. I was in business.
And soon, I’d move into the office space I was renting next to the daycare at the bottom of the mountain. It was only a couple of miles from the convenience mart where Gage had picked me up that chilly day nine months ago. And now, we were approaching our first Thanksgiving as a couple and our last Thanksgiving without children.
I rubbed my twenty-week-pregnant belly as I climbed into my SUV. Twenty weeks. I was going to have to adjust the steering wheel again soon. I wondered if I’d eventually get to the point where I was too far away to reach the pedals. Then I’d have to get Gage to drive me to my first few client appointments.
I parked my SUV next to his truck and reached for the door handle. That was when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him coming. He’d exited the house to help me out of the car. He did that a lot these days. He was always worried I’d hurt myselfor the baby with something as little as carrying a tiny box of business cards from the car to the house.
“They came,” I said, holding the box toward him.
His eyes lit up as he took the box and eyed the card I’d set on top. He was as happy as I was. He knew how much this meant to me.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetie,” Gage said, still staring at the card. “I know how hard you’ve worked for this.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Sure you could have,” he said. “But it wouldn’t have been this soon.”
He was right. We’d gotten married exactly six weeks after meeting, and I’d moved in with him. He’d encouraged me to quit my job at the bar and focus all my energy on getting my certification.
Gage carried everything, including my purse. I smiled to myself as I followed him into the cabin. This man spoiled me, and I loved every minute.
“I’d be more than happy to be your first client,” Gage said, setting everything on the kitchen table before turning to face me. “My back’s been acting up lately.”
I tilted my head and flashed a teasing smile. “You aren’t faking an injury to get my hands on you, are you?”
He winced. “Am I that obvious?”
“Transparent as can be.” I stepped toward him, wrapping my hands around his waist. “But you don’t need an excuse to get me to touch you. In fact...”
“Back to bed?” he asked.
I nodded, stepping back to remove my coat. Then I held out my hand for him to take.
As he led me into the bedroom, I imagined a future where we wouldn’t have the cabin to ourselves. All too soon, we’d have ababy, and we planned to have at least two more. But I was pretty sure we’d always find ways to get naked together.
Our clothes were off as soon as we were in the bedroom. He climbed into bed, already fully erect. It still gave me a thrill that a big, strong, super sexy guy like Gage got turned on by me. I could get him revved up just by touching his butt or rubbing against him.
