EPILOGUE
Two weeks later
Cody was on top of the world. Not only had he won his woman back, but he’d also convinced her to move in with him. While he was in Brighton, helping her mother with her own move, he’d also arranged for boxes of Cat’s stuff to be shipped over. They’d be there in a week.
He wanted all of her stuff in his house. Childhood toys, old photo albums, every single thing she hadn’t brought over the first time, he wanted it there with them. Because Woodvalley was her new home. Her forever one.
“What ya doing?” Cat sing-songed as she came up behind him.
He looked down to see her dainty hands encircling his torso and felt her curves press into him.
God. Damn. How did I get so lucky?
“Putting together your desk.” He managed to turn over the wood on his workbench, even with Cat clinging to him. He’d only just unpacked the thing after hauling it out of his truck.
“What? You got me a desk?” She let go of his waist and went to stand by his side.
“Yeah, kitten, I got you a desk. You needed one, right? For work.” He quietly watched as her bright eyes ran over the wood before her, her soft lips parting and her red nails gliding over the polished surface. “You like it? I can paint it if you don’t like the color?”
That beaming smile was directed his way again, never failing to make his insides contract. “I can’t believe you got me a desk.”
“I’ll get you anything you ever want or need, sweetheart. You haven’t worked that out yet?”
He saw that flash of fire in her eyes. The one that meant he wasn’t going to be putting together this desk anytime soon.
“I just thought of something I want.” Her hand trailed up his shirt, forcing his body to turn into her.
“Is that so?” He would never get sick of having her hands on him. “And what is it you want, kitten?”
“You, McBride. I want you.”
That was easy. She already had him. Owned every part. From now, until forever.
***
Two months later
“Mom, do you know where my sneakers are?” Dylan shouted down the stairs.
Cat’s hand came to her chest. Her heart still seized every time she heard that word. Mom . Dylan had only started calling her that a week ago, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to it.
“They’re under your desk!” she yelled just as loudly, waiting patiently to hear Dylan shout “Thanks” after he’d found them.
Big hands wrapped around her stomach from behind. And her heart was back to pumping again. Swivelling in Cody’s hold, her arms curled around his neck.
“Hello, my beautiful wife.” He grinned.
“Hello, my sexy as fuck husband,” she returned, accepting the wet kiss he laid on her lips.
That was something else that was new. She was a married woman now. Two weeks ago, they’d eloped. Exactly one day after Cody had proposed. He promised he was going to ask, and she promised she was going to say yes. And that’s exactly what happened. Neither one of them wanted to wait to make it official, either. Not now they were living together and not when she was more than ready to claim Dylan as her own.
Everyone had been happy for them. Even Libby and Zach who had grumbled at first about them beating them down the aisle. But the person who was happiest, was her.
Finally releasing her, he nuzzled her nose. “I thought we would go check out that house today, take Dylan along, make a day of it?”
“Sounds perfect.” She nuzzled him right back.
Cody wanted to buy land and build a house for her and Dylan, but that seemed pretty crazy. Especially when they both had full-time jobs and a child to raise, so they’d negotiated. They’d buy a fixer upper with some land and put their own touches on it. Make it their own.
“I’ll go get Dylan,” he said, squeezing her butt, giving her that sexy smirk as she pouted.
She wanted him again. They were newlyweds after all.
“Later, kitten, I promise.” Another kiss, only this one was quicker and far less satisfying. Then he was gone, taking the stairs two at a time.
Heading to the kitchen, she decided on one more coffee before they hit the road. For hydration reasons only. Obviously.
Humming to herself, she took her time tinkering with the coffee maker. But her serenity was short lived, interrupted a moment later by the sound of the doorbell ringing. That was odd. They weren’t expecting anyone.
Whoever it was, they were damn persistent. They’d pressed it three more times during the minute it took for Cat to get from the kitchen to the front door.
She was shocked to find Rachel on the other side. Rachel, who was sporting a nasty black eye.
“Jesus Christ, are you okay?” Cat gasped. “What happened?”
“Is Cody in? I-I need to talk to him.” She’d never heard her voice tremble before.
Shit. What the hell is going on?
Cat pulled her through the entrance, clinging to her hand as if that was magically going to fix the bruises on her face. “Of course, honey. Come on in, I’ll go get him.”
Not a second had passed before her front door was seeing more action than her. Only it was rattling this time, followed by a few heavy bangs.
Luckily, the sound had summoned Cody back down the stairs, saving her a trip. He took one look at Rachel and shot Cat a questioning look, to which she shrugged. She was just as much in the dark as he was.
Cody was the one to fling open the door this time, only to find a very pissed off looking Hunter. A hulking mass of pure rage to be exact. Pushing through the entrance without so much as an invitation, he was spinning Rachel around seconds later, wincing as he took in the sight of her.
“Where is he, honeybun? Tell me where that motherfucker is,” Hunter demanded.
Wow. Cat didn’t think she’d ever heard ‘honeybun’ and ‘motherfucker’ in the same sentence before. It kind of reminded her of something she would say.
Cody was in between them now, prying them apart, his cop hat firmly in place. “You guys want to tell me exactly what’s going on?”
Tears trickled down Rachel’s face, causing Cat to move. Pushing both men out of the way, she gathered her friend into a hug. “It’s okay, honey. Whatever it is, we’ll fix it. Okay?”
She felt Rachel’s head lolling against her. But not for long. Hunter was the one pushing her out of the way as he replaced Cat with himself, being sure to curl her into his arms as he lifted her off the ground. Cradling her to his big body, he walked them into the living room and took a seat on the sofa, keeping her friend hostage on his lap. To be fair, she didn’t seem to mind.
Cody and Cat gave each other a look before joining them, each of them sitting down on the old leather couch.
“It’s gonna be okay, honeybun. I promise. You tell me where your dad went, and I’ll sort it. You’ll never have to see him ever again. I’ll make sure of it.” Hunter stroked back her hair, his dark eyes growing gentle as he searched her expression.
Her dad? Her dad did this? Also, how the hell did Hunter know what was going on and she didn’t?
Oh my God! I have so many questions.