Epilogue
Kalen
A s I drive across town, I glance at Sahara, my stomach in turmoil in the best possible way. I haven’t asked her to move in with me, even though it’s everything I’ve ever wanted, because I needed to do some renovations first. I hate her living where she is, but when I explained that carpenters were coming and going because I was making a small dance studio/theater for Taylor, she totally understood. I’ve mostly been sleeping at her place, but tonight, with the construction finally completed, I’m going to ask her to move in.
It’s Christmas Eve and tomorrow our families will be coming for a big Christmas dinner, something I want to do annually. When I say families, I mean everyone: her parents, all her brothers and sisters, my dad and Miles, and of course my sister. Even though Elias is in the process of moving into his own place, a slow progression with us in the middle of our NHL season, I’m happy my hockey brother will be having dinner with us tomorrow.
Honestly, he never talked much about what happened at Thanksgiving, other than having Taylor on his arm really helped keep his meddling mother off his back. Taylor didn’t say too much either, which is odd for her, but she’s had her head down studying and I’m proud of her.
It’s funny really because Sahara’s family had been trying to marry her off to a man of their choice. Elias’ family is doing the same, but Sahara and I found each other, and now she’s my fiancée. Hopefully my buddy, my brother in every way but blood, will find his own fiancée too, without family interference.
Fiancée.
Will I ever get used to that? I hope not, because as soon as the season is over, we’re getting married. I want to call this incredible woman my wife. Tonight, Taylor is helping Elias with a few things—she’s been mostly staying there with the construction going on, which means Sahara and I have the place to ourselves.
I reach across and take her gloved hand in mine. She gives me a smile so full of happiness and joy it fills my heart with all the love I have for her.
“Looking forward to tomorrow?” I ask.
She laughs. “Did you forget what I said about big family dinners, Kalen? Chaos. Total and utter chaos.” I laugh, and I don’t care. I can’t wait. Although the last time I visited her brother’s house for a big dinner, surprising her, that didn’t turn out so well. This time, however, no surprises, other than the one I have waiting for her, and I’m pretty sure this is a good one.
“I’m making a special dish,” I tell her, and she arches a brow.
“Oh? Do tell?”
I whistle innocently and she whacks me. “Tell me.”
I laugh. “Let’s just say it has something to do with noodles and cheese.”
“You’re making mac and cheese.” I grin, giving her a minute to catch up and her eyes go wide. “You’re kidding?”
“Not kidding. I had a truck load of Beecher’s cheese delivered.”
“Kalen no way.”
“Merry Christmas babe.”
“That’s the best gift ever.”
We reach my driveway, which is a bit slick, and I ease the car in. “Let me come get you.”
She laughs. “Kalen, my knight in shining armor.”
I hold my hand up. “No armor, but I do have gloves.” I carefully walk around the front of the vehicle and open her door. I take her hand and help her out.
“My bag,” she reminds me, and I open the back door and pull it out. Soon enough she won’t need to pack an overnight bag, and I really hope she’s open to the idea of moving in. I know her independence is important to her, and our wedding isn’t until next summer, but I want her in my house and in my bed.
I hike her bags over my shoulder. “What’s in here?”
“Clothes and presents for everyone.”
“Everyone?” We all drew names because buying gifts for everyone was too much work with all the busy schedules.
“You, Taylor, Elias, and your dad.”
She drew Dad, and I drew her sister London. Thankfully she helped me pick out a gift for her sister. We got her some feng shui crystal tree thing that I know nothing about. Sahara didn’t ask for my help with Dad, and that doesn’t surprise me. She’s wicked smaht, and no doubt got him a fabulous gift.
I open the door and as soon as we step inside, I set the bag down and pull her to me. I press my lips to hers and I will never ever get tired of the way she melts into me. Jesus, I love this woman.
I inch back and her eyes go wide as she glances around. She was here at the beginning of construction and the place was a mess, and there were numerous carpenters coming and going. “Is Taylor’s room finished?” she asks. “It’s so quiet.”
“Finally done.”
Excitement moves over her face. “Has she seen it?”
“No, it’s been blocked off. Too much dust and danger.”
She nods. “I can’t wait to see her face when she sees it for the first time.”
I cock my head and arch a brow. “Do you think you might want a peek?”
Her eyes widen. “Really?” Her curiosity instantly fades and she makes a sound, like she’s unsure. “I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t be the first. It’s her surprise, and that somehow feels wrong.”
Dammit, I really wanted her to say yes. Playing it off, I shrug my shoulders. “Okay, if you don’t want to.”
She chuckles. “I actually do.”
“Okay, come on then. I know Taylor won’t mind. I’m sure she’ll be delighted.”
She eyes me, like she’s not so sure about that. I pick her bag back up and carry it upstairs. We stop at my bedroom and I put it on my bed.
“I can’t believe you built her a dance studio. It’s going to be amazing to have her own place to dance, and to rehearse.” She grins at me. “Do you think she’ll let me use it?” A quick shake of her head. “No, it’s her space. I can’t ask that.”
“Would you like your own space too, Sahara?”
“Someday, sure. My apartment seems to grow smaller every day.”
“Probably because I’m practically living there with you.” We stop outside the newly built room, and I put my hand on the knob. “But now that this is done and men aren’t coming and going and there’s no dust to make you sick, I’d love it if you moved in here with me.”
Her smile is soft and warm and curls around my heart and tugs tight.
“I would love that, Kalen. But are you sure you want me moving in before we get married?”
“No one in my family is old fashioned,” I tell her.
She laughs. “My mom is, but she’s so happy I ‘snagged’ an NHL player.” She does air quotes around the word snagged. “She’ll want us shacking up, because it takes us one step closer to the altar.”
“She has nothing to worry about. You’re not getting away from me.”
“Ooh, possessive. I never knew.”
I laugh. “Right.” I twist the knob. “Ready to see this?”
She nods as I push open the door, and wave for her to step inside. The minute she does, a gasp escapes her throat.
“Kalen…” She spins around, taking in the floor to ceiling bookshelves, the sliding ladder, and the comfy chairs and tables. “Kalen,” she whispers again. “This…this isn’t a dance studio, it’s…it’s…”
“Your brand-new library. Just for you, my sweet fiancée.” She spins to see me, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“It’s…mine?”
“Merry Christmas, babe.”
She gulps and stands there, shock and happiness and disbelief all moving over her face at once. “Babe,” I begin. “It’s yours. I fibbed about it being Taylor’s, because I wanted to surprise you. You’re not mad that I fibbed, are you? I know we said no more secrets.” My heart races because she’s not speaking. She’s just standing there looking at me like I might be some kind of monster. I take a step toward her, put my hand on her arm.
“I can’t believe you built me a library.”
“Do you like it?”
“I…I love it. I love you. I mean, I thought the cheese was amazing, but this…this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“It has its own nook with a comfy chair for reading, and Gina helped me fill it with books we thought you’d like.”
She sniffs. “I’m the luckiest person in the world.”
“Nah, I think I am.”
She backs up. “I got something for you.” She crinkles her nose. “I’m not sure…”
Reading the worry in her eyes, I assure her, “Sahara, all I want for Christmas is you.” Jesus, I sound like a song. “Now show me what you got me?” I joke and touch her blouse. “Is it under here?”
That lightens her mood. “No. Wait here.” She disappears and I walk around the library, admiring the dark wood, and the cozy nook in the corner, her private spot for reading. There isn’t even a chair in here for me, because I want it to be her private space, for her and her alone.
Well, almost…
She comes back with a bag in her hand. “I…I…didn’t have time to wrap it. I can do it now.”
“I don’t need it wrapped, babe.” Worried eyes meet mine. “Show me.”
She reaches into the bag and pulls out a picture frame. The second I look at the picture, my heart is in my throat. “Sahara,” I murmur, my eyes lifting.
“It was the one thing missing from this house.” Her smile is wobbly. “Besides this library, of course.”
I look back at the picture of Mom and me. I’m about six years old, sitting on her lap, a book in my hands. Memories of that happy day come rushing back in a whoosh and my heart overflows with love. “This is the best gift anyone has ever given me,” I say, and bend down and press my lips to hers. “I love it, Sahara.”
“You have so many of Taylor and your mom, and none of you, and I thought?—”
“You’re right. I did need this. I wasn’t ready for this until you.”
“Your dad sent me some old photo albums. I kept them hidden at my place. I was terrified you were going to find them.” She reaches back into the bag and pulls out another picture. “This is what I got for your dad.”
Tears well up in my eyes, when I see a framed picture of Dad and me. His hand on my shoulder after a game. I was about thirteen in the picture, and it was when Mom was sick. The pride in Dad’s eyes as he looks at me reminds me of happy times, of love and forgiveness.
She worries her bottom lip. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
I nod, and tears fall down my face. “He will love it.”
I put my arms around her and hug her tightly. “One more thing,” I manage to push out past the lump in my throat.
“No, Kalen. You can’t give me anything else. This library is everything.”
“It’s just something small.”
She folds her arms and gives me a warning look. “It had better be small.”
I lead her to a section of the bookshelf. “Pull the book on Kama Sutra.”
She gives me an odd look. “Is something going to jump out at me?”
I wink. “Possibly later.”
She grips the book, tugs and a little clicking sound fills the room. “No,” she practically shrieks when a panel opens to reveal a secret room. A laugh bubbles out of her. “You didn’t?”
“Oh, but I did. You see, after we fill this house with kids, we’re going to need our own, private hiding spot to do, you know…things.”
“Things?” Her grin is playful and mischievous.
I pull her to me. “You know, things that are in that book.”
Laughing, she rubs against me and my cock thickens. “Hey, I thought you said it was just something small.”
“Another fib,” I laugh and push Mr. President against her. “I wasn’t lying about something jumping out at you, though.”
She shakes her head and frowns. “You’re not my knight in shining armor at all.” Before I can ask what she means, she grabs my shirt and tugs me into the secret room. “You’re my beast.”
I laugh. “And you’re my beauty.”
I close the door behind us, draping us in darkness, and pull her against me. “Now why don’t we finish what we started all those years ago.”
“Ah, but we’re not finishing anything,” she says, going up on her toes to kiss me. “This is just the beginning of our own fairy tale.”
“Yeah babe…it’s just the beginning…”