Epilogue
Mason
Three Months Later
“Left a bit,” Ash commented, his brow furrowed in concentration. I dutifully moved the mirror to the left as requested, trying to center the frame on the hook above the fireplace mantle. “And some more.” I moved again. “Perfect.” Then he gave me a wide grin, making my heart thump harder and my knees go weak, because despite all the shit I put him through he still chose to stay, rather than dump my sorry ass.
Heading to his side I studied our handiwork, not that I was double-checking the mirror was level or anything, then let my eyes rove over the rest of the room. The big squishy white sectional delivered yesterday, in time for the arrival of our guests, sat facing the new set of custom panorama doors we’d installed to get the maximum view of the ocean beyond.
A large battered antique leather footstool sat in the middle of the floor, giving us a place to put our feet up as we snuggled together in the evenings under the thick woolen blankets Ash had bought for when the nights turned chilly.
Turning slowly in a full circle, I scanned the airy open space. The white shaker kitchen built by Cam with the marbled quartz countertops was Ash’s pride and joy. He loved to sit at the island on his maple bar chairs while watching me cook, and I loved him being there. His eyes tracking me as I moved around prepping and cooking our food made my stomach do somersaults every single time.
Behind me, against the wall in the dining area was the hutch, also built by Cam from the shiplap we’d saved when demolishing the wall between the kitchen and the living area. An old farmhouse table he’d found in a junkyard sat in front of that. Ash had sanded and waxed the top and painted the legs in the same color as the walls. My guy definitely liked to coordinate his furniture.
My guy .
That would never get old.
On the wall hung a piece of art I’d commissioned from Flynn. The driftwood sculpture, made from bleached wood we’d found along the beach, was stunningly beautiful, and Ash adored it. The fact he had multiple pieces in his home made by his closest friends made him extremely happy.
After completing my 360 degree tour, my gaze went back to Ash, who silently regarded me. His fitted lemon-yellow T-shirt, navy shorts, and flip-flops were sexy as hell, and he looked good enough to eat. “Perfect indeed,” I agreed, smiling as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Be serious,” he admonished me as I closed the small distance between us and wrapped my arms around his waist, needing his body next to mine.
“I am,” I said, pressing my lips lightly to his. “Never more so.”
He squirmed some under my intense scrutiny before kissing me lightly on the lips. “Incorrigible,” he sighed but I ignored him, deepening the kiss until he became relaxed and pliant in my arms, exactly the way I liked him. The smallest of gestures or touches always affected him so deeply, and I vowed to keep on doing them, to watch the contented look appear on his face each and every time.
I’d barely slid my hands down the outside of his shorts and over his butt when there was a knock on the front door followed by the sound of it opening and Ethan’s shout of hello greeting us. I let out a soft “Nuh-uh,” as Ash tried to pull free of my embrace, ever conscious of how new all this was for me and probably not wanting to make me feel awkward in front of my friends. I keenly disabused him of the notion by hauling him firmly against my side where he belonged.
Ethan and Nate hadn’t entered the living area after a minute or so, and I was about to go find them when a long whistle came from one of the first-floor bedrooms along with a muffled, “Fancy schmancy.”
“What’s he doing?” Ash asked.
“Evaluating,” I answered as they eventually strolled into the room.
“You sure you don’t want to sell the place, Ash?” Ethan asked. “I’d give you top dollar for it.”
“Hey,” I protested. “Our home is not for sale.”
He grinned and raised his hands. “Just checking.”
Nate came around Ethan and over to pull me in for a hug. “Ignore him. He never thinks about anything apart from making a quick buck,” he said, releasing me and moving on to hug Ash.
Ethan’s gaze moved to stare hungrily at Nate’s ass. “I’m thinking about something else right now,” he drawled, smiling wickedly at the blush creeping up his boyfriend’s cheeks.
“Behave,” he reprimanded, though his voice held no censure.
“I am,” Ethan said innocently as Nate returned to stand beside his man. Ethan automatically slipped his arm around his waist, holding him close and kissing him on the temple.
My brain still failed to compute how relaxed and at ease he’d become since meeting Nate. I wondered if my friends saw the same type of changes in me and then had to chuckle at my own stupidity, as I was absolutely sure they had.
Meeting Ash had changed my life in so many ways in the last few months I didn’t recognize myself anymore, and I couldn’t be more grateful. After Lindsay cheated and the trauma of being attacked, I’d been drowning, floundering in deep water trying to come to terms with what’d happened. Ash had saved me. Hauled me out of the waters and safely back onto dry land. I owed everything to the man at my side, the one I proudly got to call my partner.
Well, fingers crossed, more than my partner after tonight.
Looking at Ash, our eyes connecting, a deep abiding love filled me. I copied Ethan and slipped my arm around his waist and pulled him in close, his body melding to mine. He was all I’d ever wanted in a life partner and a lover. He’d seen the darkest parts of me and brought out the light. He’d learned every single one of my faults, yet he wanted to be with me anyway, and I wouldn’t change my life with him for all the world.
Leaning in close, my nose nuzzling his ear I breathed him in. “I love you.”
Ash
Three little words.
How they turned my whole world upside down and inside out every time he uttered them had me permanently stumped.
I had never contemplated in the slightest that I’d have this. The sheer contentment whenever Mason held me in his arms was like nothing I’d ever experienced, even though I’d longed for exactly this my whole life. He soothed me, made me feel safe and secure but most of all, he made me feel loved.
Me .
The mere thought of him loving me did more for my happiness and peace of mind than I could ever put into words, and I’d do anything to keep him thinking that way.
The last few months had tested my resolve as I’d adjusted to my new life with Mason and rapidly came to terms with what being the partner of the man who owned a quarter share of a successful construction company actually meant. My first trip to New York had been incredibly daunting, crammed full of people and dinners or events every other day, but he’d taken all my worries and gently soothed every one of them away, coaxing me into his world with as minimal disruption and stress as possible.
The first time I went to his office massively brought home how successful he and his partners were. They didn’t only rent a couple of floors of the skyscraper their offices were in; they owned the whole damn building.
I’d almost died of shock when he’d told me as we’d made our way through the lobby, as person after person warmly greeted him and welcomed him back. All the insecurities I had of not being good enough, and why the hell he’d want to be with me when he had a whole city of men way more handsome, sexy, well put together, and successful to choose from had me second-guessing myself all over again. But with each kiss of his lips and caress of his hands on my body, Mason once again soothed all those fears away, reassuring me I was the one he wanted, the one he loved. And, though the four of them were a success now, they certainly hadn’t started out that way.
I’d clicked with Nate as soon as we’d met, becoming good friends in no time. I’d asked his secret for coping with how different he and Ethan were, and he told me they’d worked hard at finding ways to reach common ground with interests both of them enjoyed, no matter how big or small. And in his case, not needing to involve spending huge amounts of money he didn’t have. He said he found joining their lives difficult to begin with, especially when Ethan whisked him away somewhere expensive, but he’d overcome his worries by surprising him with things only he, Nate, could do, and that helped him to feel they were both equal in their partnership.
He gave me a lot to think about after we got home.
With Mason’s advice and mentoring, I’d already bought my first reno project. A small fixer-upper, which would be a good introduction for me into the renovation business. Though how I’d manage to sell when I poured all my time and effort into making the place perfect was already giving me sleepless nights. I’d roped in Cam too, and he’d agreed to build the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. If all went well, this could be a lucrative business for both of us.
Inevitably, it would take Mason and me a while to get fully comfortable with each other and discover a routine that worked for each of us, but we were getting there. We both loved living in our beach house, and I thanked Aunt Mary Ellen every day for one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.
Glancing over at Mason, I felt so overwhelmingly happy and content. And seeing him laughing and enjoying time with his friends never stopped filling me with so much joy at how far he’d come from the reclusive man I’d first met.
His arms slipped around my waist, and he drew me in close to his side. My pulse thudded heavily as he leaned in and nuzzled at my ear.
“I love you,” he repeated gently, making my whole body boneless as I swayed against him.
“I love you too.” And I did. With my whole heart.
Snuggling in as close as I could get, letting his heat and love surround me, made me realize I’d never dared hope to get lucky enough to have a man as wonderful as Mason by my side. We were bound to have our ups and downs in the future, but we’d always have each other to lean on for love and support, whatever life decided to throw our way, and really, it didn’t get any better than that.