Epilogue
SAOIRSE
ONE YEAR LATER
If someone told me last Christmas Eve I’d be standing in the Silver Spur Saloon again, I would’ve hit them with a snow globe.
But here I am, in the same spot by the mechanical bull, with a triple-upgraded version of last year’s disgrace.
This elf costume is emerald velvet, with discreet sequins, and I’m wearing red opaque tights and a matching velvet hat that manages to be whimsical and almost classy.
The difference between last year’s elf and this year’s? I’m married to the love of my life and have an adorable three-month-old daughter, and the total, unrepentant happiness that comes from being so loved, you never have to worry about anything again.
And the best part? Instead of being stranded here, freezing my butt off and humiliated, I bribed my favorite ranch owner to babysit Eva, our three-month-old, so I could pull off a holiday surprise for my husband.
While I wait for Tanner to bring Flint in, I walk over to the bar. Lex, the bartender, the only man in town who can pour a shot with one hand and break up a fist fight with the other, gives my outfit a once-over and grins, shaking his head in disbelief.
He cackles as he mops the counter, tossing me a look over his shoulder. "Way better than last year's model," he says. The joke lands exactly like he wants it to.
I try not to look annoyed, but I can't help the exaggerated eye roll. "I’m never going to live that down, am I?"
"Not in this lifetime," he shoots back, winking as he slides off to top off a glass. The air is thick with citrus cleaner and the scrape of glasses, and I’m suddenly so jumpy my heart is doing laps in my chest. It rattles around like a wild animal in a metal trash can.
I grip the edge of the counter and take a steadying breath. Tonight, the plan is to let my husband in on our little secret. My surprise. The thought knocks the air out of me for a second, but I hold it together.
Lex comes back and asks, “You want anything while you wait? We’ve got a new drink on the menu.” He leans in conspiratorially. “It was named after you.”
I blink several times. I’ve been to the Silver Spur Saloon a few times with my husband and his friends, but I’ve never done anything to warrant naming drinks. “Me?”
"That's right.” He smirks, his weathered face crinkling at the corners. “Elf Kisses." He chuckles, sliding a cocktail shaker between his calloused hands. "Want to give it a try? It's sweet with a kick, just like you."
"Give what a try?" The deep rumble of Flint's voice sends goosebumps racing across my skin as his warm breath brushes against my neck.
I spin around, my bell jingling, to find my cowboy husband standing there in his worn leather jacket that smells of pine and horses.
His blue eyes crinkle at the corners, drinking me in like I'm the only Christmas present he needs.
"Lex named a new holiday drink after me." I smirk up at my husband, my heart fluttering like it did that first night. “It’s called Elf Kisses.”
"Nice." Flint's smile spreads across his face, slow as honey, then he leans down. His strong hands cup my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks as his lips claim mine. The taste of him floods my senses as his tongue moves against mine, and suddenly, the rowdy bar around us fades away.
Then a throat clears behind us, and Flint pulls back and doesn’t miss a beat. He leans in closer, nuzzling my jaw. “Lex. Two Elf Kisses.”
Here’s the perfect opportunity to give my husband his anniversary surprise. I lean in, fighting a grin, and glance over at Lex. “One Elf Kisses for Flint. And a Shirley Temple for me. Extra cherries on mine, please.”
Flint’s eyebrows shoot straight up. He stares at me, all slow cowboy intensity. That dimple cuts deep in his cheek. “You’re not drinking?”
I bite my lip and slide closer, brushing my fingers over his chest. “Not for another seven months,” I whisper, for his ears only. At least, I hope he’s the only one who hears.
He goes utterly still.
His eyes narrow, then widen, then holy hell, I think the entire saloon is about to witness the world’s hottest cowboy short-circuit. He catches my waist, anchoring me to his side like he’s afraid I’ll float away. His hands are shaking a little.
“You’re serious?” Flint’s voice drops to a rumble.
As I nod, Tanner grumbles behind us, “Damn, man, give your wife a break every now and then.”
“Fuck off,” my husband grumbles to his boss and hugs me close to his body. “I love you, Sugar Plum.” My heart does this ridiculous little backflip in my chest.
“I love you, too,” I manage to squeak, even though I can’t actually feel my legs right now because Flint is holding me so tight I’m hovering two inches above the sticky bar floor.
Not that I’m complaining. My husband is basically a human weighted blanket with biceps to spare, and there is exactly nowhere else I’d rather be.
Especially when he presses my face into his neck and just breathes me in like he’s never letting go.
Lex slides our drinks across the counter with a smirk that says he’s having way too much fun eavesdropping. The glasses clink together, one the palest mint green with a red sugar rim and sprig of rosemary, the other a glass of Sprite so loaded with cherries it’s practically a fruit salad.
I sit on one of the ridiculously tall barstools, and Flint steps in behind me and wraps his arms around me. He tugs me to his chest like he’s never letting go. His grip is ridiculously tight, but I’m not complaining. This is right where I’m meant to be.
Tanner sits on the barstool next to us and barks, “Lex, Guinness.” He sizes us up, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Two years in a row, huh? You two are gonna repopulate this town at record pace.”
Flint just smirks and pulls me closer. “We’re overachievers,” he rumbles, his palm squeezing my hip. His wedding ring glints in the bar light, and my stomach does a happy triple backflip. Life doesn’t get any better than this.
Tanner holds up his beer bottle. “Congrats, Flint and Saoirse. You two are disgustingly adorable.”
“That we are,” my husband agrees with his boss before leaning over to whisper in my ear, “Finish your drink, Sugar Plum, so I can take you home and celebrate.”
He doesn’t have to ask me twice. I pick up the drink and down it in one swallow. “Let’s go.”
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In this story, we introduced Tanner, Cole, Blaze, Bishop and Walker. These cowboys will be getting their own stories in the Silver Spoon Cowboys series is coming 2026!!