Bonus Epilogue
LIVVY
“Montgomery cowboys. What do you think?”
I looked over at my brother and shook my head. “I don’t really think that’s a thing.”
“It’s totally a thing. Or at least, it could be. You’ve been here in Clover Lake for months now so you’ve got the lay of the land. Mom and Dad always said we could reach for the stars. One of us could be president. The other a rocket scientist.”
“We already have a rocket scientist in the family,” I cut in.
John rolled his eyes. “Fine. We can scratch that one off the list. But we do not have any Montgomery cowboys yet. I looked at the spread. It could be a thing.”
“Did you just say spread?” I asked, barely resisting the urge to laugh.
“I would look good with a cowboy hat. I’m just saying.”
“You know, they do have ranches in Colorado. The entire state isn’t merely I10 with cities popping up all over it. There’s an entire east and south Colorado. You should visit it sometime.”
I tilted my face up to Ewan as he walked over to us, my heart beating so loudly I was afraid my family would be able to hear it across the clearing.
Ewan gave me a certain small smile telling me far more than anything he could ever say, and I nearly sighed into him. When he lowered his hand and gently ran it against my cheek, I let out an audible sigh.
“Well, it looks like I’m clearly in the way,” John said with a clearing of his throat. “And if you’re not going to let me be a Montgomery cowboy in Clover Lake, Wyoming, I suppose I will have to make it work in Colorado. Maybe I can go down to the rodeo, see a barrel racer. Barrel racers are hot.”
I threw my pen at him, and John barely caught it with those catlike reflexes before running toward my parents who currently had Amelia in their arms.
I shook my head again and looked back at Ewan, who only had eyes for me. It was so odd to think I knew exactly what was on his mind in that moment. Me.
I had never been the center of anyone’s attention before. At least, not purely. I had always shared that spot. And I hadn’t minded as a daughter, sister, a cousin. Sharing that spotlight was what made a family healthy.
No, I had never felt like this with anyone else in my life. Because I had never been loved like this. I was the center of humans in this moment.
Could freely melt into a puddle.
When he lowered his head, brushing his lips against my own, I nearly swooned.
And I, Livvy Montgomery, did not swoon.
“I’m fucking happy that you’re here.”
That deep voice of his went straight to my soul.
I patted the steps next to me. “Join me. Because I’m glad that I’m here as well.”
When I had been younger, watching the truly independent women in my life, I promised myself I would never pack everything up, throw away what didn’t work, and change my life completely for a man. I was going to be that independent woman who stood up for herself and didn’t compromise.
And how idiotic it would have been if I had truly leaned into that mindset.
Because that was not how my parents lived. Yes, my mother had moved from New Orleans to Colorado where my father’s family was from, but it wasn’t that she had been torn from it. She had freely left that city and all of its painful memories behind. All to start new together . They had made compromises with each other. Just like the majority of my family who’d found each other later.
I had been so scared because of what Brick had done, that I hadn’t even realized I had built those walls around myself. And not merely around my heart, but my life, and my daughter as well.
Somehow this cowboy had climbed over that wall and had thrown me a rope. He had tossed me over his shoulder and taken me away. Then he had knocked down that wall. He had given me a new direction. One where I could take his hand, or I could walk away.
And I was never going to walk away from Ewan McBride.
Ewan took the seat next to me and sighed as I stared at the worn jeans that hugged his ass. I realized that a man in Wranglers could do that to a woman.
“I see you checking me out.”
I could feel the heat rising to my skin, but instead of hiding from it, I just looked him up and down and winked.
“I can’t help it. You’re kind of hot.”
“You’re going to make me blush, Montgomery.”
I snorted and leaned forward, resting my forehead against his. “You should be careful about calling me Montgomery. There are a few of us here.”
“That there is. How many more did you say are coming this week?”
I held back a smile at the hesitation and slight worry in his tone.
“My entire family is not coming here right now. Do not worry. Just some of my favorite cousins, the ones that you’ve met and are currently friends with will be visiting. They just had a few things to deal with.” I tried not to think about that too hard because I knew a couple of cousins might not be able to make an appearance at all.
They had far more in their lives to overcome then I had ever thought possible, but they would have me to rely on. Even if I was far away.
“First, when we say some of your favorite cousins, that means all of them. Because I know you actually like your family.” I opened my mouth to speak, but Ewan slipped his finger over my lips. I melted, and he just smiled that beautiful smile of his. “Second, why did you get those shadows in your eyes just then? You were overthinking as it was before I sat down next to you. Talk to me.”
I sighed, wondering how he could know me so well. Then again hadn’t I just thought of my own surprise that I could read him just as well?
“I’m worried about a few of them, but you know why.” I didn’t keep secrets from Ewan, nor did he with me. And we were still learning each other with each passing day. “I do love my family equally, but I do have a list of favorites. It’s what you have to do to enjoy yourself.”
“So you’re saying I should make a list of my favorite people in your family?”
“Please do,” I said with a laugh, and he leaned down, kissing me softly.
I was never going to get used to that.
His touch. His taste.
The way that I knew his gaze would dart over to the side every so often just like mine did to ensure Amelia was okay.
This man loved my baby girl just as much as I did.
And just like that, my heart broke open into a thousand pieces, to ensure that I could wrap it around Ewan.
“Livvy. Talk to me.”
Again, that deep voice just did something to me.
“I am thinking about how blessed I am.” His eyes widened marginally in surprise. “I never expected you. Honestly, I never thought to even try dreaming someone like you up.”
He pushed my hair back from my face, and he swallowed hard. “I never tried to dream you up either. However, asking you to be my fake date to a wedding where everybody already knew there was no way you could be one, in truth, was kind of genius.” His eyes crinkled at the side as he smiled.
I leaned forward to kiss his chin. “I am your date from here on out, at least. So that worked. And at the next wedding, I can plan ahead.”
“What if that wedding was ours?” he asked softly.
I froze, leaning backward, my heart racing. “Excuse me?
“Don’t sound so surprised, Montgomery.”
“Ewan,” I whispered, tears threatening as my whole world lit up with this man’s words.
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. “What did you think I was going to ask you, Livvy? I love you from the very depths of my soul. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you the first time I saw you in the park, and I will be forever grateful that I was there.”
My heart beat quickly, and I swallowed hard. “You saved my baby girl.”
“You saved me .”
“I hardly think those two equate to each other.”
“We can disagree on that. You wrapped your soul around mine, just like I want to do the same to yours. You came up to Wyoming and brought that little girl I love so much with you. I want to be yours in truth, Livvy. You traveled so far to be here, and I want to make sure you know I’m yours. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you never regret it.”
Tears fell down my cheeks as I tried to catch my breath. “You’re our home too, Ewan.”
Ewan kissed my tears away. “And if you ever want to visit your family, we have a plane to get you there.”
“That still sounds unbelievable.” I paused. “Should I ask how rich you are?” I teased, loving the way he threw his head back and laughed.
“I like how you’re asking that before you answer my question. Smart.”
I slid my hands over my face, mortification settling in. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know, Liv. I know. Now, what do you say? You said yes to being my fake date, will you be my real wife?”
I looked down, and my breath caught in my throat.
He held an old-fashioned ring with a large oval diamond in the center, and more diamonds and blue gems surrounding the center stone.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered
My tough cowboy cleared his throat. “It was my grandmother’s. She had dainty hands just like you. Hopefully it fits.”
“I don’t even know what to say...”
“Marry me. We already promised to live our lives together. Here on the ranch, and down south with all of the Montgomerys. So no matter what happens, I am going to spend the rest of my life with you. But I want to do it as your husband. I want to face the future together, knowing that we have balance between us. Call me old-fashioned, but watching my best friend say his vows to the love of his life made me realize I want to do the same.”
“I never thought I would get married,” I whispered, speaking my biggest fear.
“Because the men in Denver and Colorado Springs are the most selfish asinine people I’ve ever met.” He burst out laughing, and he just shook his head at me. “You should have been taken long ago.”
“Maybe I was waiting for you? Or maybe I felt old-fashioned.”
“Let’s figure this journey out together. Let me help you raise that baby girl who captured my heart right along with you. You’ve been living up here for a few months now. I want you to stay. I might even let you convince me to change my name.”
“I think we can find a compromise.” I let out a breath and watched as he slid the ring onto my finger. “Yes. I will marry you. And I cannot wait to figure this out with you.”
Tears were sliding down my cheeks as Ewan leaned forward and kissed me soundly on the mouth before he leaned back, a frown on his face. “You know, I had a plan.”
I frowned up at him, wondering why he didn’t look too happy. Had I done it wrong? Was I supposed to say yes in a different way? “What do you mean?”
“There are damn candles all set up for later asking you to marry me. It wasn’t going to be public, because I know you hate public proposals. But it was going to be us . I just saw you here, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I want you to be mine. As possessive and domineering as that sounds. I want you to be fucking mine.”
My eyes widened before I burst out laughing. “Are you serious?”
He stood up then, pulling me with him. “Amelia, come on over!”
My daughter ran toward us, her face bright. She leapt toward Ewan, causing my heart to stop, but he stood up and caught her, as if he had been doing this all of her life. That child of mine had no fear when it came to him. As if she trusted him to catch her always.
Considering that’s how we first met, maybe it was imprinted on her.
Maybe Ewan was just that good of a man.
“Well,” Ewan began, his voice grumpy as he set Amelia on his hip. “I jumped the gun.”
“What gun?” my daughter asked, all innocent eyes.
Ewan winced. “It’s just an expression. What I meant to say was I messed up our plan.”
Amelia’s face fell as she leaned into Ewan’s hold. “Oh no!”
“What plan?” I asked, my heart beating a rapid staccato.
“Well, I had to ask somebody’s permission to get this right after all.”
I froze before tears started to fall once again. “Amelia?
“He’s going to be my daddy. Right?” She lifted her chin as if she’d fight me if I said no.
Ewan leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Your mommy said yes. So yes. I’m going to be your daddy. Your mommy is going to be my wife.”
Amelia looked at me before she stuck out her bottom lip and pouted. “I was going to wear my dress. And then I was going to get down on my knees to help him ask. Because he needs help asking.”
I hadn’t realized my family had surrounded us until my father and brother burst out laughing and my mother started crying in earnest.
Ewan let out a breath. “You can still wear your dress and I’m sorry I didn’t let you ask the question. So, what do you say, Amelia. Do you want to ask your mommy now?”
Amelia turned to me, wiping tears from those chubby cheeks.
“Will you marry us, Mommy? I want Ewan to be my daddy.”
“Well, damn,” my father muttered, and I looked to see him wiping tears. “Don’t look at me. Go look at your daughter who is way too cute.”
My mother was now wiping away my brother’s tears and I knew I had the best family in the world.
“Don’t keep the man waiting,” John ordered, and I stood up, running down the final two steps before I threw myself at the two of them. I clung to Ewan’s side, because I knew he would always catch me, and I leaned forward to kiss my daughter on her other cheek.
“Yes. I’ll marry the both of you. I’m sorry you didn’t get to wear your dress first though.”
“It’s okay,” Amelia said solemnly before patting my cheek. “I’ll get to wear another dress for the wedding too. Because I’m a flower girl,” she announced very haughtily.
Ewan shook his head and laughed. “I think I’m in trouble.”
“You took my daughter across state lines, and you’re marrying a Montgomery. Of course you’re in trouble.”
“Dad,” I said with a sigh, but I couldn’t help but smile at my family, wondering exactly how I got here.
It was only supposed to be a fake date, a favor for a man who’d saved my daughter. A favor that hadn’t truly equated to what he had done for me.
And yet we stood on Ewan’s family’s land, and as his brothers, sister, and parents came riding toward us, I sighed into the arms of the man that I loved. Clover Lake had become our home, a part of me I hadn’t expected. And Ewan’s family had welcomed us with open arms. I knew they had so much more to give, so much more to see, and I couldn’t wait to be part of it with them.
I had no idea what would happen next, no idea how I was going to face any changes that came along the way. But I knew I would be able to do it alongside the man I loved, my fake date—and the daughter who had taken his heart at first sight.
“I love you, Livvy,” he whispered as he kissed me softly, and Amelia clapped her hands in his arms.
“I love you too. And I’m really sorry because I have a feeling this wedding is going to be big.”
“Anything you want. You deserve it, Livvy. This flashiest, most ridiculous, most extravagant wedding you want.”
“Well, there you’ve done it,” my dad said with a laugh, and I shook my head, taking a step back.
I had fallen for a cowboy, and now the Montgomerys would be taking over Wyoming.
I couldn’t wait.
* * *
Don’t worry, Ewan’s secretive family are each getting their own romance in the Clover Lake series! Next up: Accidental Runaway Groom !
Shep & Shae’s romance, Ink Inspired , started it all. So don’t miss out Livvy’s parents fell in love in New Orleans!
Lexington Montgomery finds his match in Last Chance Seduction in the Montgomery Ink Legacy series! Livvy and Ewan are also part of that series and will make guest appearances.