Epilogue - Six Months Later
Luna
The studio lights warmed my face as I adjusted the microphone clipped to my blouse. It still felt surreal, even after all these months, to call myself a best-selling author. My book series—the Bodyguard Chronicles— was lined up in bookstores, and on every “must-read” list.
“So, Luna, in an interview about your last series, you described your perfect man. Now you’re in a public relationship with your bodyguard. Tell us more about that.”
I drew in a breath, aware of the audience watching from a dozen feet away. “The public part is the hard part for me. It has been for my entire writing career. I want to create worlds that people love, not have them interested in me.”
The interviewer nodded sympathetically, then continued with the same line of questioning. “We see a lot of pictures of you two online. Life seems perfect.”
“I said that perfect was out. That perfect was boring, and that is still true.”
“Ooh, juicy, so the perfect book boyfriend has flaws?”
She was twisting my words, and the last thing I wanted was a negative viral interview.
“Hayes had a client get hurt when he was guarding him, back when he had just started as a bodyguard. That haunted him. The expectation to be perfect haunted him. Perfection isn’t a fair expectation to put on anyone, including yourself. ”
“That story made the rounds after your Texas book tour.”
I nodded. With how much attention we got online, it was bound to come out.
It was a story Gray already knew and the online book community seemed to forgive and forget fairly quickly.
All in all, there was no lasting ramifications, except that Hayes had to truly deal with what happened, rather than push it aside.
“It is important to remember that we all have our flaws. Having a bodyguard for a boyfriend means that he is always worried about my safety. Being an introvert who does interviews and book signings means that I am on edge, too. Perfect isn’t real, but the closest we get is when it is just the two of us relaxing at home, away from the spotlight. ”
Thankfully, the interviewer moved on to questions about my books and not my love life, and the rest of the interview went smoothly.
Just like that day at the conference six months ago, Hayes was waiting in the wings. I could see his shoulders relax as I approached. He had been working with Gray on getting past what had happened, but he would always worry about me.
“You did great, Darling. Are you done for the day?”
I shrugged. “I could always be writing, but I can take a break. What did you have in mind?”
He took my hand and led me to the truck, before pulling onto the highway heading toward The Ranch. “Since you wanted to do another cowboy series, I thought we could take Millie for a ride.”
I went to jump from the truck when we got to the Ranch, but Hayes stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Rule five,” he said, handing me a bottle of water. I rolled my eyes at him, but took it.
Trying to keep me alive was his love language.
Annoying him with my sarcasm was mine.
I greeted Millie like an old friend. We had ridden her a few times since I’d moved to Texas after the tour. Sometimes when Hayes had to meet with Gray, I would tag along just to visit the animals and plot out my next book. The cowboys were very inspiring and not just because of the tight Wranglers.
I wouldn’t say I was skilled at riding a horse, but Millie trusted me. I could have ridden her alone, but Hayes always sat behind me. I wasn’t about to complain about spending twenty minutes with my man’s arms wrapped around me.
It wasn’t hot like it had been the first time we’d ridden, but the sun was out, and it was a nice change of pace. We rode to the same spot, but when we got there, instead of turning around, Hayes dismounted and reached out to help me do the same.
“The view never gets less breathtaking,” I said.
He nodded in agreement. “You know what I thought when we rode out here during your book tour? Back when I was still just your bodyguard?”
I shook my head.
“That day on the trail ride… it was the first time I’d been with you and wasn’t thinking about exits or threats.
It was just us, and Millie of course. Everything felt easy.
Quiet. You made me laugh. I hadn’t done that in a long time.
Somewhere in there, I realized I wasn’t just protecting you anymore.
You made me feel at peace again. I don’t want a life without that. Or without you.”
I leaned into his side. “Well, I was thinking that I hoped I didn’t die falling off a horse, but I like yours better.”
He snorted a laugh. “That’s what I love about you, Luna, I never know what you’re going to say.” He paused for a moment, staring out at the horizon. “I think for once I’m going to say something that you won’t expect.”
“Oh, are you getting rid of the rules?”
Instead of rolling his eyes like I expected, he dropped down to one knee.
“You know I’m shit with words, but when something is right, it’s right. This thing between us may have started a little messy, but we’ve come a long way together. Luna Darling, will you marry me?”
I blinked at him as he pulled a ring from his pocket and held it out to me. “You’re serious about this?”
He looked down at the ring, then back at me. “Well, yeah.”
“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.” I jumped up and down before falling to my knees, then gripping Hayes’s face in both my hands and kissing him. “Of course I will.”
“Did you have to make me think you were going to say no first?” he asked, hugging me back.
I laughed. “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting this.” He slipped the ring onto my finger, and I admired the way the sunlight made the diamond sparkle.
“No media, no one looking on, just you and me. This was a perfect proposal.”
“I thought perfect was boring.”
“This is our version of perfect.”
Thanks for riding with us through Valor Springs.