Epilogue
GINA
“It’s just a good thing I didn’t know cynology was a field of study,” Britt says, looking from me to the group of ladies sitting out on the back deck with us at Owen’s parents’ home. “I might never have married Aiden!”
“That’s not how it works, Birgitte,” her mother argues. “The universe put you and Aiden together on the day your father died. He’s said many times he was there, and his heart connected with yours in that moment.”
“Well, that can’t be right,” Britt counters. “Aiden married Owen’s mother after all.”
“And we know how that turned out.” Gwen crosses her arms, smugly satisfied. “Aiden Stone should have trusted his instincts.”
Britt leans forward to place her hand over mine. “Don’t mind her, Gina. Mom and Aiden have bickered as long as I’ve known them.”
I can’t stop a smile curling my lips. It’s a beautiful, cool Christmas eve. Strings of lights are draped overhead, and a fire pit is in the center of this circle of women who have taken me in as one of their own.
Owen introduced me to all of them, but it’s a lot of names to remember. What I do know is his dad has two brothers, and they all married Britt’s best friends. I also know Heather is just like her mystical grandmother.
The moment I met Gwen, she scooped my hands into both of hers and looked deep into my eyes. I laughed nervously until she announced my aura was perfectly aligned with her grandson’s, and we would have a long and happy life together.
“I could’ve told you that, Grammy G,” Owen said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
She caught his chin in her fingers, examining his teeth. “I see my spell is still strong.”
Maddie is in heaven being the only grandchild. She skips around eating all the cookies and collecting early Christmas presents.
I happily watch her, remembering how much I loved growing up with all my family close. Every year, when Haddy would travel with her parents from LA to Newhope for Christmas, it felt like all was right with the world.
I have the same feeling sitting here now, holding Owen’s mother’s hand, listening to his grandmother talking about magic and fate and destiny.
Lifting my chin, I look up to where Owen is inside with his best friend Ryan, his father, and all three of his uncles standing around the bar. They’re laughing and talking, and I notice his uncle Alex pouring tumblers of their family’s signature bourbon.
By contrast, we’re sharing glasses of Owen’s aunt Piper’s special “home brew.” She said it’s actually her mother’s special moonshine recipe. She also told me her mother was a doomsday prepper for a while, and she had all types of ways to survive underground for long periods of time.
“Piper Stone, you know very well why your mother did all that prepping,” Owen’s grandmother Patricia fusses.
Piper is engrossed in a conversation with Owen’s aunt Cass and his cousin Penelope, and she just waves at her mother-in-law. I’d like to know more about the real reason for her mother’s prepping, but they leave me hanging on that one.
Maddie walks out to join us rubbing her eyes before climbing into my lap and putting her head on my shoulder.
“Are you tired, Shortcake?”
She shakes her head, poking out her lips. “I miss Spanky and Ladybird.”
“Oh…” I rub small circles on her back. “You know Miss Carla is taking good care of them, right?”
She nods against my shoulder. “But LB won’t get to sing Merry Christmas with me.”
My lips press together in a grin. “I bet we can call in the morning and sing, and as long as they’re together, they don’t mind skipping the cross-country flight.”
“I think it’s time for bed.” Britt stands, extending her hand to her granddaughter. “You’re spending Christmas night with me and Pop. Let’s hurry and get to sleep so Santa can bring you all your presents.”
“Okay!” Maddie hops off my lap quickly, taking her grandmother’s hand and walking with her into the house.
Britt looks back and gives me a wink. “Have a good night, Gina. I’m so happy you’re joining our family.”
“Me too,” I say, watching her slip through the sliding doors.
“My granddaughter tells me your spirit animal is a dog.” Gwen puts her hand in the crook of my arm.
“It’s true.” Heather walks up to hold my other arm as we enter the house. “She saw it on a psilocybin trip.”
Gwen leans closer, her upper lip curled. “Did you barf?”
“I did the first time, but not this last time.”
“Good.” She nods. “Now tell me about the dog. A dog is a very good spirit animal. It means you’re surrounded by protective love. It also represents loyalty.”
“It was a Bichon Frisé.”
“Very good,” Gwen pats my arm. “A companionable, good-natured breed.”
“It really is.” I smile. “My mom said the dog that helped her go into labor when she was overdue with me looked like a Bichon.”
“It’s a full circle. A very good sign.”
“What’s a very good sign?” Owen joins us, smiling down as he takes me from his mystical gran.
“All of this, dear.” Gwen holds up her hands, and he leans down to kiss her cheek. “It was all destined to be, the two of you finding your way to each other, led by your faithful dogs. Now I have to go. Bender’s probably waiting up for me.”
“Tell him I said Merry Christmas,” Alex calls from the kitchen.
She waves, making her way to the door, and I lean my head against Owen as he pulls my back to his chest. I wonder what she would say about her grandson’s psilocybin trip.
That one would probably blow her mind.
“Merry Christmas, Gina.” His dad steps over, leaning down to give me a hug. “I’m really glad to meet you. You sure had this one all shook up.”
“Thank you, sir,” I say, feeling a bit shy. “The feeling is mutual.”
Owen’s dad is very handsome. He looks a lot like his son, only with the fine lines around his eyes and sprinkles of gray at his temples.
He’s not like my sheriff-dad, who is boisterous and huge, but I think they’d be good friends.
My dad has a big personality, but I’ve never met a person who didn’t like him.
After saying our goodnights, we walk down a short gravel path to an adorable little cottage with flower boxes on the windows.
Inside, it has a one-bedroom suite on the first floor off the kitchen, and another bedroom with a small bathroom is up a narrow flight of stairs.
Owen told me it’s where his aunt Piper lived with his friend Ryan before she married his uncle Adam, and they all moved into his home.
“It’s funny to stay here as an adult,” he says, leading me to the first-floor suite. “Growing up, it was always Ryan’s house.”
“Eureka reminds me so much of Newhope,” I sigh as he sits on the edge of the bed, pulling me between his legs. “All we needed was a dash of magic.”
“From what I’ve seen and heard, you had your own kind of magic.”
“We had hot peppers and big personalities,” I laugh, threading my fingers in the sides of his hair.
“Are you sorry to be here instead of there?” His brow furrows, and I smooth the lines away with my fingertips, shaking my head no.
“We’ll be with them next year, and we’ve got plenty of time to go back and forth.”
His warm hands find the skin beneath my shirt, and he slides them higher. “Speaking of back and forth…” He lifts the garment over my head, leaving me in only my lace bra. “How would you like to go back and forth on my dick?”
I lean forward, snorting a laugh. “That was terrible!”
“I think it was pretty good,” he shrugs, laughing. “We don’t have to worry about keeping it down with Maddie at her grandparents.”
“No, we don’t.” I pull the hem of his shirt up, helping him lift it over his head, putting his gorgeous chest and broad, muscled shoulders on full display.
Exhaling a hum, I lean forward to trace my lips across his warm skin, inhaling the scent of soap and cedar. I open my mouth, and salt touches my tongue. His hand slides under the hem of my skirt, and I moan as his fingers fumble inside my panties to stroke and tease me.
“Owen…” I gasp, putting my arms around his neck, and moving closer so I can seal my mouth to his.
Lips part, tongues curl, and heat floods my body. He stands, turning me to face a small desk against the wall. He unfastens my bra, and my breasts spill out. He gathers them in both hands, lifting them as his thumbs slide over my tightened nipples, as he kisses the side of my neck.
His lips travel to my ear as he kisses the shell before giving me a low order. “Lean forward…” the scruff of his beard sends shivers through my body. “...and don’t let go.”
“Oh, God…” I do as he says, gripping the sides of the desk as he lifts the back of my skirt over my lower back and takes a knee.
They almost buckle when he jerks my panties down and off before burying his face between my thighs. His tongue goes straight to my clit, circling and massaging, up and down, again and again.
Whimpers slip through my lips, and I hold onto the solid wood. My lips part, and my eyes flutter closed as orgasm surges through my core. I do my best not to let go, but my arms shake. The tightening pleasure curls in my thighs with every stroke of his tongue.
I’m right there, right on the edge. Shuddering moans grind in my throat, and I’m just about to break when he stops.
“Owen!” I cry. “Don’t stop now!”
He huffs a laugh, kissing my shoulder as he shoves his pants down. “I said don’t let go.”
My body trembles when he slides the tip of his hard cock against my body, up and down my slippery core before finding the place and thrusting fully inside me.
He pushes me forward onto the desk, rocking his hips hard and fast as his hand slides around the front of my body.
“We’re going to come together,” he says at the back of my ear.
Two thick fingers take over where his tongue had been, circling my clit as he fucks me hard and fast doggy style. My hand slaps the top of the desk, and I push my hips back against him, needing more, deeper, faster.
“Yes…” he groans. “Right there.”
We’re feverish and desperate. His fingers don’t stop, and he groans at the back of my neck where my skin is so sensitive.