Epilogue Max
By the end of January, Charlie has finished all the renovations on the lodge and is driving with me to the other section of the ranch. It takes an hour from the lodge.
“Oh, wow! So this is your other evil lair!” Charlie exclaims as she walks into the house. “I knew it would be something epically awful. I mean, look at that picture!” She imitates a shudder as she looks at the picture on the far wall of a brand-new calf that seems to be looking at us with big, sweet eyes.
“So I like cows. Sue me.”
“Wait, you mean to tell me you were the one who decorated both houses?” She turns around, her jaw-dropping. “You’re kidding!”
My cheeks feel warm as she looks at me in awe. “It’s not a big deal, okay? I like to set up my own spaces.”
Charlie kicks off her shoes and walks into the living room. “You mean to tell me that you’re the one that made both of the bunkhouses so stinking cute?!”
I raise my eyebrows at her. “Now, who’s stereotyping?”
She throws her head back and laughs. “Touché.”
I slide off my boots and follow her into the living room. The fireplace is cold, and I can see our breath in the room, so I pull the stove door open and lay kindling in a crisscross fashion.
“He’s good-looking, builds fires, decorates houses…what can’t he do…” she muses as she flops onto the leather couch. “Wait, where are the dogs?”
“Probably out marking their territory all over again. Or finding a skunk to tangle with.”
“Ugh. That’s the worst.”
“Yup. You’d think they’d learn, but they’re kind of stubborn.”
“Sort of like someone else I know,” she teases.
I shove some crumpled-up paper into the wood stove. “I’m not sure how they picked up all of your bad habits in such a short time.”
She nudges me in the side with a socked foot.
“Sooooo. You split your time between these two places? I don’t even remember you saying anything about living in two places.” She narrows her eyes at me.
“It’s convenient for work.” I slide a chunk of wood in on top of the burning paper and kindling.
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to plan to find some kind of rental close by while you’re here.”
“You’re not going to stay with me?” I ask, even though I know the answer.
She clears her throat. “I’m old-fashioned. I’m not going to live with you while I’m dating you.”
I raise my eyebrows and look at her. She actually looks nervous explaining this to me. “I know. I’m just teasing you.”
“You know? So how am I going to see you if you never leave the ranch?”
There’s a scratching at the back door, and I hold up my hand, pointing at the mud room. “I’ve got the solution to the housing problem.”
The scratching in the mudroom continues, and Charlie stares in that direction. I’ve never been so nervous about anything in my life. I hope Bliss came through for me.
Charlie looks at me in confusion. “What? You want me to go check out the scary noise? I’m not looking for something that’s scratching. It’s either the start of a horror film or a giant rat.”
She shakes her head, and I let out a maniacal laugh. This whole moment was supposed to be smooth. Magical.
It’s not. She’s refusing to go find her present that Bliss has stashed in the mudroom for me. I’m a nervous wreck, and even building a cozy fire is causing problems.
“It’s something for you,” I finally manage to say.
The scratching gets louder.
“Yes, a giant coyote stuck in the mudroom. Absolutely not.” She folds her arms across her chest and glares at me. “You know I love that you view me as your equal in every way… But now is the time to be the hero and go check out the scary sound without me.”
I’m not sure if I should curl up in a ball and cry or just dissolve into laughter. Either one would probably be concerning to any onlooker.
I stand up and close the wood stove door now that the fire is finally catching. “I’ll go with you.”
I reach out for her hand and pull her after me toward the mudroom.
“What if it’s a rat?” she asks as I wait for her to open the door.
“It better not be,” I mutter. I don’t like rodents. They have no place in my house.
Charlie looks up at me when I stop in front of the door. “Open it,” I urge her.
She frowns but pushes the door open slowly. She gasps.
I grin when I see what she sees.
An eight-week-old Australian shepherd puppy is sitting in the middle of the mudroom with a large bow wrapped around his neck while he chews on my boot.
“What is that?” Charlie asks breathlessly as the puppy jumps up and wags its tail excitedly.
“It’s a dog,” I croak out as Charlie drops to her knees and reaches out her arms. “It’s your dog.”
Charlie shrieks with laughter as the dog clambers into her lap, trying to lick her face. “Oh, Max! Max, he’s perfect! Are you serious?”
“Pretty darn.”
Charlie jumps to her feet, tucks the puppy under one arm, and nearly knocks me to the ground as she throws her other arm around me, pulling me into a bear hug and practically climbing me.
“Perfect. He’s absolutely perfect.”
I wrap an arm around her waist and lift her up so I can plant a kiss on her lips. “You deserve a dog.”
She has glazed eyes as she pulls back. “This is the sweetest, most thoughtful thing someone has ever done for me.”
I clear my throat and try to talk, but nothing is cooperating. The pup leans up and licks my chin.
“Whoa now,” Charlie says as she scratches him under his chin. “Max doesn’t like to get licked on the face—by dogs, that is.”
She cackles with laughter when I reach out to tickle her ribs for that dirty comment. “You can’t tickle me while I’m holding a baby!”
She clutches the dog to her chest like it will protect her from me.
I watch as her eyes widen, and her fingers move back and forth around the dog collar.
She keeps her eyes locked on mine as she continues fingering the object tied to the collar. “Max!” she yelps. “Max! What is it? I’m scared to look.”
“If you’re too scared to look, I’ll take it off, and you won’t have to. If you’re not ready for it, I’ll take it and pretend like this never happened.”
“Don’t you even dare,” she gasps.
She drops to the ground, setting the dog down and fumbling with the collar.
After a brief struggle, Charlie stands up on shaky legs, holding the princess-cut diamond ring between her index finger and thumb.
“What is this? Are you serious?”
I nod once. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I didn’t want to be apart from you. And I know you weren’t joking when you said you wouldn’t live with someone unless you were married to them. I figured this was the most reasonable solution. We spend the rest of our lives together—married.”
Charlie throws back her head and laughs as she stumbles toward me. “Max St. James, that was the most unromantic proposal…”
I shift uncomfortably as her hands land on my shoulders. “Well, I could try again.” I drop to the ground on one knee.
“Charlie Baxter, will you do me the honor of—” I reach for her hand, only to find that she’s already wearing the ring on her finger.
Dammit, I’m gonna cry. I look up at her and find that she’s already beat me to it.
“You better stop it. I’m a sympathetic crier,” I mutter as she plants both hands on either side of my face.
“Too bad. I’m a happy crier.” Charlie sits down on my raised knee, wraps her arms around me, and leans in for a kiss.
Her lips are soft and perfect, and I’ll gladly stay here all day, even if my leg gets frozen in this position.
She’s wearing my ring.
Charlie groans and leans closer for a deeper kiss. I thread my fingers through her loose hair and part her lips with my tongue. She tastes like the caramel chocolates she’d been eating on the drive.
I didn’t know it was possible to burst from happiness, but I think I’m about to.
Charlie pulls back just enough to mutter against my lips. “You’ve made me the happiest person in the world.”
“Second. I’m the happiest.” I nip at her lips with my teeth.
“Not everything is a competition.” Her tongue darts out to draw a line along my top lip. “But if it were, I would win.”
I chuckle as I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to the couch.
We’re going to be at this for a while. Because this is one competition with a clear winner.
Both of us.