Epilogue
The bite in the early fall air was enough to quicken Celine’s step as she carried Parker up the porch steps of the old house she now called home. Since moving in with Lane, she’d lessened her shifts at the restaurant to help him and Duke get their business off the ground.
And today was the day that Rough Ride Security was officially open.
Duke promised to keep Lane out in the barn for the rest of the afternoon, caring for the small flock of animals they kept buying. She wanted to do something to show Lane how proud she was. How much she appreciated the hard work and dedication he’d poured into Rough Ride Security.
Pushing open the front door, she glanced at her watch.
If everything went as planned, Suzy would be in the office starting the decorations and a townful of people who were excited for Lane and Duke’s new venture would arrive in thirty minutes.
The food waited to be plated in the kitchen, and she hoped to find a quick minute to change out of her worn T-shirt and jeans and into something a little more put together.
Silence greeted her when she stepped inside. “Hello? Suzy?” She unbuttoned Parker’s jacket and yanked it off before shimmying out of her own. Slow, deliberate footsteps turned her around.
Grinning, Lane walked toward her.
A jolt of disappointment tugged at her heart, but she couldn’t help but return his smile. “What are you doing in here? I thought you and Duke had a bunch of chores outside.”
He shrugged and plucked Parker out of her arms. “I made Duke do them.”
She kept her smile pinned in place but thought of all the ways she’d make Duke pay for not sticking with the plan.
“I wanted you alone for a second,” he said, linking his fingers with hers. He led her into the office.
Celine gasped. Dozens of candles flickered around the dim room.
Vases of wildflowers sat on every surface, their intoxicating smell tickling her nose.
She trailed her finger over a delicate purple petal then turned in a wide circle, taking in the spectacular view.
“Your father would hate what you’ve done to his office. ”
Lane chuckled. “Good.”
She faced him, and he dropped to one knee. He balanced Parker on his thigh and reached for her.
“Oh God.” Tingles of excitement thrummed along with every beat of her heart. She fit her palm into his, her eyes wide and breath trapped inside her tight chest. “What are you doing?”
“Well,” he said, gaze fixed on hers and her favorite sexy half-smile hooking up the side of his mouth.
“Today seemed like the best day to tell you how much you mean to me. How much I love you and Parker. Being his dad, being a parent alongside you, has been the most rewarding experience of my life. And I’d love nothing more than to make our family official. Celine, will you be my wife?”
Tears filled her eyes. Her heart screamed at her to shout yes at the top of her lungs, but one thought held her back. “But today was supposed to be about you. A celebration of everything you’ve achieved.”
“None of that means a thing without you. Hell, none of it would have been possible if you weren’t a part of it.
From the moment we met, what’s good in my life is a result of you, and starting this business is as much your success as mine.
You’re my other half, and I want nothing more than to marry you. Please say yes.”
She dropped to her knees and smoothed her free hand along the tough stubble of his jaw. “Yes. I’ll marry you. I’ve loved you for so damn long. I can’t believe this is real life—that it’s our life.”
“Believe it, honey. Because you’re the happy ending to my fairytale. You and Parker.” He slipped the sparkling solitaire diamond on her finger then captured her mouth in his.
Parker squirmed and giggled, slapping his little hands together.
“No, not the end,” she said. “This is only the beginning. I have a feeling that as far as you and I are concerned, the best is yet to come.”
Don’t miss Tough Justice, the exciting second book in the Rough Ride Trilogy.
Duke knows he has to fight his feelings for his friend’s little sister, and Anna’s been burned by too many cowboys to fall for Duke’s charm.
But when danger calls, all bets are off, and Anna must learn to trust the one man she promised herself she’d never fall for.