Epilogue
T wo months had passed, and Holden couldn’t remember a time in his life when he was happier. He’d told Emily that she grounded him, and he meant it. They were in sync, lived, loved, and played on the same page. And soon, they would work that way too. Sort of.
Today had been his last day at ESI. He was leaving to manage the new Braddock Sanctuary that would officially open in a week.
Not long after the night he’d gotten shot in the kennels, Emily had asked him to move in with her, and he’d literally discovered paradise. She’d started taking in fosters, and he’d found a purpose again, one he thought he’d lost overseas.
“Speech!” Carter said to a bay full of friends and co-workers in the ESI garage.
A Congratulations banner and balloons decorated the area as they stood around a table with a large, life-size cake that looked like Braddock.
Emily grabbed his hand and squeezed, and he would’ve been happy to just stand there and soak up the beauty of her smiling face, but Carter shouted again.
Holden laughed and shook his head. “Fine.” He held up a bottle of beer someone had shoved into his hand. “To you, Mac, for creating ESI for people like us who need a home, or in my case, a steppingstone back into society.”
Cheers went up.
“Thank you to my brothers, for always having my six.”
Another round of cheers sounded, this time with a few Army “Hooahs”, punctuated by a few Navy “Hooyahs”.
Holden laughed and lifted his drink one last time, grabbing Emily’s hand and drawing her close. “To Emily, for giving me a second chance and allowing me to stand by her side as she realizes her dream.”
He clinked her wine glass with his bottle and then sipped before dipping down to kiss her lips.
“I can’t think of anyone more qualified and dedicated to running the sanctuary than you, hon,” she said, tears filling her eyes, but she blinked them back and cupped his face. “I love you.”
His chest expanded to make room for the sudden surge of warmth. “I love you, too.”
Her gaze was soft as he leaned in for a light kiss.
“Happy?” he asked, after drawing back.
“Very,” she replied. “And I’m just so thrilled and amazed how everything is falling into place.”
He grinned. “Balance. It’s all about balance in life.”
She nodded.
“So, I hear Braddock is coming to Harland County,” Gabe said, stopping beside them to grab a piece of cake the bakers started to cut and hand out.
“Yes.” His heart swelled every time he thought about the call he’d received last month from his commander, telling him the dog was retiring. “I’ll be flying with Emily to meet up with him in Germany.”
She’d pulled in some kind of incredible favors that had managed to speed up the process to secure his adoption of the dog and paved the way for their paperwork and flights.
Gabe nodded. “That’s great to hear.”
Holden agreed, lifting Emily’s hand to kiss it. “All thanks to this woman.”
“Roger that.” Gabe laughed. “Never mess with our girls when it comes to animal welfare.”
“And don’t you forget it,” Emily said with a grin, and Gabe nodded and joined his fellow SEALs shooting the shit in a corner.
He released Emily’s hand so they could grab the offered cake. She lifted up on tiptoe to kiss him before taking her cake to eat by Lyndsey, Stef, Isla, and the rest of the women.
Holden scarfed his down on his way to where Mac stood with his baby boy cradled in one arm, while he talked with the guys.
“Fatherhood looks good on you, Mac,” he said with a grin.
Dex nodded.
Carter grinned. “Think he has a daddy’s boy.”
“Who’s your daddy? Who’s your daddy? ” Lex muttered while Marilyn bobbed her head.
“Great, hon.” Mel groaned as she walked by. “There’ll be no stopping him, now.”
He snickered.
“So, has Dante gotten back to you yet?” he asked Mac.
The two of them had flown to Phoenix to visit with their former D-Force brother, who’d left the military a year after the guys had started ESI. Losing his wife had kept him in a state of mind that had hindered any kind of moving on.
Holden knew this town was the best place to help his buddy with that journey.
They talked and laughed about a few of their missions with the guy and how he always had a knack for forecasting the weather. He was like a human barometer.
They always asked him for a reading from the Danterometer.
Holden sobered as he recalled how drastically different his friend was now, and was eager to see him find the balance that Holden had in Texas.
“Hey, penny for them,” Emily said, sauntering close and sliding an arm around his back.
He tossed his garbage in a nearby can so he could set both of his hands on her hips and pull her in nice and close. “Do you really not know what I’m thinking?”
She snickered and slid her arms around his neck and rocked against the part of his body that was her biggest fan. “That you want more cake?”
He laughed. “Not even close.” He dipped down close to her ear and lowered his voice. “Unless I can smear some on you later.”
She shuddered against him. “Can you guess my answer?”
“Mhm…” He kissed her neck. “I believe I can.”
“Good.” She inhaled and tightened her hold on him. “Any chance we can shut off the backyard cameras and get naked?”
The heat simmering in his body spiked and crackled to life. “Yes.”
Ever since he’d told her about that option, they enjoyed many nights out under the stars, and just because the weather turned cold, his nature girl hadn’t stopped desiring outdoor… sessions.
“I built something special for you out there.”
She gasped and drew back to meet his gaze with excitement and anticipation gleaming in her eyes. “The fire pit? The fire pit came today?”
He nodded and watched her excitement turn to a deep yearning that had his erection shooting straight to full blown.
There’d been just enough time to sneak home with Sinjin and Hunter to install it before meeting her here tonight because she came straight from work.
Lowering his head, he hid a smile as he brushed his lips over her jaw to the spot behind her ear that drove her mad. “And, babe, that isn’t the only thing coming today.”
Her inhale rustled near his ear, and he smiled.
Life was good. Life was balanced.
Not only was Holden set to manage a sanctuary, he was holding one—Emily was his sanctuary.
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