Epilogue - Dakota
one month later…
The morning sunlight spilled through the wide windows of what used to be Gregson Accounting, casting warm golden beams across the hardwood floors of the new PI office on Main Street. Tucker stood in the middle of the room, hands on his hips, surveying the space with a satisfied grunt.
I set down a box of files on the nearest desk—his desk. It still felt a little surreal to be here, watching him settle in like he was meant to be here all along. It was even stranger seeing myself settle in, for that matter.
“You sure the owners aren’t gonna change their minds and boot you outta here?” I asked, adjusting the stack of case files on the corner of the desk.
“Nah, they’re happier working from home,” Tucker replied, glancing at the sign being painted outside the window. Black Hayes Investigations .
“I still can’t believe they just up and left this prime piece of real estate,” I mused, peeking through the window toward the Caffeinated Squirrel next door. The hum of the coffee shop mixed with the sounds of the street—the essence of Charlotte Oaks. “It’s like fate.”
“I don’t know about that, but I do know it was the perfect timing,” Tucker said, stepping closer and slinging an arm around my shoulders.
I leaned into him, taking a moment to breathe it all in. I couldn’t believe it was only a month ago that I thought I’d have to say goodbye to this, to him. Now here we were, getting ready for Thanksgiving with the whole crew, setting up a life together in a town I couldn’t imagine leaving—and, apparently, a town he wouldn’t be leaving either.
Tucker dropped a kiss on the top of my head, and I smiled up at him. “You really do love it here, huh?”
He nodded, his voice low. “It has its charm. Especially now that I know it wasn’t all fake warmth for the tourists.”
“Can you tell me one more time?”
“What?”
“That you’re stayin’,” I said as if he should know by now. This might have not been the first time I’d made him do this. I was still just a little much, remember?
He dropped his head. “Really? Not only have we been over this, but we’re literally setting up my office right now. I just paid for a year’s lease in advance. What more do you want from me, woman?”
I laughed at his teasing tone, still gruff, but I loved the side of warmth it always carried when he spoke to me.
“Fine, fine.”
“Wait… I could add something else.”
“What?”
“That I love you.”
My eyes flared. “I know.”
His grin was fast and devastating, even as he tried to give me a flat look. “Really?”
“Duh. You moved here for me.” I flipped my hair in an exaggerated gesture, making his smile deepen. “I figured you did since you were willin’ to do that. Plus, you’ve been my chili guinea pig for the last month to prep for the chili cookoff, and when I lost by a mile, you didn’t even give me crap for it—unlike everyone else in my life. If all that ain’t love, I don’t know what is.”
He shook his head, cupping my cheeks with his large hands. “No, Wildcard, that’s now how I love you.”
Remembering the old exchange in a slightly different way, I smiled softly. “Oh, yeah? Then how do you love me?”
“I love you deeply, like you love your roots. I love you because you’re the first person who made me want to belong somewhere. To linger. In a world where I always felt like a drifter, you’re the one who made me want to stay.”
The way my heart fluttered at those words was ridiculous, but I couldn’t help it. It had hurt so much to imagine what life would look like after he left—how I’d handle it, how I’d move on.
And now? I didn’t have to. He was here. We were here.
The door to the office creaked open, and Colt walked in, carrying another box. “Hey, you two done with the mushy stuff? We’ve got work to do.”
I grinned at Colt, who had somehow become like yet another annoying big brother during all this. “Almost done. Why, you jealous? Wishin’ you and Hope could have the office to yourselves for your our own mushy moments?”
Colt shot me a look but didn’t deny it.
“I think I’ll wait until we’ve officially solved the next few mysteries before I make my move,” Colt said, setting the box on his desk. “Can’t have people thinking we’re only solving cases to get girls.”
“Aren’t we, though?” Tucker surprised me by asking.
I swatted his chest with a laugh. “Hush.”
“Anyway, I thought it might be slow around here… but now I’m not so sure. I’m thinking something strange will crop up soon.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You mean like continuting to hunt for that treasure with or without a client?”
They scared glances, but I knew that was the plan and I was more than a little on board.
When they didn’t respond, I sighed. “Oh, were you thinkin’ more along the lines of Mrs. M hirin’ you after losin’ her cat again?”
“That, or maybe the bakery will hire us to recover their stolen recipe book,” Tucker added. When I slid him a questioning look, he shrugged. “What? It’s my job to keep my ear to the ground, and the word is, that book hasn’t been seen in a week.”
I shook my head, laughing. “Y’all are gonna fit in perfectly around here. But yeah, seriously, Colt. I think you’ll have your hands full now that the office is up and runnin’.”
Tucker pulled me closer, a teasing grin on his lips. “And if you happen to get yourself mixed up in any of them...”
“Oh, whatever you’re thinkin’ about sayin’, just don’t. I fully intend to get myself mixed up in whatever I want, and you can’t stop me,” I said, beaming up at him. “You know I can’t resist a good mystery.”
Colt groaned. “ Great . That won’t ever come back to bite him in the?—”
Tucker held up a finger, but before he could yell at Colt for another one of those jokes about Tucker’s rear end that would just never get old for us, the door swung open again, and Hope appeared, balancing a tray of coffees.
She handed one to Colt, who took it with a muttered thanks as he tried not to openly gawk at how pretty she was, then smiled at me as she passed another cup my way. “I’m off today, so I figured I’d do my part to keep the team fueled.”
I took the coffee, smiling back at her. “Thanks, Hope,” I said, then glanced around the office. “So... what do you think of our new setup?”
“ Our new setup?” Tuck asked.
Hope’s eyes twinkled as both of us ignored him. “It’s perfect. And a place on Main Street, right next to the Squirrel? You’ll be in the middle of all the action.”
Colt’s gaze flicked to Hope, lingering just a little longer than necessary. “You’re always welcome to drop by, too, you know. In case you need... anything.”
I exchanged a knowing look with Tucker, but before I could tease them, the door creaked open one last time. This time, it was Austin, charging in with his phone in hand and excitement written all over his face.
“Guys! You won’t believe it,” Austin said, barely pausing to catch his breath. “There’s this rumor going around that someone’s been sneaking into the old mill at night, and they found a bunch of old bones. Real ones. Human, I think.”
Tucker shot me a look. “He thinks?”
I just shrugged, taking a sip of my coffee. “Looks like we’ll be busy.”
Tucker’s arm tightened around my shoulders. “Yes, Colt and I will be.”
“Pshh, you know you want me around to help when I’m not at work. You need someone to keep you on your toes.”
“You always do,” he said, pulling me close for a kiss, his lips warm and familiar against mine.
As I melted into the kiss, I couldn’t help but think about how far we’d come. From the case, to falling for each other during one of the weirdest times in my life, to almost losing each other, to now… building something real together.
We broke apart, and Tucker gave me a crooked smile. “You ready for this, Wildcard?”
I glanced around the office, the town bustling just outside the window, and then back at him. “More than ready.”
Thank you for reading Dakota and Tucker’s story! This is the final full-length book in the Love in Charlotte Oaks series, but make sure to keep an eye out for related stories and spin-offs!