Epilogue
Pippa
“ W e laid a fire in the hearth. It’s just waiting for you to light it. There’s an enchilada casserole in the fridge for your supper, along with a few other of your favorites in the freezer,” Charlotte announced.
Despite the jet lag, Zeke flashed that signature grin that made me a little weak in the knees and wrapped Charlotte in a hug. “You’re a goddess. Your enchiladas are my favorite.”
She squeezed back with a knowing smirk. “I know.” With a smacking kiss to his cheek, she let him go. “Glad you’re here, son.” In her words, I could hear the affection of years. Which made sense, since she’d known him since he and Raleigh had both been boys.
“I’ll second that,” Raleigh announced, pulling him in for one of those unabashed bromance hugs. “You’re gonna love it here.”
Zeke glanced back at me, where I stood beside the pile of bags and boxes in the lounge of the cottage. “Already do.”
Be still my heart.
But neither my heart nor my stomach listened. I was so full of bubbles and swoops, I hardly knew what to do with myself. Then again, that had been my constant state since this crazy ride began. It had been an absolute whirlwind these past few weeks. I’d learned that while my cowboy could play a long game, once his mind was made up, he had no problem acting with a decisiveness that left me absolutely dizzy.
After our road trip, he’d stayed with me until the day before Christmas Eve, meeting my family and charming everyone so thoroughly that instead of giving us the side eye for making such a fast decision, my mother had pulled me aside and started making allusions to more grandchildren. That was getting way ahead of things, but I couldn’t deny that the idea made my heart do a barrel roll in my chest.
Zeke had flown home for the holiday with his own family back in Texas. I’d followed the day after Christmas and spent a week with him, exploring what he referred to as his stomping grounds, including his cattle ranch, which I’d adored. I’d met his family, who were every bit as charming and delightful as Zeke himself. Based on the warm welcome I’d received, he’d been singing my praises for quite some time. They hadn’t even batted an eye when he’d announced he was moving to Scotland. Instead, they’d introduced me to the best of Texas barbeque. He claimed it was a public service, and I now understood why he and Raleigh took it so seriously. My stomach definitely wasn’t complaining. I’d had to fly home New Year’s Day, but Zeke had taken only a week to put his affairs in order, pack his things, and get on a one-way flight back to Scotland.
Now he was here. To stay. For me.
Seeing that he had family of the heart here made me feel better about that, as I’d worried about taking him away from home and everything he knew, though he’d assured me repeatedly that the flight wasn’t that bad and he could fly friends or family over as easily as going back for visits himself. I still hadn’t quite come to terms with the fact that my boyfriend was a millionaire.
He’d ended up renting one of the furnished cottages at Lochmara that was normally used for vacation rentals. It made the most sense. We both suspected we’d end up moving in together sooner rather than later, but he hadn’t wanted to pressure me, and as he’d said, he’d need some work space of his own, which was in short supply in my own tiny cottage. This gave him the flexibility to see what his actual needs were before he committed to something like actually buying property. I needed time to work myself around to being okay with the fact that when he did, he’d be doing it with both of us in mind.
“Friend-family dinner is on Thursday, and you’re both more than welcome,” Kyla announced in a tone clearly meant to start to herd her husband and Charlotte toward the door.
Zeke took a more direct approach. “Just let us know where and when. Meanwhile, thank y’all for the warm welcome and the casseroles and such, but I’m wiped, so, much as I love y’all, I’m kicking you out.”
With all the flying back and forth across so many time zones over the past few weeks, he probably hardly knew which way was up.
Another round of hugs later, the three of them finally walked out the front door. Zeke shut it and swung around to face me. We were finally blessedly alone.
Both of us released huge exhales.
I crossed over to slide my arms around him. “You’re here.”
“I am.” He tucked me close, into the shelter of his body.
“You’re really here.” The solid warmth of him was the best possible gift.
The corner of his mouth quirked up and his blue eyes twinkled. “I really am.”
“Any regrets?”
“Only one.”
At his words, I stiffened. Oh God, was he thinking of changing his mind already? Cautiously, I asked, “What would that be?”
That quirk turned into a full-on grin. “We’re not naked yet.”
Relief and arousal washed through me as he used his bigger bulk to back me toward the couch in the lounge, tumbling us onto it. We were laughing as we stripped off layers. Then laughter turned to sighs as our mouths met and fused. Sighs became gasps as he plunged into me, closing the last of the distance between us that had become so unbearable since we’d finally admitted we wanted so much more than friendship. We wrecked each other, thoroughly, completely. And as we lay curled together on the sofa, under the blanket that had been draped over the back, I snuggled in, happier than I’d ever been.
My cowboy was finally home.