Epilogue
THANE
* Two Years Later *
Inever thought I’d be the kind of guy to drive a motorhome. But you know what? It's a great way to see the country without having to pack and unpack. Plus, all Audra's recording gear can stay set up in road cases. We just wheel them out the side door.
I take the next turnoff, driving a little slowly since Audra is napping in the passenger seat.
It turns out we make a great team. I take her all over the place to get interesting recordings for a week or so, then we come home for a month, where I make furniture, she processes her soundscapes, and we take turns cooking lunch.
Of course, we often cook together. We just have to make sure it's something that can survive me pinning her up against the kitchen island.
Her shapeless dresses come off very quickly whenever I'm “inspired”, which is probably too frequently, but I've never heard her say "meatloaf lasagna" unless we are actually in the middle of cooking one.
She wakes up as I pull into the back parking lot of a gas station.
As Audra runs a hand through her hair, a large diamond sparkles on her hand.
Along with the square princess cut solitaire engagement ring, I had them make an eternity band that fit against it.
I’m sure the jewelry designer thought I was a weirdo when I pulled out a bracelet and asked for emeralds and sapphires that matched some little glass beads exactly, but it was worth it for the look on Audra's face when she realized what I’d done.
From the very beginning, we've been on the same page when it comes to blending our low-key comfortable lifestyles with a bit of glam when the situation demands it.
Our wedding was an intimate affair in our back yard.
The honeymoon was two weeks at an ultra-luxury retreat in the Maldives.
This motorhome is kind of in the middle, I guess.
"Hey there, sleepyhead." I reach out to squeeze Audra’s knee. "I think you said you wanted to check your downloads before dinner?"
She stretches and yawns. "Yeah!"
She prefers checking her stats on the laptop, but doesn't like using the computer while the motorhome is moving. I don't quite understand it, but it’s one of her many quirks I've come to enjoy.
After I throw the motorhome into park, I join her at the dinette table as she flips open her laptop and loads the page. A few days ago, she posted seven new soundscapes: three for focused work and studying, and four for sleeping.
"Look!" she exclaims. "One of my sleep tracks hit the top one hundred in its category, along with two of the focus tracks!"
I don't know a thing about download numbers and stats, only that it warms my heart to see my girl's eyes light up like that. "Congratulations, angel. I'm so proud of you."
She smiles, her hand dropping to squeeze the top of my thigh. "I'm just so glad that my soundtracks are helpful for people. Check out this review – InsomniacGillis93 says they used it to sleep through the night last night for the first time in ages.”
"How on Earth am I going to show you how proud I am of you?"
She turns, licking her lips suggestively. "By letting me buy dinner with the…uh…” She glances toward the page. "$28.13 I've made this week?"
"As long as I get to lick your hot pussy first…yes."
You’ll meet Thane’s brothers in Mountain Man’s Sugar and Mountain Man’s Darlin’.
Meet Thane’s cousins in the Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain series and Wolfe Mountain Men. Ogle the hot mechanics in Dirty Brothers. Visit Betty’s Bistro in She’s Got That Spark.
Keep reading for a preview from Kai’s story, Wolfish Grin.
Kai
OMG. Can you say undignified?
There hasn’t been anyone on this back road in a while, but I’ll have to be quick. I pull off my t-shirt, only partially blocked by my truck on the shoulder of the gravel road, then wriggle out of my jeans while standing first on one shoe, then the other.
Just when I’ve turned to face the forest in nothing but a pair of navy briefs, I hear a vehicle approaching.
Great – caught literally with my pants down. Some poor farmer or lumberjack is about to get a fantastic view of my barely covered ass.
Balancing myself against the open door, I step my left foot into my suit pants, then the right. I’ve almost got them up to my knees when my chin jerks up to see a surprised face staring at me from the driver’s seat of a large RV.
Holy shit. She's gorgeous.
I stare in disbelief, blinking stupidly, my balance faltering. Then I remember that I only have a few minutes – no time for embarrassment. I yank on my pants, then hastily throw on my dress shirt, buttoning it with clumsy fingers as her window rolls down.
"Are you okay?" she calls out.
"Fine, thank you."
She pulls over to the side of the road just in front of my truck while I quickly button my shirt, knot my tie, and put on my shoes. She comes over just as I'm pulling on my jacket.
Damn. She really is stunning. Even though her brown hair is tied up in a sloppy ponytail, and she's in jeans and a hoodie, she’s still radiant. Curves for days. My gaze takes in every one, wishing my hands could do the same.
The light in her soft brown eyes sends warmth swirling through the center of my chest. She’s definitely sizing me up.
"Most men drop their pants at the side of the road to…well, you know," she laughs. "Not get dressed for a dinner party."
I laugh too. "I just found out I have to do a video presentation in a few minutes," I explain. “Potential clients like seeing the company leaders in business attire, for some reason."
She starts to speak, then jumps at the deafening crack of thunder directly overhead.
The clouds had been building, but rain is unpredictable on this mountain. "Dammit," I mutter. “Thought I had another half hour."
She looks around quickly as raindrops begin to fall. Her gaze drops to my open laptop on the seat of my truck. "You can't take that out in the rain. Quick, grab your stuff and get in the RV. I'll open the back window and you'll still have the forest behind you."
"Smart thinking. Thanks."
She's already darting into her vehicle as I pull my shoes on properly, then I grab my phone and laptop and follow her in.
Wow. It's so…homey. Rich wood, warm fabrics. A few pots of herbs in the kitchen window on a shelf with a railing so they can't slide off. A family photo of her as a little girl with a man who must be her father at a huge waterfall.
She's pushes a side panel that opens three feet out of the RV. When she reaches forward, her hoodie falls open and gives me a spectacular glimpse of her stunning cleavage. Then she rolls the window open completely and swivels a table into place. "Voila. Forest backdrop."
I slide onto the bench while flipping my laptop open. As it's booting up, I extend my hand. "Sorry. Kai Wolfe. I really appreciate this."
The sensation of her hand in mine should be businesslike. Yet it feels unbelievably warm. Not just the soft, gentle heat of her skin. It seems like there's some connection on a deeper level I can't comprehend.
Or maybe I'm just lost in her soft, warm, brown eyes.
Wolfish Grin is part of the Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain.