Epilogue
Elise
I saw him before he saw me.
Or maybe that wasn’t true.
Maybe Brady always knew where I was.
He was out in the field behind the barn at his father’s house, bareback on a horse that looked more like a small mountain than something meant to be ridden.
The animal moved with slow, powerful ease, its black coat catching the late afternoon light.
Brady sat loose and comfortably, one hand resting on the horse’s neck, his posture easy in a way that didn’t come from lack of effort but from knowing exactly what he was doing.
Didn’t horses need headgear? I always thought they did.
But this one didn’t and it seemed to be enough.
I slowed as I reached the fence, my hand resting on the top rail. For a moment I didn’t call out. I just watched him. Could this truly be my view for the rest of my life? I hoped so.
The horse turned before I said anything.
Brady’s head lifted.
His eyes found me immediately.
And the huge smile that transformed his face told me I would always be welcomed in his happy place. He guided the horse toward me with a quiet shift of his weight. When he reached the fence, he slid down in one smooth motion, landing lightly before turning to the horse.
“Go on,” he said, giving it a soft pat.
The massive animal ambled away, leaving Brady to cross the grass toward the fence line. He wiped his dusty hands on his jeans, his expression open and entirely at ease. He leaned against the rail next to me, bringing the scent of sun-warmed leather and sweet hay with him.
“Hey, beautiful.”
I blushed. His adoration never got old. “You’re pretty beautiful, yourself.”
He chuckled, then his expression turned more serious. “Dominic called,” he said casually, looking out over the field.
I stilled, analyzing his tone. It lacked the tight caution that usually accompanied news about the threats to his family. “What did he say?”
“He has a solid lead on who’s been causing issues for us.” Brady turned his head to smile down at me. “Said he wants to handle it personally. Told me to focus on the horses and let him do the heavy lifting. I’ve decided to trust him.”
A profound sense of relief settled into my chest. In my world a threat meant calculating defense strategies and building walls to keep danger out.
But Dominic Corisi didn’t build defensive walls; he eliminated the problem entirely.
I would have gone to battle against him with Brady, but it was a relief to know we wouldn’t have to.
Brady gave me a long look, then asked, “What happened?”
I swallowed once. “I got a text from Keaton.”
He made a pained face. “What did he say?”
I blinked a couple of times, still trying to decide if this was real or if I had somehow imagined the message. “He said he’s done waiting for me to come home.”
Brady didn’t interrupt.
“He’s coming to Firebrook Valley,” I added.
A beat.
“To talk sense into me.”
“And?” Brady asked.
I let out a breath. “He said he’s not leaving without me.”
Brady hopped over the fence and wrapped his arms around me without hesitation, pulling me in against him.
I leaned into him.
There wasn’t anywhere else I wanted to be.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
I pulled back just enough to look at him. “Okay? That’s it?”
“We’ll find him a nice place to rent.” He nodded, already thinking, already adjusting, already building a plan around something neither of us had seen coming this morning. “Because we’re going to make him fall in love with Firebrook Valley.”
I laughed and didn’t doubt that Brady could pull that off.
That we could.
When all other fail-safes failed, hoping and trying was a surprisingly solid plan.
I rested my forehead against his chest for a second, breathing him in, then smiled. “Speaking of Dominic . . . I’m going to miss seeing Alethea.”
Brady’s brows lifted slightly. “Yeah?”
“I’m not sure if she’ll get my humor,” I said, “but I sent her a digital, encrypted business card from me that she’ll have to decode to use. I sent it with instructions that if she ever needs me, the way to reach me privately is on that card. It’s good for a one-time use.”
Brady’s mouth curved. “Oh, like the little black card she gives out. The one she gave you?”
I nodded. “It’s her trademark move. So iconic some people think it’s an urban legend.” I hesitated, suddenly a little unsure. “Do you think she’ll get my sense of humor?”
Brady’s smile was soft and certain. He brushed a strand of hair back from my face, his thumb lingering against my cheek.
“I know she will.”
His kiss was slow, deep, and promised we had all the time in the world and every reason to remain in this moment.
When he finally lifted his head, his eyes were bright with quiet mischief and something deeper. “Come on,” he murmured. “Let’s go start planning how we’re going to corrupt your brother with small-town charm, late-night card games, and way too many cookies.”
I laughed against his mouth.
There were probably a lot of people who thought it was crazy for me to walk away from my role in my family’s business and start fresh. They were the same people who couldn’t understand the lure of Firebrook Valley.
Some family stories were neat and clean. No feuds. No secrets. No danger looming.
But we were not them.
We were messy, and complicated, and ready for whatever else came our way because we had each other.
The End
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