Epilogue
Dean, One Year Later
Guests started arriving in the early afternoon. We heard their cars pulling up out front, parking on the gravel.
“Crap, I think we need more hamburger buns,” Keira said, looking panicked. “Why didn’t I buy more? Do you have time to run to the store?”
“The store that’s half an hour away? No, baby. I don’t.”
“Do you think I made enough mac and cheese? You’ve seen how Colby can eat. Not to mention Vivian’s boyfriend and her brother. Toby polished off half of Trace’s birthday cake.”
“C’mere, sweetness.” I hooked her waist and tugged her to me, leaning my hip against the kitchen island. “You’re adorable.”
“I am not. I’ll have you know I can be very scary.”
“Yeah, I do know that, Senior Deputy Marsh.” I kissed her. “But I also know we have tons of food. Today will be easy. We’ve had these people over plenty of times before.”
“Yes, but not everyone all at once.” The doorbell rang, and her eyes darted to the side.
But I pulled her in for another quick kiss, just to savor the moment.
I loved her so damn much.
We’d finally completed the renovation on the ranch house, and we’d invited everybody here today to show it off.
It had taken an entire year and countless weekends.
Late nights when I didn’t have a shift at the bar, or—during the winter—whenever I wasn’t too exhausted from a day of teaching beginners how to ski or snowboard.
Keira had helped out whenever she wasn’t on duty and when she didn’t have a mission with the Protectors.
Honestly, I seemed to have far more free time for home improvement than my girlfriend did. She was in high demand, whether it was as a senior sheriff’s deputy or as an official member of the Last Refuge Protectors.
But Keira and I had picked all the finishes and paint colors together. Every last detail. The only room that was the same as when she’d moved in last summer was our bedroom downstairs. Keira hadn’t wanted to change a single thing about it.
Apparently, I’d done a great job of decorating the place. Simply because I’d done it with her in mind. Even then, I’d already known her so well.
My partner. My everything.
If anything, I should’ve been the anxious one. But Keira didn’t know what I had planned for later.
I kissed her nose. “I think you’re just nervous about meeting your mom’s boyfriend.”
Keira huffed. “Of course I’m nervous. All these years and Mom has never dated anyone until now. What if I hate him?”
“Regina wouldn’t be introducing him to you and Stephie unless the guy’s a saint. You know that.” My kisses trailed to her neck as more footsteps thumped on the front porch. The doorbell rang again. “Besides, all the women in your family have great taste in men.”
Keira snickered, pushing me away playfully. “Take that big head of yours to the front door and greet our guests.”
“All right, all right.”
Then she smacked my butt on my way out of the kitchen, making me laugh.
At the front door, Stephie and Colby were the first to arrive, holding six-packs of soda and beer. Stephie gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, while her boyfriend shook my hand.
She was close to getting her cosmetology degree, and just a few months ago, Stephie had moved in with Colby into a tiny new place of their own. The guy was still completely smitten.
The Marsh women had a way of doing that to a man.
It had taken Regina a while to warm up to Colby, considering the sneaking out situation. But now, Colby was another part of the family. If maybe not quite as favored as me.
Vivian and her boyfriend stood right behind them, smiling as they followed Stephie and Colby inside. And here was Regina, walking up with a casserole dish and a look of pride on her face. A tall man stood beside her with gray dreadlocks, a full beard, and a friendly grin.
“Hello, Dean.” Regina handed the casserole dish to her man, then dove in to deliver one of her patented momma hugs. Oof. “Couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day for a barbecue.”
“You’ve got that right. And this must be…”
“Raymond. Great to finally meet you, Dean.” He shook my hand. Then he held the door and stood aside for Regina to head in, the two of them exchanging a shy, lovey-dovey glance.
Oh, yeah. Regina was in love, and it sure seemed like the feeling was mutual. I was thrilled for her. Regina was the closest thing to a mom that I had, and I wanted nothing but the best for her. For all the Marsh women.
And I was especially glad they could be here with us today. Because I had a secret reason for inviting all our friends and family here. A certain piece of jewelry had been burning a hole in my pocket for weeks now.
I’d been waiting for the right moment. But I expected this one to be perfect. Sun, smiles, good food. Everyone we cared about standing there to witness it.
Assuming Keira said yes when I popped the question.
I mean…of course she would say yes. Right?
Owen and Genevieve showed up a few minutes later, followed quickly by Aiden, Jessi, and Zoe Shelborne. Aiden held up Ziploc bags of marinated meat. “Where’s the grill?” he asked gruffly.
“Uh, out back. Keira’s firing it up. Hello to you too.” I laughed, giving him a fist bump and Jessi a quick hug.
Owen and Gen had brought wine, and she went off to the kitchen for a corkscrew with Owen gave me a look and dramatically pulled me down the hallway.
“You’ve got the ring, don’t you?” Owen said.
“Have I ever mentioned what a loud-mouth you are, Tex? I should never have told you what I was planning.”
“It would’ve been obvious. Look at you. You’re sweating like a defendant awaiting sentencing.”
“It’s hot today! This house doesn’t have air conditioning.”
“That’s got nothing to do with it.”
I snorted and patted my pocket. “I’ve got the ring. Are you happy now?”
“Of course. I’m your bestest friend. It’s my job to get excited for you.” He clamped his arm around my neck, practically a headlock. “I just don’t want you to stroke out before you ask the big question.”
“Like you almost did before asking Genevieve?”
He laughed, letting me go with one more slap to my back. “Exactly. Now, are you going to give me a tour of this place, finally?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Let’s round some people up and give them the official tour.”
Keira was chatting with Raymond and Regina.
And Keira seemed to like him, so that was good.
Together, we took a group around the house to show off all the work we’d done.
When that was finished, Keira, Regina, Jessi, and Gen gathered in the kitchen to help put finishing touches on the food, with Zoe underfoot.
Raymond went outside to see what Aiden was up to at the grill.
After another hour, the backyard was hopping. We’d set up extra picnic tables to hold everyone, with a long folding table the designated spot for food. Way too much food.
River’s wife Charlotte had arrived, and they were holding hands and sipping beers. Cole Bailey chatted with Genevieve and Trace’s wife, Scarlett. Trace and Brynn were murmuring about something and laughing.
Owen sidled over and stood next to me on the deck, handing me a fresh can from Hearthstone Brewing. I thanked him and lifted the drink in cheers.
“I never thought I’d have anything like this,” I said quietly to my friend.
Not just the beautiful home or the most amazing girl in the world at my side. I meant all these people too. A family who would always have each other’s backs.
Owen squeezed my shoulder. “It was waiting for you here the whole time. You just had to believe you deserved it.”
It was pretty amazing. Seeing all these people who cared about us and had supported us. They’d all believed in Keira and me, even when she and I hadn’t figured ourselves out yet.
Over on the obstacle course, Trace and Scarlett’s son Toby was scaling a rope, while Stephie’s guy Colby was showing off on the climbing wall.
Hell, I hoped Colby didn’t fall and break something, but he was a fit guy. And he adored Stephie too much to be reckless around her again. That had been clear to me since the moment I’d met the guy. Same night we’d spent hours together cleaning up the mess Ryan Garrett had caused.
That night had been the last time any of us had seen or heard from Garrett. Harris Medina had been true to his word. He’d settled things with Garrett in his own way. Medina had also stayed away from Keira since then, and I was glad for it.
Shocking to think it had taken Keira almost dying to knock sense into me. I’d been an idiot back then. A miserable idiot.
And now, I had everything I wanted. Well, almost.
Over a year ago, I’d asked Owen if I deserved Keira. Back then, our relationship had been fake. But my love for her had been real. His answer to the question had stuck with me.
It’s about treating her right every single day.
I liked to think I’d been doing a bang-up job of that in the last year. Keira seemed to think so.
But I wanted to keep deserving her for the rest of our lives, and what better way than to declare my undying love and commitment in front of everyone we cared about?
I hadn’t planned out the exact moment to propose, though.
I’d figured inspiration would hit me at some point during the barbecue.
So the minutes kept slipping by. We ate steaks grilled by Aiden, mac and cheese, Regina’s gourmet potato salad.
Laughed and talked and cracked open more beers or canned cocktails.
The ring in my pocket was constantly on my mind, but I still didn’t know the when. I’d been like this as a sniper too, searching out the perfect moment based on instinct. But today, my instincts were staying quiet.
Fine. I was sweating a little, and it wasn’t just the late summer sun.
Then I saw Trace frowning at his phone. He got up, gesturing to Brynn, followed by Keira. They took a few steps away from the deck and started talking quietly. River glanced over, clearly interested, though he didn’t leave his wife’s side just yet.
But I could tell. My instincts? They were screaming now. Something was up.