Epilogue
Marco wandered in from the balcony of their Monegasque apartment, the sun setting behind him as Savannah watched him from the sofa. ‘Do you think you’ll ever want to move back to the ranch permanently?’
‘We literally just bought this place,’ she laughed. ‘But in answer to your question, yes. When we retire and we’ve seen enough of the world. Right now, I’m happy with our two-week-long vacations. Wyoming feels less like home the more time I spend here.’
‘I was hoping you’d say that.’ He sat down next to her, running his fingers over the script font that decorated her thigh, just above her knee.
A tattoo for their first anniversary, influenced by wine but still one of her favourite memories.
The word ‘Monaco’, forever inked on her skin to match Marco’s fine-line lasso on the inside of his arm.
Subtle, but a true representation of each other and their story.
‘Because I’d like to bend you over this balcony at least once a week. ’
‘Marco!’ she gasped, laughing when she caught the smirk on his face. ‘Just as well we live in such a private complex, then.’
‘The paparazzi would only see us if they were in boats, and the waters are monitored for that exact reason. Can’t say the same for our neighbours, but we’ve got some young drivers around here. I’m sure they’ve got up to all sorts in their downtime.’
‘Did you have all of this in mind when we were looking for a place?’
He glanced at her, the smirk still giving him away.
‘Maybe…’ He was no liar. A big selling factor for their permanent move to Monaco was the level of privacy they were blessed with.
He wasn’t going to risk a repeat of the Tennessee cabin photos when she had worked so hard to distance herself from that situation.
They had spent the last two years travelling the world together and making frequent stops in Belgium, Hawaii and Wyoming in between racing.
It was bliss. They had watched Savi’s brother get married, finally moving off the ranch and into a place downtown with his new wife.
Calvin had retired at long last, and Savannah had invested in Girls Off Track , offering regular summer workshops in multiple states across North America with the help of Kodie and Miko.
Savannah had also become close with Marco’s parents, who as far as they were concerned now had a daughter of their own.
They encouraged her to play more tennis, wined and dined her, and she revelled in nights at the casinos.
It was a different life here, and it was easy to get lost in it, but Marco wouldn’t let her.
He liked the cowgirl within her, the way she walked around the streets of Monaco in her boots without a care in the world.
That was the Savannah Hart he’d fallen in love with, and no city was going to take that away.
Any time she started to miss Wyoming, either they would get on a plane, or her parents would. Bonnie and Cal had embraced flying thousands of miles every few months, safe in the knowledge that Weston didn’t need them anymore.
Everyone was making moves and Marco was just… well, enjoying loving on his girl. He wouldn’t change a thing. Except he was on a bit of a mission to fast-track their happiness, wanting to max out the fairytale.
‘You given any more thought to some little you and I’s?
’ Marco asked. ‘I could retire soon, you know. Be a stay-at-home dad. Have four or five little scamps running around. We could get them karting, let them follow in our footsteps and raise the next generation of championship-winning IEC drivers.’
Her eyes widened, ‘Four or five?!’
‘I was pushing my luck there, I’ll admit,’ he shrugged. ‘One or two would be fine.’
‘Okay, let’s keep it in mind,’ she agreed.
‘Wait, really?!’ He sat up, hovering over her.
‘Really, but we’re not starting any kind of trying until this season is over.
And you know, you might want to make an honest woman out of me while you’re at it.
I’m an old fashioned kinda gal.’ She lifted her head and pecked him on the lips, snapping him out of his surprise.
She had just given him the green light to propose after months of saying she wasn’t ready.
‘You want to get married?’ he murmured, and he could see her eyes lighting up.
‘Not right now, if that’s how you’re gonna ask me.’
‘You’ll know when I’m really asking.’
Savi grinned. ‘Why, because you’ll be a blubbering mess?’
‘Precisely,’ he grinned back. ‘Because, Cowgirl, who wouldn’t want you to be their teammate forever?’
‘I do have one question though. Before you start planning a proposal.’ She smiled, leaning in close. ‘Do I get to wear cowboy boots with my dress?’
‘Savannah, I wouldn’t want you any other way.’
‘Right answer, Monaco.’