Epilogue
Scotland and Home
Q uinn wasn’t convinced Alex was serious about marrying her. Never mind the New Year’s Eve nuptials until they were on the plane headed for his home. Lachlan flew back with them and drove them to his and Violet’s home when they arrived at Glasgow airport. Quinn was stunned to discover that their home was a small castle near the sea. The perfect spot for a wedding.
Quinn was exhausted from the travel and the time change but wired at the same time. She couldn’t stop gushing over the quaint stone homes, the stores in the village, the countryside, and the highland cows. And the Lochs. Scotland was capturing her heart almost as much as the man beside her.
On their second evening in Scotland, Quinn had gone up to bed, and Alex had promised to join her soon. “No rush,” she said seeing how happy he was to be in the company of both of his brothers. It was the first time the three had been together in over two years. The whisky and laughter between the men were in abundance.
After washing up, Quinn lay in the comfy queen-size bed in Lachlan and Violet’s guest room, and she got Belle on a video call on her phone.
“Quinn!” she exclaimed when she answered.
"Hey Belle, give me a sec, I'm going to add Megs too.”
“Hey girls,” Megs said. “Is everything okay? I snuck into the washroom at work, so I can't talk for long.”
“Well, I wanted to see what you ladies are doing next week?” Quinn began.
“Where are you?” Belle squinted looking closer at her phone. "And why are you in bed at four in the afternoon?” she added suspiciously.
“I'm in Scotland, and I was kinda hoping you both might be able to join me.” Quinn smiled into the phone as if she’d just invited them to come around for cocktails versus inviting them to travel halfway around the world to see her.
“Scotland!" the two girls exclaimed at the same time. And at the very same moment, Alex strode into the bedroom, rosy-cheeked and a little inebriated.
"Christ, lass, I already missed ye," he said rather clumsily climbing right on top of Quinn nearly knocking her phone on the floor as he covered his mouth hungrily over hers in a tipsy, but definitely not ineffective, kiss.
"What? What the heck is happening?"
"Who is that?
"What's going on?
“Quinn? Quinn!”
Her friends’ questions sputtered in rapid-fire succession, and she giggled against Alex's mouth. He seemed to latently realize that there were other voices in the room, and he lifted his lips from Quinn's and turned a confused look to the phone she held beside them in her hand. Quinn wished she could have snapped a screenshot of her two best friends’ jaws dropping to the floor and her sexy fiancé looking the most adorable version of confused as he paused on his hands and knees over her, whilst looking awkwardly at them.
"Ach, Hiya, lassies. Sorry 'bout tha'. I dinnae mean to interrupt yer bletherin'. Hope ye can make it to the wedding. I'll leave ye lassies to it then." He grinned into the phone and then turned and planted another quick kiss on Quinn's lips before hoisting himself off the bed and sauntering into the ensuite, tearing off his t-shirt as he went. It was impossible for Quinn not to watch him. God, she adored the sexy man.
Quinn finally looked back to her phone, and it was as if her friends were frozen on the screen.
“What in the hell was that?" Megs finally was able to speak.
“It was Hot Cop!” Belle bit out excitedly, her face still pressed up closely to her phone.
“Oh, my fucking God, Quinn! Are you getting married to Hot Cop?” Megs’ face was now also right up against her phone.
“In Scotland?” Belle added in a shrill squeak.
Quinn grinned from ear to ear, leaned in close to her phone too, and nodded. "I am.”
Alex watched the woman he loved and happiness penetrated his every cell. Her reaction to his homeland and his family made him feel things he’d never felt before. He was proud to show her around and have her on his arm, and her reactions to every little detail filled him with pride. Despite witnessing his brother’s love with his wife, Alex had written off the existence of true love. But Quinn changed everything for him. She opened his eyes and heart. Quinn West—Quinn Mackenzie, made him a better man. He was whole with her by his side.
Alex hadn't been too concerned with the actual wedding. He just wanted the lass to be his wife. He had the feeling Quinn was of the same mind, but the women in his family took great pleasure in the preparations. The best part of that for Alex, was watching his bride-to-be, fitting in with his family, as one of them now. Quinn had come home from a full day of wedding gown shopping with them and as she cuddled into Alex that night, she told him, how she felt for the first time in her life, like she had a family, a real family. Alex wasn't one to get misty-eyed, but his little lass had him wiping a tear or two.
The wedding itself was a few days after New Year’s Eve because his sister and sister-in-law, Orlagh and Violet, insisted that they required at least a few days to get it planned. Quinn had hoped that her friends would be able to make it, but unfortunately, with such short notice, the best they could manage was a virtual attendance. Knowing how much the girls meant to Quinn, Alex was already planning for her friends to come to Calen as a surprise for Quinn's thirtieth birthday in a few weeks.
They stayed in Scotland for another week and went on day trips to see various sights, including Cailleach, the Mackenzie clan distillery. Alex hadn't realized that he hadn’t told Quinn about it. She muttered something about how it made sense now, the Mackenzie boys’ obsession with Scotch.
They finally headed back to Canada and said their goodbyes. It was tough, but they all agreed they’d gather again soon in one country or another.
Alex loved seeing his family and home again, and it was all the better because of the woman by his side. It was like Quinn brought him out of his not-so-peaceful slumber. She made him feel alive, excited for the future, and helped him let go of his past. Alex felt truly happy. And he knew his wife was happy too, eager to get back to “their” cabin and write her novel.
They cuddled up in Alex’s bed back in their cabin. It felt more like home than it ever had. Bear lay on the floor beside the bed, content. He pulled his wife in closer, revelling in the feel of her naked lush behind pressed against his ever-hungry cock. He reached his hand up and gripped around her pretty little neck, lifting her jaw up and back into him.
"I hope ye dinnae intend on sleeping tonight. Mrs. Mackenzie,” he whispered in her ear.
“And would you punish me if I did? Handcuff me perhaps? Sergeant Mackenzie. ” Her sultry voice taunted him in the darkness as her hips ground back into him. Aye, it was good to be home.