Epilogue
RONAN
I stood beside Kira’s swing. Twilight was a swath of hot pink and purple over the orchard below. Music from the nearby concert lit the air, leaving behind a faint rumble of bass from the powerful speakers. We were about to open the doors, but I needed a second alone before the chaos began.
I’d come to Brothers Three Orchard for a fresh start and a chance at proving myself on my own merit. I’d started my career as a hired gun, happy to play in the background until I’d grown restless. Then Beckett found me and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
The moment I stepped on the property, my life changed in so many ways.
I created relationships born out of the same passions. Some new friends and some old friends who needed a place to heal.
I had a job that fit me down to the ground and gave me room to grow into my skills. And I was pretty sure it would turn into a partnership someday.
I turned away from the fiery sky to see Kira at the top of the stairs.
She was the best part of all of this. My muse, my passion, and the love of my damn life. She didn’t know it, but I was going to actually ask her to marry me tonight. I tucked my hand into my pocket and pulled out the ring my mother had sent.
I knew tonight would be too crazy for her to meet my whole family, but Brighid Parrish wouldn’t wait long to meet her future daughter-in-law. I had a feeling the entire Parrish clan was setting up flights to come out here.
Good thing, because I couldn’t wait to introduce Kira to them.
I headed down the hill to the path and up the steps to meet her.
The taproom cast a golden glow around her hair, turning it copper in this light.
She’d left it down and curled it so it fell around her shoulders in beachy waves.
All her curves were on display in the poppy red dress she wore.
Her waist was cinched with a wide leather belt that echoed in the shimmery black tank that peeked from the deep vee of her dress.
She glittered with gold at her ears and layers of fine chains that sparkled in the low light.
“You’re stunning.”
She smiled. “You clean up pretty damn nicely yourself, Viking.” She lifted a hand to my face where I’d trimmed up my beard.
“I still like you wild.” She fingered one of the beads in the smaller braids I wore tonight.
Her hand smoothed down my chest, over the black dress shirt I wore to the heavy silver buckle.
I caught her fingers before she could go any lower. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.”
She grinned. “Later.”
“Later.” I flipped her hand and brought her wrist to my lips so I could nip the fragile skin. “You ready to do this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She glanced over her shoulder at our staff waiting for us. “They’ve worked their asses off.”
“And we haven’t even opened the doors yet.”
She stepped closer to me and her voice dropped to a whisper. “There’s a line. I’m not sure how that happened.”
“Jess is worth her salary, it seems.”
“Evidently.” Her eyes got a little big as excitement thrummed through her. “I can’t believe we’re finally here.”
I leaned down to press a light kiss on her blood red lips. “I can. Now let’s get this party started.”
She reached up to wipe my mouth. “You’re not nervous?”
I shook my head. “I’ve got all the faith I need right here.” I took her hand and led her to the door.
We opened the doors together, greeting people as they came in. One after the other, dozens came through the door. Murmurs of how big the place was, how cool the paintings were, and excitement for the bar filled the air.
Lennon was in her element, serving up drinks while her support staff poured drafts of cider. The first thirty minutes of the opening had dollar drafts, which had been Kira’s idea.
She’d been worried that no one would show.
That was my Sunshine—contingency plans for days.
We both grinned at each other as many went right to the bar and others spilled out onto the patio. The outdoor seating was lit for people who wanted to wander the paths between the concert stage and the taproom.
I stepped out the front door, pleased to see the parking lot was more than half full already and Ian Kagan hadn’t even finished his concert. He’d played a sunset show at the concert stage and would be here within the hour.
I opened the door for another group of women with a smile, then motioned to Annette. “How are you doing?”
Her eyes were still a little red, but her chin was held high. “I’m good.”
I nodded. “Watch the numbers. Let me know if we start looking like we’re at capacity. I didn’t think that would be a worry, but now I’m not so sure.”
“You got it.”
I moved through the room, checking on the waitstaff and bartenders to make sure they didn’t need anything. All the while, I heard people talking about my ciders.
The Firefly and Sunshine were already needing a change of kegs. Some of it was the dollar drafts, but I knew people would only crowd around for a cheap drink for so long without complaint.
I counted it as a good sign.
Kira was in her element, ordering people around and putting out fires. I left her to it and went to check on Kain.
He must have been getting lessons from Sunshine because he was barking orders at the staff. The scent of pork and baskets of french fries getting ready for plating nearly made me groan.
“Everything good back here?”
Kain was wearing a royal purple chef’s jacket and his usually wild curls were plaited in a thick braid down his back. He’d also reshaved the sides of his head for the occasion. I resisted the urge to snicker at the hairnet around his freshly combed out beard.
It was a good night when even Kain was following the rules.
“Boa! I’m glad you’re here. Come taste the poutine.”
“I’m never going to say no to that.” My best friend was damn good at the stick to your ribs cooking. I popped a gravy laden cheese curd in my mouth first. “Amazing.”
By the time I left, I was regretting my belt. The kitchen was going to open after the draft special was done, and from what I could tell, it seemed like everything was falling into place back here, too.
Lennon was putting on a show at the bar and tossing bottles back and forth between a few of the other bartenders who were learning some of her flair tricks.
I made my way into the main dining room and found Kira near the back door.
She was standing stiffly with two women in front of her.
One with red hair cut in a style at least three decades out of date.
As I got closer, I noticed she was quite a bit older than the second woman.
The other was slim, wearing a sequined dress that barely covered her ass.
Were those hair extensions peeking from the underside of her teased dark hair?
“Don’t get your plus sized panties in a twist. I just wanted to see what kind of craphole…”
I couldn’t make out what she said as a linebacker sized guy blocked me. I gave him a genial smile and shouldered my way through the crowd gathering near the stairs. The tables were rapidly filling and people were wandering in and out of the taproom to the patio.
The woman’s voice came in clearer as I got away from the noisy table.
“It’s not terrible in here. Could use a little more excitement, though.
Too many townies in here for my taste,” the younger one said as she craned her neck.
She spotted me and interest flickered as she turned my way. “Maybe not all hope is lost.”
“Kaylee, don’t talk to your sister like that,” the redheaded woman said sharply.
My jaw tightened as I heard the name. Kira’s family. “Ladies, can I help you?”
Kaylee crowded into me. “Why, yes, you can. Do you work here?” She turned to Kira. “Do you work with this fine specimen?” Her obviously fake lashes fluttered. “Is he your boss?” She turned her attention back on me. “No wonder you’re working here, sis. How did she get the job, big guy? Her ba—”
“Enough.” Kira’s stern voice sliced through the air. “You are not welcome in my establishment.”
“Yours?” Kaylee laughed. “Hardly.”
I gauged the situation and decided to let Kira give me the go ahead to bounce them. Instead, I simply moved to her side and crossed my arms over my chest.
The conversations muted around us and I could feel Kira vibrating. I dropped my arms to my sides and brushed her hand with mine. She looked up at me and the shock in her amber eyes slowly warmed and her jaw eased.
She linked her fingers with mine as she looked at Kaylee. “You aren’t welcome here.” She looked at the other woman. “Neither are you, Mom. Not if you have anything to do with Kaylee after what she did.”
“She’s your sister,” the older woman spluttered.
“And that’s the only reason she’s not in jail.” Kira’s voice was firm. “And that can be rectified. I do believe the statute of limitations is still in effect.”
Kaylee’s eyes bulged as she looked around. “How dare you,” she whispered viciously.
“No, how dare you. Go crawl back into whatever hole you’ve been living in for the last five years. Believe me, I’ve rethought my loyalty to you every single day you’ve been gone. I have at least five people who would be happy to press charges against you.”
Kaylee backed up a step.
“And no, Ronan isn’t my boss. He runs this place with me.
I am going to marry this big, beautiful man and we’re going to have perfect babies who will never know you.
And they’ll never wonder if they’re loved a single day of their lives.
” She glanced at her mother, who was slack-jawed with shock. “Not a single day.”
I pulled Kira against me. “I have never loved you more than right this second, Sunshine.”
She looked up at me with a light sheen of tears in her eyes. “I love you too, Viking.”
“Let’s go, Mom.” Kaylee’s voice pitched higher with her anger.
Kira’s mother stood there for a moment, looking between the women. When she followed Kaylee, I closed my eyes in regret.
Kira turned her face into my chest for a moment. When I cupped her jaw, she smiled softly. “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’d love to die of embarrassment right now—” She broke off when a few people clapped around her.
I grinned. “All I see is my badass future wife.”
She rolled her eyes at me, then slid out of my arms and grasped my hands. “You keep telling me I’m marrying you. Well, I’m asking.”
I blinked down at her. “What?”
Her smile was huge and there wasn’t a single flicker of doubt in her eyes. “Will you marry me, Ronan?”
I picked her up and closed my mouth over hers. She gripped my shoulders and kissed me back, and the whole damn room clapped for us. She tasted of sunshine and smelled of moonflowers and she was all mine.
She laughed against my mouth. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes. That’s definitely a yes.” I set her down and went down on one knee. “You beat me to it, Sunshine. Wear my ring?”
Her hand shook a little as she held her hand out and I slipped my great-grandmother’s ring over her finger. The canary yellow diamond flashed just like the sunshine.
I heard a man with an English accent ask what the excitement was all about. The room went a little crazy after that, but I didn’t really notice.
All I cared about was Kira wearing my ring.
Finally.
We hope you enjoyed your stay at the orchard! If you’d like to find out who the mysterious Rachel is, turn the page to find out. Oh, and Beckett’s story is right around the corner.
Did you wonder how Shane and Kendall got together? Kain is a great supporting character in their story. Grab that story HERE.