Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Liam
Two weeks later
I t felt like the whole town had turned out for the ribbon cutting. Liam let his focus sweep from one side of the street to the next. He had known there was a need for a dance teacher in town, but he hadn’t realized just how much excitement it would drum up.
If he wasn’t mistaken, he thought he noticed some strangers, as well. Chances were high that people had gotten wind of a real New York ballerina opening a dance studio in Copper Creek, and they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to enroll their daughters.
Margot and Courtney had been running around like crazy since the moment Margot had returned to Copper Creek. The dance studio still needed some work. While the walls and floors were all squared away, they needed to fine-tune a few things and get the branding just right.
Liam had been most impressed with Margot’s ability to push the hard launch back a bit to allow for a few weeks of free trial classes.
Her reasoning was that she wanted people to know exactly what she would be offering her students.
When Courtney had pointed out that she was hoping to be hired, Margot assured her that she didn’t think she could do it without her.
For the most part, everything had settled to exactly where Liam had hoped it would be. He folded his arms as he waited in the crowd with everyone else. His own excitement grew as the seconds ticked by. Margot was going to make history in this small town. One day she was going to singlehandedly bring culture and the arts to Copper Creek.
“Not too bad for a cowboy,” a gruff voice muttered beside him.
Luke glanced over to find Rhett watching the front of the ballet studio.
“I must admit, I wasn’t sure what you had in mind when you said you wanted to help Margot start a business and a ballet studio at that.” He peeked at Liam out of the corner of his eye. “I miscalculated just how popular it would be.”
“That’s because you underestimated Margot.”
Rhett’s stare was anything but cordial. However, there was a sort of acceptance hidden beneath the layers of distrust he still held for Liam. “Perhaps I’ve underestimated both of you.”
Liam bit back a smile. This was about as close as he’d ever expected to get when it came to winning Rhett’s approval. The man was like an impenetrable stone prison.
Margot’s father turned his attention back to the studio. “Do you think you’re ready?”
“Ready for what, sir?”
“Don’t think me a fool, Keagan. I can see it in your eyes. It’s the same expression I had when I looked at my wife before I asked her to marry me.”
Liam froze. He didn’t know what could have possibly given him away. He hadn’t discussed marriage with Margot yet. He hadn’t shown anyone the ring he’d purchased. Could Rhett see the bulge in his jacket pocket? The lump in his throat threatened to cut off all air supply. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir.”
“Suit yourself. But I’ll have you know that marrying a Bennet isn’t the easiest thing in the world. There will be countless obstacles. There will be moments when you will question your own sanity.”
“With all due respect.” Liam faced Margot’s father. “I’m fully aware of all the risks involved when it comes to caring for your daughter. But I’m also aware of all the benefits that loving her has given me already. I wish you could see that I’m good for her and that you’d stop pushing me away. I don’t approve of your insistence on pushing me away. I’m not going anywhere.”
Rhett appraised him, his eyes searching his for what felt like hours. Then he gave a sharp nod of his head. “Good man.” He clapped Liam on the shoulder. “Based on what I know of you, I would expect you to ask me for her hand. I’ll tell you right now, there is no need. If you would like to marry my daughter, I give my blessing—not that I would be able to stop the two of you if I tried.” A hint of a smile hid behind his mustache. “She’s very lucky to have found someone who cares as deeply about her as you do.”
Liam blinked, stunned into silence. He watched Rhett Bennet walk away while his heart went into survival mode. That had to be one of the strangest and most unnerving conversations that he’d had with Margot’s father to date.
And Liam had survived it.
He let out a relieved laugh and ran a hand through his hair.
“What’s so funny?”
Liam jumped, spinning around to find Caleb looking at him with curiosity, then glancing around him to where Rhett had disappeared in the crowd. “Someone do something funny?”
“No,” Liam said, still in shock. “I’m just happy, is all.”
Caleb arched a brow. “Yeah, I suppose I can see that.”
Liam grinned as he turned to the building. “I didn’t think you were going to come for the ribbon cutting.”
“I wasn’t.”
He gave his brother a side-eye. “Then why are you here?”
Caleb shrugged but didn’t answer.
“Come on, you came for a reason. You just don’t want to say it. Margot’s growing on you, isn’t she?”
He shrugged again.
Liam’s grin widened, and he nudged his brother with his elbow. “It’s okay to admit it. She can be quite irresistible.”
“It’s not that,” Caleb muttered. He turned to face Liam, his expression serious. “I don’t think I was wrong in judging her. I think we all need to be really cautious when it comes to who we let into our lives. It used to be just us against the world, you know? Just our family. And then everyone started getting married and getting jobs. And now the rest of us who are at home, we’re holding down the fort alone.”
“You’re not alone,” Liam said.
“You say that now, but one day you’re going to ask Margot to marry you and then leave just like the rest of them.”
“Wade and Brielle will always be there. And I’m sure you’ll see a lot of the others. They all still work the ranch, and some of them are building their homes on other parts of the property.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Liam could hear the disappointment in Caleb’s voice. He could sense that it was more than Caleb feeling lost. Something else was getting to him. “You okay?”
Caleb glanced in his direction. “Yeah. Why?”
“You seem a little more disillusioned than normal.”
His brother snorted. “Just because I don’t want to give my heart to anyone doesn’t make me disillusioned. I’m being smart. People aren’t who they say they are nearly ninety percent of the time. Heck, you might wake up and realize that Margot isn’t who she thought she was either. Did you know that our brains aren’t fully developed until we reach our mid-twenties? Anything could happen to literally change who we are at our core before we reach that point.”
“I think you’re being a little pessimistic, don’t you? The reason we date people is to get to know them. You’re not supposed to fall in love at first sight.”
“You did,” Caleb said. “And look how that turned out. You nearly lost her.”
Liam’s frustration was piqued momentarily. “I almost lost her because I wasn’t willing to see what was most important to me. It wasn’t just her. We’re all imperfect, Caleb. No one will come waltzing into your life and be exactly who you think they are.”
“That’s exactly my point. So why should I even try?”
“Because it will make you happy.”
Caleb huffed. “Maybe Carter had it right. He took off with money and a dream to find his future all on his own. I bet you anything he doesn’t regret it one bit.”
“I’ll take that bet.”
Caleb rolled his eyes. “Anyway, I wanted to tell you I was sorry—about all the things I said about Margot.”
“I thought you said you weren’t wrong.”
“I’m not,” Caleb clarified. “I still think it’s wise to be cautious. But I probably shouldn’t have aired my concerns to you—at least not after the first time. The way you choose to live your life is up to you, just like the way I choose to live mine will be up to me.”
Liam nodded. “I appreciate that.” He gave his brother a crooked smile. “I hope this conversation doesn’t mean that you’re going to swear off relationships.”
“I don’t know that I’m swearing them off entirely, but I definitely don’t think they’re necessary for happiness, and I’m not going to go seeking one out. Now, if a woman falls into my lap and she happens to be someone I find attractive… maybe I’ll give her a chance.”
He laughed. “Then maybe, for your sake, I’ll wish for that exact thing to happen to you.”
Caleb gave him a flat look. “I’d rather you not.”
A cheer went up, drawing the attention of everyone in the surrounding area. Margot and Courtney were at the ribbon with the mayor and the sheriff. Margot looked like she could light up the night sky with how bright her countenance shone. Her eyes found Liam’s, and she blew him a kiss.
Caleb groaned and headed into the crowd.
“I want to welcome everyone out today. We’re going to have a lot of fun!” Margot called out. “There are food trucks, dance demos, music, games, and raffles. I’d also like to thank all the local businesses who offered to donate their services or items for the auction to help us raise some money to renovate the Hendricks Theatre.”
Another cheer filled the air.
“Now, let’s get this party started!” Margot held up the oversized scissors and snapped the ribbon in two. Courtney opened the front doors wide and several people swarmed the building. The parking lot remained full of the others who had joined for the event.
Liam stayed put where he was, waiting for Margot to make her way over to him. Every so often she would get caught talking to someone from the community, but eventually she found her way to his side.
“So,” she said with a smile. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re beautiful.”
Margot laughed. “I mean about the event Courtney and I put together.
He pulled her closer to him. “I think,” he whispered, “that you are amazing and have done this town proud.”
She tilted her head slightly to the side. “Is that all?”
Slowly, he shook his head. “Not even close.” His head dipped lower, and his eyes searched hers. “I have something to ask you.”
“Oh?”
He nodded. “But I don’t know if it’s the right time.”
“Oh,” she murmured, her mouth drawing even closer.
“Apparently, your father might disagree.”
Margot’s delicious lips quirked into a soft smile. “Does this have to do with his giving me the marriage talk this morning?”
Liam’s head reared back. “What?”
She snickered, walking her fingers up his chest until she tapped him on the nose. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Many times.”
“Good. Then I want to make something perfectly clear.”
“Okay?” He wasn’t sure how she’d managed to steal the conversation away from him, but she had.
“Yes, I will marry you.”
He blinked. “You will ?”
She nodded. “But I want you to ask me first.”
He wasted no time moving into the appropriate position, and she laughed as she tugged him back to his feet.
“Not right now. Not here.” She tilted her head, and that endearingly coy smile touched her lips. “Take me to our special place. Let’s go see the lightning bugs.”
“You want to visit the lightning bugs?”
She nodded, her lips nearly touching his as she whispered, “It’s where I realized I was in love with you.” Her lips pressed against his, stealing his breath and making him see sparks. When she pulled back, he nodded.
“It’s a date.”
Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed Liam and Margot’s heartwarming journey! Are you ready to see which Keagan brother finds love next? Get ready for Caleb’s story!