62. Epilogue
Chapter 62
Epilogue
One week later…
Willow Creek, Alabama
Summer evenings in Alabama have a certain feel. I’m beginning to recognize it.
The way the heat abates and the cool breeze soothes the land. A peace unfolding as night approaches.
The screen door creaks, but I don’t let it slap against the frame as I step onto the wrap-around porch. The quiet is too precious tonight for carelessness.
As I lower myself to sit on the top step, I draw in a breath of the earthy air. The sun is winding down. The scents are different here than they are in Vandemora. No tropical blossoms fragrancing the air. No sea breezes.
The pine reminds me of college in California.
God, a lot has changed in my life since then.
So much sadness. But so much…love.
I smile as I press my face to my knees. Evan’s incredible.
I should send Mellie a message telling her I’m in love. Not just love, but LOVE.
My cheeks pinch with a smile.
Why does the world seem so much better? Like nothing but possibilities exist even though Mike is battling cancer. It still feels like there’s hope in the air.
Lana, Evan, and Mike’s voices drift softly out from the house. Their laughter wraps around me, a gift that I hadn’t admitted to myself that I was dying for. Family.
Belonging.
When the door opens, I don’t have to look. Evan’s stealthy, but very recognizable footfalls cross the wooden deck.
He sits down without saying a word. His long legs bumping against mine. I take his hand and lean my head against his shoulder. Every night we’ve sat here just like this.
After a while, Lana joins us, taking a seat on the far side of the stairs and leaning against the railing. She passes us two freshly opened hard ciders.
We clink and toast without a word.
Nothing needs to be said.
Everything we all need is right here right now.
I can’t ever recall this exact feeling before. It’s a bone deep peace.
“G’night guys!” Mike calls a bit later from the door.
“Night, Dad.” Lana waves and blows him a loud kiss.
Evan stands up and opens the door. He grabs the man that raised him in a bear hug.
It tears my heart up.
“See you in the morning, Dad.”
I’m not eavesdropping, but I swear Mike says, “Good luck, son.”
Evan murmurs something and they share a laugh. When he returns to me, he snags my hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“See you lovebirds tomorrow.” Lana stands up and stretches, smoothing her hands over her khaki shorts. “I’ll be expecting dinner at six, Ev.”
He cuts her a look. “Tomorrow’s your turn.”
“It’s Friday, remember, you always had Friday night dinner duty. Besides, it's your last night in town, so this is your final chance to dazzle me and Marianna with your culinary skills.”
Scrunching his nose, Evan waves his sister away. “Get out of here, it’s past your bedtime, but I got your number. I’m going to make fried green tomatoes and ham just to spite you.”
She looks horrified. “Ack! You wouldn’t.”
He wraps his arm around my neck as he looks at Lana with a cocky grin. “You know they’re great. You just like to bitch.”
Chuckling into my hair, he asks, “Marianna, what do you think?”
“Oh boy. I’m going to be caught in the middle of this one. I’ve never had siblings, but I know the deal.”
“Well?” she asks.
I shrug helplessly. “I like tomatoes, but I’ve never had fried green anything.”
Lana cocks her hip and drops her fist on it, giving me a frown. “He’s playing you, girl. They are gross.”
Evan is loving this.
“They’re delicious and you know the rule. You have to eat whatever I fix. No complaining allowed.”
She makes a face, yet she still looks elegant and beautiful. “You were always such a pain. I think there’s a clause in the rule book, I’ll have to find it tomorrow.”
Shaking her head, she stalks over and fiercely hugs him. Since he’s got his arm wrapped around my neck, it turns into a three person hug.
She gives him a smacking kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for coming home, Ev. I’ve missed the hell out of you. Dad’s so much better today.”
I can feel the weight of her words on Evan. His voice is a little choked up. “I’m glad to be here. He did seem better today. Now get home, you’ve got a big day tomorrow in court.”
“Listen to you all big-brothering me.”
She hugs me. “Have a wonderful night, Mari. I look forward to another night of telling you embarrassing stories about Ev.”
It hits me that Evan’s sister-by-choice is calling me Mari now too. It’s my new favorite thing right next to watching her tease her brother.
“Thanks for dinner and the company. It was a really nice night. I’ll be eagerly awaiting those stories.”
Lana steps back and looks at Evan. Her eyes get extra bright and she clears her throat. “Okay. Going now…You better call me tomorrow.”
When she leaves us, Evan turns me toward the sidewalk that leads to the back of the property.
“Where are we going?”
I don’t really care, but I just want to hear his warm sexy voice near my ear. We haven’t been alone for hours and I’m starting to have withdrawals.
“Gotta show you something.”
Evan’s shown me a lot. The garage where he was sleeping under a tarp when he was just a teenager. That hurt my heart.
And the rundown town of Pinebox where he was kicked out by a heartless mother.
Then he showed me all around the little town that became his home—Willow Creek. Including the school where he studied after the Walkers took him in, and the place where he wrecked his motorcycle and broke his leg when he was seventeen.
I loved every single place.
But when we pass the stand of pine trees and walk into an open field, I know that nothing else has even touched this.
“Oh! What? Are those firefly thingies?”
Evan wraps his arms around me with a laugh shaking his chest. “They are. We call them lightning bugs around here, though. Have you ever seen them before?”
“Only on those YouTube videos that play sleep music.”
He bites my neck and crushes me to his chest. “You’re so damned cute.”
I expect him to kiss me. A lot. But he doesn’t. Instead, he tugs my hand. “Let’s go, there’s more.”
I follow him, my eyes dancing, my heart singing a happy tune as we walk through the grassy field surrounded by thousands and thousands of lightning bugs.
“This is magical!”
“Yep, it is.”
When I catch one on my hand, I squeal. “Look!”
He stops suddenly and I bump into a wall of muscle. A throaty growl is the only warning I get before he locks his mouth against mine.
Holding my hand high to keep the little glowing bug safe, I get the full Evan effect. Rough hands, hard body, lips, tongue, and even a little teeth.
God, he kisses so freaking good.
I could write poems about the way he devours me.
This time, he goes slow. Deep. Wet. And explores every angle he can.
It melts me. Lights me up. Makes me shiver and press my knees together.
I can’t catch my breath when he lets go. “Heavens, are you trying to make my body glow too?”
“I’m trying to make you dizzy so you’ll say yes.”
“Huh?”
He’s already pulling me along again. “Nothing.”
We walk deeper into the field, farther from the house. Finally we reach a small knoll and the little hitchhiker on my finger takes flight. I follow his light trail with my eyes until I gasp. “Oh wow! Look at that…”
I feel like a little kid, full of wonder.
There’s a broad river that’s catching the rising moon on its dark waters. I’m struck silent by the incredible beauty.
“I saved bringing you out here until it was the perfect night. The moon has to be just right. I was lucky it happened the week we’re here.”
Evan tugs me to the right, “Come here, babe.”
I barely glance down because I can’t take my eyes off the river, but when I do, I realize something’s going on.
“Did you bring a picnic out here?”
“Dessert.”
“Ohhh. This is the perfect place.”
He watches me. What’s that look in his eyes?
“I hope it is,” he says in a rough whisper.
“What are you up to?”
He motions to the blanket.
“Oh… are we going to?” I laugh huskily. “I like the kind of dessert you’re talking about. I’ve been afraid I might accidentally scream your name, or call you God in the house.”
Evan pulls me down next to him. I stretch out on my back as the little lightning bug swirls around overhead. After being there a second, my eyes adjust and the stars start to twinkle.
I find a comfy spot on his shoulder, my favorite place to lay. “This is incredible.”
Evan reaches down and finds my hand. He traces his fingers in circles over mine. “I want to tell you a story.”
“Ohh, this sounds romantic. I’m all ears.”
“Actually you’re all heart.”
I snuggle closer. “Says he who has the lion heart. What is this story?”
He clears his throat. “Okay.”
Below my ear his heart sounds a little too loud and fast.
“Are you?—”
“Shhh.”
“Okay, I was just worried…”
“This is a true story.” He pauses as if gathering his focus. “There was a night a long time ago when a little boy slept in the cold. He didn’t dream because he was too broken. The only thing he felt inside of him was anger. The world was dark and colorless to him. The hunger tore at his stomach. Made his legs weak. But one night everything changed. He slept under a clean blanket and the food in his belly made him sleep a deep, deep sleep. He had his first dream that night. Of a land far away where the earth is moist and green and trees are covered with beautiful red fruit. Where the wind whispered and carried the scent of the ocean.”
He stops and draws in a ragged breath. “That kid had never been to the ocean or even heard the sound, but his dream was so real. And the next night he filled his belly again, but before he went to that warm, safe bed, he walked with the lightning bugs. They showed him the way to a new place. There, the moon was sparkling on the river. It was magical and sitting in this spot gave him the first peace he had known. For a while, he laid on his back watching the stars dot the ink-black sky, and while he did, he imagined he could catch a falling star in his hand and keep it forever. A piece of heaven on earth.”
I’m crying, biting my lip, fighting the sobs that are trying to burst my lungs.
His fingers shift and turn my hand over. In my palm he places a small, cool metal object. He wraps our fingers together over it.
Tears rush over my lashes.
In a low, rough voice he breaks me.
“I’ve caught my star, Marianna. While this diamond will never shine as bright as you, I hope it will remind you of the light you’ve brought to my dark life.”
I bury my face against his chest crying as he exhales shakily. “My past is ugly, Mari. Now you know who I was, I just hope you’ll give me the chance to be the man I want to be. Will you marry me, and make me the happiest man on this great Earth?”
I squeal. My heart is soaring as he rolls on top of me. “Yes!”
This time I lead the kiss and I show him just how much I love him.
He laughs against my lips. “God, I love that. But you’ve got to give me your finger, sweetheart.”
Tears are rolling and I’m breathing madly as he takes my ring finger and slides a beautiful solitaire all the way up to sit against my knuckle. Red sparks fire from it, magically lighting the darkness.
It’s stunning. “I love it. So much. It’s amazing. Just like you.”
He looks at me with wonder.
I lift up and kiss him again. Just a quick peck. “But I don’t care if you gave me a tractor part, I’d have said, yes.”
He laughs and pushes his thigh between my legs. “Spoken like a true farm girl. Now let’s get you out of these clothes, I want to see if I can make you see some more stars.”
He doesn’t take long to deliver.
And as I watch him moving above me with the moon and the twinkling sky as a beautiful background, all the pain of my past fades away.
Only now. Only us.
My dream.
My slice of heaven on earth and the very protective owner of my heart.
“My beautiful Mari.” He notches his forehead against my neck as he brings me to a shimmering peak.
When I rasp his name and fall into the blissful, sparkling ether, he catches my sounds in his mouth. His cock throbbing deep inside of me, he finishes with a hard thrust, throws his head back and howls my name to the dark night sky.
When he collapses on me, we lay breathless under the blanket of stars until the dew falls around us.
Hours after we left the house, we tumble into his bed—the very same one where he spent that first night years ago.
As he’s turning off the bedside lamp, his cell phone chirps.
I lift my heavy head. “Is that a text?”
He slides his arm out from under me and grabs his mobile. “Yeah, from Beast.”
It’s dark, but the phone screen illuminates the worry lines on his brow. Then they quickly smooth out and a smile appears. “Ha. He wanted to know if I manned up.”
I giggle. “I’d say you did.”
He types a quick text. Then tosses the phone on the nightstand. “I’ve been dying to know how the missing person case is going. But they won’t update me.”
“They love you and want you to have some time for family.”
He laughs roughly. “Love? I don’t know about that. Now that I know what your love is like, I have a whole new definition.”
I sigh as we settle in. “I hope you won’t stop working with your team. I think you’re really good at your job. They need your help to find that woman.”
He’s thoughtful for a few minutes. “I’m going to try to make it all work.”
“We are going to make it all work.”
I close my eyes and smooth my thumb over the diamond on my finger, and in my heart I know everything is going to be fine. I’ve got Evan on my team and that’s all I’ll ever need.
+++
Thank you so much for reading Evan and Marianna’s story.
Scout’s book, Dangerous Mission is up next. If you are dying for another suspense romance today with the unstoppable hero, + dangerous crime themes Check out Lethal Threat , book 1 in the Agile Security Series today!