Epilogue
DEENA
1 YEAR LATER
"Almost done. Try not to blink," Rosco says, balancing precariously on a ladder as he installs the final light fixture in what is now officially my researchlab.The transformation of Aunt Millie's east wing is nothing short ofmiraculous.
One year ago, I stood in pouring rain watching part of this housecollapse.Today, it's a state-of-the-art research facility with gleaming countertops, climate-controlled storage forspecimens,and enough workspace to accommodate two research assistants from Riversend CommunityCollege.
"If you fall and break your neck on the final day, I'm going to be seriously annoyed," I call up to him, trying not to sound as nervous as Ifeel.The man may have spent years on motorcycles and climbing mountains, but watching him on a ladder still makes my stomachknot.
"Relax, botanist. I've done this a thousand times." He secures the fixture with practiced efficiency, then flips theswitch.Light floods the space, illuminating the room in its fullglory."Perfect. What do youthink?"
I spin slowly, taking it allin.The custom shelving he built for myspecimens.The workbenches positioned precisely at my preferredheight.The large windows that let in natural light but can be darkened with the press of abutton.The cabinets painted my favorite shade ofgreen.
"It's perfect," I whisper, emotion suddenly clogging mythroat."Better than anything I could haveimagined."
Rosco descends the ladder, wiping his hands on his jeans before wrapping his arms around me frombehind."Your own private researchkingdom.Dr. Wilson's mountainlaboratory."
"Our mountain laboratory," I correct, leaning back against his solidchest."I couldn't have done this withoutyou."
"Sure you could've. Would've taken five years instead of one, but you'd have gotten there eventually." He presses a kiss to mytemple."Stubborn as youare."
"Look who's talking." I turn in his arms, rising on tiptoes to kiss himproperly."The man who refused to let contractors handle the cabinetry because, and I quote, 'Those idiots wouldn't know proper joinery if it bit them in theass.'"
He laughs, the sound rumbling through his chest intomine."I stand by thatassessment."
A year of this. A year of waking up to his rumbling voice, his calloused hands, his unwaveringsupport.A year of splitting our time between his cabin, my small apartment in Riversend, and the gradually rebuilding house on LavenderHill.A year of balancing my teaching position with his woodworking business, of navigating the occasional MC visit, of learning to merge our separate lives into something strongertogether.
It hasn't been easy. But nothing worth having everis.
"What time are people arriving?" Rosco asks, releasing me to collect histools.
"Six. Though I wouldn't be surprised if Mrs. Havers shows up early to 'help arrange things.'" I check mywatch."Which gives us about three hours to finish settingup."
"Or two hours to set up and one hour for other activities." His suggestive tone makes my pulsequicken.
"Ross! We have a million things to do before the housewarmingparty."
"One thing," he corrects, stepping closer again. "Christening the lab."
Heat floods my cheeks. "We are not having sex in my researchlab.It's sterile. Professional. A place ofscience."
"Exactly why it needs a proper christening." He backs me against the counter, hands settling on myhips."Think of it as an experiment inacoustics."
"You're incorrigible." But I'm already melting against him, my body responding to his proximity the way it alwaysdoes.
"You love it." He nips at my earlobe, knowing exactly what that does tome.
"I love you," I counter, fingers threading through hishair."The incorrigible part I merelytolerate."
His laugh vibrates against my neck, sending shivers down myspine."Liar."
Before I can protest further, his mouth captures mine in a kiss that still, after a year together, makes my kneesweak.His hands slide beneath my t-shirt, calloused palms warm against myskin.
"This is incredibly unprofessional," I murmur against his lips, even as I tug his shirt from hisjeans.
"Good thing you're off the clock, Professor." He lifts me onto the counter, stepping between mylegs."Consider this the final inspection of yourworkstation.Testing for...structuralintegrity."
I laugh, the sound quickly transforming into a gasp as his teeth graze my collarbone."Well, when you put it thatway..."
His answering smile is slow and wicked. "That's my girl."
"You look fine," Rosco says, appearing behind me in the bathroom mirror as I attempt to tame my curls an hour later.Unlike me, he wears his dishevelment well, like he was born to look slightly rumpled and dangerously attractive.
"I look like I've just had sex in my lab."
"Because you did." He wraps his arms around me from behind, meeting my eyes in the mirror."And it was spectacular."
I can't help the smile that spreads across my face."It was, wasn't it?"
"Worth every back strain from installing those cabinets." He presses a kiss to my shoulder."Ready to finish setting up for your big debut?"
"Our big debut," I correct. "This place is as much your creation as mine."
His expression softens, something vulnerable flickering in his eyes."You saying that's my name going on the door too, Dr. Wilson?"
I turn to face him fully. "Actually, I've been thinking about that.The grant came through, the one I applied for last month."
"The native plant conservation project?" His face lights up."Dee, that's fantastic!"
"It is. And it means I can hire a full-time assistant and expand the scope of my research." I take a deep breath."It also means I don't have to keep the apartment in Riversend.I can be here full-time."
He goes still, eyes searching mine."You're moving back? For good?"
"If that offer still stands." I fidget with the hem of my shirt."I mean, we've been practically living together anyway, but making it official is a big step, and if you need more time--"
His mouth covers mine, cutting off my nervous rambling.When he finally pulls back, his smile is so bright it could light up the whole mountain.
"Is that a yes?" I ask, slightly breathless.
"That's a hell yes." He kisses me again, shorter this time but no less intense."I've been waiting a year to hear you say that."
"Why didn't you ask?"
"Because you needed to decide on your own." He tucks a curl behind my ear."No pressure, no ultimatums. Just you, making your own choice."
The simple understanding in his voice makes my throat tight withemotion.This man, who once seemed so hard, so closed off, has become my greatestchampion.He rebuilt a house for me without once asking if I'd stay init.Supported my career without ever making me feel guilty for the timeaway.Waited, patiently, for me to find my way home tohim.
"I love you, Ross Stone." I frame his face with myhands."Thank you for giving me the time to figure thingsout."
"Worth the wait." He kisses my palm. "Worth everything."
Bear's bark signals the arrival of our first guests, right oncue.
"That'll be Mrs. Havers," I sigh. "Ready for this?"
"For a house full of people eating our food and drinking our booze?" He grimacesplayfully."Not particularly. But I have plans forafter."
"What kind of plans?" I ask, curiositypiqued.
"You'll see." He kisses me one more time before heading for thedoor."Come on, let's get this overwith."
The housewarming party exceeds all my expectations.The house fills with an unlikely mixture of my academic colleagues, Rosco's woodworking clients, and the inevitable contingent of Saints MC members.Tank and his fiancé, Debbie, arrive with matching leather jackets and homemade banana bread.Earl brings his famous moonshine that I've been warned not to sample too liberally.Mrs. Havers provides enough food to feed half the county.
What amazes me most is how seamlessly these disparate worlds blend.My department chair from the college engages Rosco in an animated discussion about sustainable forestry while Tank, of all people,is explaining motorcycle engine efficiency to my wide-eyed research assistant.Mrs. Havers has cornered Earl about a community garden project, and Debbie is showing photos of her new garage to anyone who'll look.
"Quite the gathering," Mrs. Havers says, appearing at my elbow with a glass of wine once she's finished with Earl."Millie would be pleased to see her home so full of life again."
"I hope so." I accept the wine gratefully."Though I'm not sure what she'd make of the laboratory wing."
"She'd be proud of you, dear." The older woman pats my arm."And even prouder that you found your way back to that stubborn mountain man of yours."
I follow her gaze to where Rosco stands across the room, smiling at something Tank has said.Even after a year, the sight of him still makes my heart skip.He's more relaxed now than when I first returned, smiles more easily, laughs more freely.The hard edges haven't disappeared--they're part of who he is--but they've softened, just as mine have.
"I got lucky," I admit.
"Luck had nothing to do with it.That was all courage--from both of you." She sips her wine, eyes twinkling."So, when's the wedding?"
I nearly choke on my drink. "Mrs.Havers!"
"What? I'm old. I don't have time to wait around for you young people to get your acts together." She glances meaningfully toward my left hand."That finger's looking awfully bare for someone who's just committed to staying on this mountain permanently."
"We haven't discussed marriage," I say, though the idea sends a flutter through my stomach that's not entirely unpleasant.
"Mmm-hmm." Her knowing look makes me blush."Well, when you do, I expect an invitation.I've got a hat all picked out."
By eleven, everyone has finally gone, leaving Rosco and me alone in the suddenly quiet house.Bear, exhausted from all the attention and treats he's received, snores softly by the fireplace.
"Well," I say, surveying the aftermath of our celebration."That was a success."
"It was." Rosco takes my hand, pulling me gently toward the front door."Come with me. I want to show you something."
"Now? It's late, and we have all this cleanup--"
"It'll keep till morning." His expression is both nervous and determined."This won't wait."
Curious, I follow him outside.The spring night is cool but clear, stars painting the sky in patterns city lights would obscure.He leads me to his truck rather than toward the cabin, opening the passenger door for me.
The drive is short, winding up a familiar path that leads to our ridge--the clearing where I collected soil samples that first morning, where he found me two hours into my "one hour" expedition,where we first began to rebuild what had been broken between us.
When we arrive, I gasp softly.The clearing has been transformed.Solar lanterns hang from tree branches, casting golden light across the space.A small wooden platform has been constructed at the edge, providing a perfect view of the valley below, where Serenity Hollow's lights twinkle in the darkness.
"Ross," I breathe, stepping out of the truck."What is this?"
"This," he says, taking my hand and leading me to the platform, "is the next project."
On the platform sits a curious structure, covered by a tarp.He pulls it away to reveal a perfect miniature of a building--an octagonal structure with windows on all sides, detailed right down to tiny shingles on the roof.
"An observation post," he explains, watching my face carefully."For monitoring seasonal changes, wildlife patterns, plant growth cycles.A place where you can work without having to hike back and forth to the lab every time you need equipment."
I crouch to examine the model, marveling at the exquisite detail."You made this?"
"Been working on it for months." He kneels beside me."What do you think?"
"It's incredible." I trace the tiny door, amazed by his craftsmanship."But this is a lot of work, Ross.You just finished the house--"
"I'm not done building things for us." His voice is soft but certain."I'll never be done."
Something in his tone makes me look up.He's watching me with an intensity that takes my breath away, the lantern light casting shadows across his features.
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, he reaches into his pocket, withdrawing a small wooden box that matches the observation post indesign.My heart starts hammering against my ribs as he opens it, revealing a ring nestledinside.It has a glistening band of silver with a small emerald surrounded by what looks like miniature mountain laurel carved into themetal.
"Dee," he says, voice rougher thanusual."A year ago, you showed up on my doorstep in the middle of a storm, soaking wet and stubborn ashell.Turned my whole life upsidedown."
I can't speak, can barely breathe as hecontinues.
"For twelve years, I thought what I wanted wassolitude.Peace. Turns out, what I really wanted was you." He takes the ring from its box, holding it betweenus."I've been waiting to ask until you decided to stay for good, until you chose this mountain, this life, without any pressure fromme."
Tears blur my vision as he takes myhand.
"I'm asking now. Deena Wilson, will you marryme?Build a life with me, argue with me about plant classifications and cabinet arrangements, challenge me every day for the rest of ourlives?"
"Yes," I whisper, then louder. "Yes, Ross. Of course, yes."
His smile is blinding as he slides the ring onto myfinger.It fits perfectly, the weight of it unfamiliar butright.I launch myself into his arms, nearly knocking him backward as I kiss him with everything Ihave.
When we finally break apart, both breathing hard, he rests his forehead againstmine."I love you,botanist."
"I love you too, mountain man." I can't stop looking at the ring, at the intricate detail of thecarvings."Did you makethis?"
"Every bit of it." Pride mingles with vulnerability in hisexpression."The mountain laurel is from thisclearing.The ones you were studying that firstmorning."
As we stand there on the platform he built, surrounded by lantern light, the valley spread below us, and the stars above, I feel a sense of rightness so profound it steals mybreath.This is where I belong. Not just on this mountain, not just in this moment, but with this man who rebuilt his life to make room formine.
One year ago, I was stranded by a storm, seeking shelter with a man I thought I'd leftbehind.Now I'm choosing to stay, to build, to grow with him--not because I have nowhere else to go, but because there's nowhere else I'd ratherbe.
"Home," I whisper, nestling against hischest.
His arms tighten around me, steady andsure."Home," he agrees, pressing a kiss to myhair."This time, for good."
Want to see Rosco and Deena's mountain wedding?
Two years after Deena showed up soaking wet on Rosco's doorstep, our favorite mountain man and his botanist are finally tying the knot! But they're not the only ones finding healing on the mountain...