Epilogue
Molly removed a bright-pink petunia from the plastic container they’d bought at the nursery that morning. She placed it in the hole she’d dug then sat back on her haunches and exhaled, wiping her forehead.
The warm sun beat down on her, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. It was a beautiful late May afternoon. Time to start getting things ready for their cookout.
Atlas stepped through the screen door that opened onto the wooden deck he’d built over the weekend. He’d stained it yesterday, and the rich wood blended perfectly with the green space of his backyard.
It was hard to believe all that’d happened only a few weeks ago. Time really did heal all wounds, including her shredded feet and black-and-blue bruises. She was still working on her fear of water. Showering with Atlas helped immensely.
Much of what had happened felt surreal. Rex was in custody, and Atlas had heard through one of his contacts that the big bad drug dealer had sung like a canary, trying to minimize his sentence.
According to their contact, Rex’s statement included naming customs officials in Panama as well as U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Houston.
For more than fifteen years, he and Willy Dunne had dominated the drug trade in that part of the world. Apparently, Willy had specialized in opioids and Rex in cocaine. However, recently, Willy had begun crossing into Rex’s territory and putting him out of business.
Their truce had disintegrated and their relationship became vicious—hijacked shipments, tainted products, and other methods of sabotage. Rex had hoped that by kidnapping her, he’d gain valuable information to put Willy out of business forever.
He’d been wrong.
Now he’d rot in jail and Willy . . . well, Atlas had given him what he’d deserved.
Atlas carried a glass of lemonade in each hand and passed her one before sitting on the bottom deck stair. “Lookin’ good,” he said with a grin, as if he were talking about the flowers. His eyes never left her face.
Butterflies paraded in her tummy. They’d been back in the US for two weeks now.
Thankfully, Rogue had extended the team’s time off, so they had another four weeks before Atlas had to leave for his next job.
Knowing he’d be gone for weeks or months brought forth a familiar sense of dread, but she refused to let anything rain on this day.
She accepted the glass and sat beside him. “Thank you. You kind of have the perfect backyard. I think this spot could be piled with mud and it’d still be gorgeous.”
She took a sip of the cool drink and bursts of lemon and mint exploded on her tastebuds. He really did have a picturesque spot. Tall trees and a large cedar fence enclosed the space.
A giant willow tree took center stage, and she could almost imagine a tree house in its low, thick branches. She sighed, stretching out her legs.
“It’s much prettier with you here.”
She beamed and leaned against his shoulder.
They’d had a glorious time in Panama. Atlas had rented them a serene condo near the ocean.
For three days, they’d dined at restaurants, gone for walks on the beach, and spent countless hours in bed.
And they’d spent a lot more hours in bed since returning to the US.
Her cheeks grew warm at the memory.
“Think your parents will come at the end of summer, like they suggested?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. My mom will probably have to drag my dad away from the law firm, but they’ll be here.”
Introducing Atlas to her parents probably should’ve made her nervous, but nothing had felt more right. Her mom had taken to him immediately, and even her dad had seemed thrilled about their new relationship. Now, her parents would meet his parents in a few months.
Sometimes it seemed as if things were moving fast. Then she’d stop to look in Atlas’s eyes and realize the speed was perfect.
He laced his fingers with hers. “The garden looks great. Everyone’s going to be here in a couple of hours.”
She braced her elbow on the step behind her and leaned back, arching an eyebrow at him. “Are you hinting I’m too sweaty and dirty to see your friends?”
He grinned and placed his hand inches below the short leg of her cutoffs. “They’re your friends too, now. And you’re never too dirty or sweaty for me.”
She cackled. “You would say that! I could be covered in garbage and you’d still try to get in my pants.”
“’Course I would. You’re the sexiest little thing . . .” He slid his hand up the inside of her shorts, and her legs parted as if of their own volition.
He flicked aside her panties. A thrill raced through her. Lying here on the steps while being touched so intimately rivaled being naked in front of a high-rise window.
“Atlas,” she breathed, but it was too late. Her body was already scalding. “Everyone’s going to be here soon. We still need to—”
He brought his lips to hers, stirring his fingers once again and eliciting a guttural groan from her mouth.
“We’ll make time,” he murmured between kisses. “I’ll even do the food prep so you can shower and get ready.”
Well, she couldn’t argue with that.
He got up, pulled her to her feet, then chased her inside the house. She laughed as the screen door banged shut behind him, and then he was on her, slinging her over his shoulder and carrying her to the bedroom.
“Come get this poor guy a wheelchair,” Viper said teasingly, as Wraith hobbled back onto the deck on his crutches.
Atlas snorted. The reminder of how pissy Wraith had been in a wheelchair at the hospital brought a smile to his face.
“Fuck you. Someone take that plate from Viper before his chair collapses.”
“You sayin’ that from crutches is a ballsy thing to do.”
“Boys, enough already,” Molly scolded, as she ferried Wraith’s second helping to the large patio table set up on the deck. “And stop swearing or Laine’s going to slap one of you guys.”
They were a little behind schedule due to a well-spent hour rolling in bed. Atlas had forgotten their plan to eat outside. Luckily, Rogue had arrived early and helped set up the patio furniture.
Wraith took his seat at the head of the table, where it was easier for him to get in and out, and thanked Molly for carrying his plate.
Viper placed his forearms on the table and leaned forward toward Atlas. “Where’s Paige? I assumed she’d be here tonight.”
Viper wore an innocent expression, but Atlas glared at him. “What’s it with you and my sister?”
Molly nudged him. “I think he was just asking,” she said sweetly.
Atlas grunted, not taking his eyes off Viper. If he were more mature, he’d have told him that Paige was vacationing in Florida with a friend. Whatever crush Viper had on Paige, Atlas wasn’t going to encourage it.
Viper didn’t balk, just kept his gaze neutral and took a swig of his iced tea. “It’s all right, doll. Only seems to bug him when I ask about Paige.”
“’Cause you’re the only one who asks.” That wasn’t necessarily true. However, none of his other friends seemed nearly as interested in Paige as Viper.
Viper shrugged and said something to Havoc. Emmy pranced over to the table and took a sip of her water.
“Emmy, did you help make that cream pie?” Molly asked, just as the girl was about to skip off again.
“Yup! It’s banana. One of my favorites,” she said, splaying her little fingers with exaggeration.
Molly chuckled then ruffled Emmy’s dark hair. The child ran off and bounded through the grass catching ladybugs in a glass jar. Laine sat on the steps giggling while their dog, Ollie, frolicked like a damn goat around Emmy’s heels.
Atlas couldn’t help but smile. Emmy was so darn cute, he almost couldn’t believe she wasn’t Rogue’s biological daughter. Not that it mattered. The two of them had gotten so close, and it’d been entertaining as hell watching his best friend step into a father-figure role.
Molly returned to her seat next to him, and her eyes shone as she threaded her fingers with his. They’d finished eating and had dessert waiting inside, but right now he just wanted this.
Havoc rapped his knuckles on the wooden tabletop. “So, boys, one month. You going to tell us where we’re heading next, Rogue?”
Rogue crossed his arms over his chest. “I promised Laine I wouldn’t talk shop tonight. Sorry.”
Reaper groaned. “He’s going to wait until the last minute. Atlas,” he said, nodding in his direction. “Get him to talk.”
Atlas leaned back in his chair and shook his head. In truth, he didn’t want to discuss work either. All he cared about was this moment—Molly at his side, his friends around his table, and more laughter than he could ask for in a lifetime. “Lots of time for details, Reaper. Hold your panties.”
Rogue let out a hoot and Molly rolled her eyes and laughed. While the guys continued to poke Rogue, Atlas brought Molly’s left hand to his lips. One finger, slim and bare, called to him in a way he’d never been called before . . .
To put a ring on it.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, a gleam in her eyes. She wore her hair down and in loose waves. A soft, buttery-yellow sundress flowed around her slight frame, accentuating her golden tan and bright eyes.
She was an angel. And he wanted her to be his wife.
“I just love you so damn much,” he murmured.
Molly’s eyes widened. She blinked.
It was the first time he’d said the words—but hell, they’d been hovering on his lips since they got home.
Her supple bottom lip trembled, and tears dotted her lashes. “I love you too,” she said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
Havoc went inside and returned with one of the desserts and a stack of plates. Emmy let out a shriek of excitement and came barreling toward the deck, her eyes lit with delight and her baby-blue dress already full of grass stains.
The table filled with chatter—mostly from Emmy, and from Laine, who was trying to shush her squeals—while he stared into the eyes that’d captured his heart.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. For sharing your home and friends, for starting a future with me, and, more than anything, for loving me. This might have been the first time we said it, but it’s the millionth time I’ve felt it.”
He stroked her perfectly shaped cheek. “Good. Cause you’re going to feel it forever. Especially tonight,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
Molly’s laugh burst over the din, and he leaned in with a kiss.
And damn if it took everything in him not to carry her from the party and back to his bed.
Later.
For now, he had everything he could ever want. And it all started and ended with golden hair and eyes. His Molly.
* * *