Epilogue
Paige
Two Months Later
“YOU MUST HAVE some sort of inside connection.” Janie carefully wound a strand of Paige’s hair around the curling iron in her hand. “I didn’t think they had any openings here for two years.”
Paige forced her eyes to stay still as Evelyn—the only person she knew who could apply strip lashes—carefully laid down the sticky line of frilly fringe. “Maryann called and told me they had a cancellation and if I could be ready in two weeks, the day was mine.”
Two weeks wasn’t long to plan a wedding, but the women around town were more than ready to pitch in.
Besides Janie doing her hair and Evelyn applying her makeup, Dianna made them a cake.
Mae was catering it since Mariah was now in Wyoming.
Nora helped with decorations. The Bridge Bitches were serving as their ushers and all the Pace brothers had been kind enough to handle the setup.
Was it going to be the most perfect wedding ever?
Yes. Yes it was.
Evelyn leaned back, head tipping as she looked over Paige’s face, eyes bouncing back and forth between the lashes fluttering in the breeze from the fan pointed right at her since she couldn’t seem to stop stress sweating.
“I think they look pretty even.” She picked up the hand mirror from the counter next to them and passed it off to Paige. “Here. See what you think.”
Paige took a deep breath, unsure how she was going to react to seeing herself like this.
As a bride. Leland’s bride.
She lifted the mirror and stared at her reflection. When Evelyn had offered to do her makeup, there hadn’t been a doubt in her mind she would do a great job. But this… This was insane.
“I look amazing.” Paige blinked hard, successfully controlling the emotion trying to undo all Evelyn’s hard work. “You are so freaking good at this.” She angled the mirror, getting a look at the gentle waves Janie was working into her blonde locks. “Holy shit. My hair looks fantastic too.”
She’d worked so hard for so long, spending the majority of her time at The Creekery, so her social life was pretty limited. And now that Leland had leveled up to fiancé, she should probably start making more of an effort to build connections.
Not that Leland wouldn’t still be her best friend. The man was stuck with that title for eternity. Now he’d just also be her husband.
And the father of her babies.
“It helps that you’re hot.” Janie moved to stand in front of her, smoothing out any wayward strands with a rat tail comb and a can of hairspray. “I’d seem way less impressive if you weren’t gorgeous.”
Paige smiled, warmth blooming in her chest. “Thank you.”
Maybe her social life wasn’t as limited as she thought it was. Maybe she’d just been so focused on one specific friendship that she hadn’t noticed all the others she was in possession of.
After a few more spritzes, Janie straightened. “I think you’re good.” She set down the items in her hands and turned to the garment bag hanging on the back of the door to Paige’s room at The Inn at Red Cedar Ranch. “You ready to get in this thing?”
Paige pulled in another deep breath, trying to settle the butterflies in her stomach. “I guess it’s pretty much time, isn’t it?”
Janie carefully slid down the zipper, revealing the off-the-rack gown Paige and Beverly found at a shop in Billings. “I mean, you can wait if you want, but I’ve got a feeling your fiancé is going to be hella impatient.” She turned, waggling her brows. “He’s waited for you a long damn time.”
It was true. And if she didn’t think things through the whole way, it could make her feel like an idiot. All these years they could have been together. Building the life she’d been dreaming of.
But when it came down to it, that didn’t happen because they loved each other too much. Would do anything—make any sacrifice—to make sure they didn’t lose what they had.
And that was pretty fucking amazing.
Evelyn helped Paige wiggle out of the button-up shirt and leggings she’d worn over.
It took both Janie and Evelyn to get her into the dress without messing up her hair or smudging her makeup onto the pale cream fabric, but they finally managed to zip her into place without any mishaps.
Once her shoes and jewelry were on, she was done and ready.
Beyond ready. Maybe Leland wasn’t the only one who was feeling a little impatient.
Evelyn stepped back, resting both hands on her cheeks. “Leland is going to shit when he sees you.”
Janie snorted. “Leland shits every time he sees her.” She smirked. “The man has been in love with her his whole freaking life. We’re all gonna be lucky if his head doesn’t explode the minute she says ‘I do’.”
Paige grabbed her phone from the counter, checking the time. “That didn’t take as long as I expected.” She chewed her lower lip.
Janie flicked her on the shoulder. “Stop that.”
“Shit.” She peered into the small mirror, making sure she hadn’t ruined her lipstick. “I’m not good at wearing anything on my lips.”
Janie’s smile turned devilish. “I bet you’re going to have plenty on your lips tonight, so you should get used to it.”
“Eww.” Evelyn’s nose wrinkled. “I feel like I need to explain things to you if it’s ending up all over your lips.”
“While you guys do that”—Paige picked up her skirt and turned for the door—“I’m going to go find Leland.”
She didn’t really think the whole not seeing each other before the ceremony thing would be a big deal. Plus he’d been her person for years. The one she told everything to. Not talking to him at one of the most important moments in her life—their lives—just felt wrong.
“What?” Evelyn’s shocked voice called after her. “You guys aren’t supposed to see each other before?—”
Paige ignored her friend, instead continuing on her path. Flinging open the door, she stepped out into the hall.
And right in front of Leland.
All the air rushed from her lungs as her eyes dragged down the hard lines of his body and the sharp angles of the suit encasing it. “You look…” There weren’t words to describe him.
“I look like your husband.”
So maybe there were words after all.
Paige lifted her eyes to his. “You definitely do.”
Leland
“I THINK WE’RE going to confuse people.” Paige grinned at him as they stopped at the top of the stairs.
“Apparently we’ve confused them for a long time.” He offered her his arm. “Why stop now?”
He’d been planning to find Paige—get his eyes on her to make sure she was okay and everything was going smoothly—when she found him.
It was a perfect example of how nothing had really changed. They were still the first person the other called when something good happened. Still the one they went to when something not so good happened.
And they still leaned on each other through everything life threw at them. When they were nervous or excited. Or both.
Like right now.
Paige slid her hand into the crook of his arm, giving it a little squeeze. “Good point.” She pushed up on her toes, pressing a kiss to his lips.
“Hey,” Maryann Pace barked up at them from where she stood at the bottom of the stairs. She wagged a finger. “None of that until you’re married.”
Married. A word he worried might never apply to him. A status he thought he might never get to claim.
Thankfully—as the Bridge Bitches would say—he finally popped his head out of his ass. Now here he was, making Paige his. Officially. In front of his family and their friends.
“Ugh.” Paige rolled her eyes and started down the stairs. “You act like I haven’t already kissed him five hundred times today.”
“I’m sure that’s an underestimation.” Maryann looked him up and down. “And I don’t blame you, but you’re gonna wear all the lipstick off your face before the first picture is taken.”
Paige shrugged. “Worth it.”
Maryann’s head tipped back as she laughed.
Wiping at one eye, she looped an arm around Paige’s shoulder as they reached the main floor.
“You two stay here. I’m gonna go tell them you’re ready on time.
” She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
“That doesn’t happen often, so we usually plan on starting at least ten minutes late. ”
He tipped his head in the direction of the area just off the main common area where rows of chairs were set up for the ceremony. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
He didn’t want to wait any longer than he had to for the opportunity to call Paige his wife.
As Maryann hustled away, Paige turned to him, baring her teeth. “Any lipstick?”
He took extra time inspecting her pearly whites. “No lipstick, but there is a big hunk of something green stuck right there.” Leland pointed in the general direction of her front teeth.
Paige’s eyes widened. “What?” She wedged a fingernail between them, digging at the spot. “Why didn’t you tell me before now?”
He shrugged. “I planned to get it out with my tongue until Maryann “Fun-Police” Pace ruined it.” He braced one hand along her jaw, leaning in. “Here. Let me get it.” He stuck his tongue out.
Realization dawned on Paige’s face and she rolled her eyes. “You jerk.” She shoved at his chest with her free hand. “I’m gonna tell Maryann that you tried to trick me into tongue kissing you after she said not to.”
He pulled her close, running his nose alongside hers. “That’s just mean.”
Paige beamed up at him. “You had plenty of time to get to know me before you committed. If you didn’t know I was mean that’s your own fault.”
“Too late now, I guess.” He was just about to break Maryann’s rules again when the song Paige had chosen to walk down the aisle toward him started to play. “Sounds like my time to change my mind just ran out.” He clicked his tongue. “Darn.”
Paige’s laugh was light and lyrical as she backed out of his arms. Hooking her hand back into the crook of his elbow, she took a deep breath. “Ready?”
Leland rested his hand over hers, taking just a second longer to commit the moment to memory. It was one he never wanted to forget.
To be fair, there weren’t many moments with this woman he was keen on not remembering.
After dragging out as much time as he dared, he tipped his head toward their waiting guests. “Ready, wife?”
Paige nodded. “Ready, husband.”
He led her across the hardwood floors of the inn, feeling settled and happy and right.
The ceremony was a blur, making him extra grateful for that little bit of time they had together beforehand. Especially since they sure as hell didn’t have had it afterward. Between family and friends, they barely got a second to breathe, let alone find a quiet moment just for them.
But that was okay. Because finally, even after all his fuck-ups and missteps, he had a whole lifetime to find as many quiet moments with her as he wanted. And loud moments. And chaotic moments.
And he was going to appreciate every damn one of them.
Thank you so, so freaking much for reading Paige and Leland’s little story. I had so many people asking about her, but I knew she didn’t really have a full-length book size tale to tell, so sneaking in one more novella was the perfect way to give her a HEA.
It also helped wrap our time in Moss Creek up with a pretty little bow. It’s so crazy to be leaving Montana after spending so much time there, but I PROMISE you will LOVE where we’re headed next.
Paige wasn’t the only lady I got lots of emails about. Mariah is actually one of the names most mentioned in my inbox and I’m happy to tell you, her story will kick off my next Janice series.