Epilogue #2
I could be what the land needed me to be.
And I could be what Allegra needed me to be.
I also knew if it came down to a choice, I would choose the woman in my arms a million fucking times over. And I knew my granddad would understand. Once upon a time, he’d loved a woman as much as I loved mine.
ALLEGRA
“Jared, we have a gazillion decisions to make,” I grumbled as I followed him through the woods. “We don’t have time for this.”
My husband reached back for me, and I held his hand as we descended. It was a little slippery and muddy from last night’s rain. Now, however, the sunshine beamed through the trees.
“This might be the last time the loch looks this good this year. Autumn is almost here.”
I frowned. “And it’ll look beautiful in autumn too. We could look at it then when we’ve decided on kitchen cabinets and countertops and flooring and furniture and a million other things we need to decide if we want these pods up and running by New Year’s Eve.”
“Will you just hush, woman, and follow me?”
I made a sound of indignation. “Hush? I’ll hush you, Jared McCulloch. Hushing me …” I muttered under my breath.
Jared’s shoulders shook with laughter, but he didn’t stop dragging me down toward the inland loch behind Caledonia Sky.
Then, as we reached the flat, I glanced up and saw the building poised over the loch that hadn’t been there the last time I was here.
“What the—ah!” I tripped over a rock, but Jared turned at my cry, catching me before I face-planted. “Shit. Thanks.” He helped me straighten, searching my face, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “What is that?” I pointed past him.
Jared grinned and stepped away to let me have a good look.
A modern, small building similar to the pods (except rectangular, not arched), sat on a new deck that had been built out onto the loch. Two walls of the building that met at a corner were made entirely of glass facing out over the water.
“You built another rental? Why didn’t you tell me?” I smacked his arm with a playful huff.
Instead of answering, Jared took my hand. “Come with me.”
Curious as to why he was being so mysterious, I let him lead me around the loch and to the back of the building. There was a small window on this side and an entrance door. Jared smiled before he led me inside.
My breath caught as I looked up at the light spilling through the huge skylight above.
There was nothing in the rectangular open room, but a door that was slightly ajar.
I could see the glimpse of a small restroom behind it.
Otherwise, it was just one big room with so much light and that view out over the loch.
It felt like we were floating. One of the walls was actually a sliding door that led onto a side deck.
Then I realized it wasn’t an empty room.
An easel and stool were set up near the glass wall.
Oh my God.
Jared squeezed my hand. “I had the guys build you a studio. You said it was the perfect place for one, right?”
Disbelief and gratitude and love—immense love—filled me as I gazed up at my husband in wonder. “You remembered that?”
“Couldn’t get it out of my head as soon as you said it.
Knew this was meant to be for you.” He grinned at the marvel on my face and tugged my hand.
“Come on.” Staring around at the beautiful space, already imagining it filled with all the materials I needed to make my art, I followed him out through the sliding door to stand on the deck.
Sunlight spilled over the green loch, and birds sang in the trees.
It was perfect.
A slice of utter heaven.
Yesterday, my visa was granted. I was now officially a resident of the United Kingdom. I thought that my week couldn’t possibly get any better.
And despite all the shit that had happened in the last few months, I honestly couldn’t believe how perfect my life felt right now.
I said as much.
“Good.” Jared shrugged. “You deserve perfect.”
“I do?” I grinned.
He didn’t smile, though. In fact, he took a shuddering breath before speaking again. “That’s why I want a do-over.”
Confused, my brows drew together. “A do-over? For what?”
Jared pulled something out of his pocket and lowered to one knee.
My breath whooshed right out of me. “Oh my God.”
He snapped open a blue velvet ring box and revealed the most perfect engagement ring. The band was gold but matte instead of shiny, and it looked handcrafted. In the center of the band was a cluster of pearls in differing sizes and small diamonds encrusted in the gold beads that separated them.
“Jared …” I gaped at the ring.
“Every time I think about that wedding ceremony, I can’t stand it,” Jared admitted. “I can’t stand that’s the way you and I got married. Because we deserve so much more than that.”
I nodded, understanding.
“This time I want to marry you and have you know that you are marrying a man who will love you for the rest of his life.”
Tears slipped free as I kept nodding in agreement.
“Allegra Emma Howard McCulloch, will you marry me again?”
“Yes,” I sobbed happily. “Yes, of course, yes!” I lowered myself so I could kiss the living daylights out of him. “Why are you so perfect?” I laughed through my tears and his kisses. “You’re making it really hard to live up to.”
Jared chuckled against my lips. “You’ve got it twisted, baby. I’m just trying to live up to you.”
“And he says more perfect things.” I pushed him playfully, my gaze dropping to the ring. “It’s so beautiful, Jared.”
“I had an artist make it for you. I sent her pictures of the kind of jewelry you wear and she came up with this.”
I cupped his handsome face in my hands. “See? Perfect.”
“Let’s see it on, then.”
Grinning tearfully, I bobbed my hand in excitement so much, Jared had to hold it still so he could slide the ring down beside my wedding band. It looked beautiful. So beautiful I immediately jumped him.
Jared made a sound of surprise against my lips seconds before his back hit the deck. His laughter rose up over the loch as I peppered his face with kisses before swallowing the sound against my lips.
Straddling him, I kissed him hungrily as I reached between us for the zipper on his jeans. Jared grunted against my mouth as I slipped my hand inside his boxers to grasp him.
“Fuck, here?” His cheeks were flushed with excitement.
I nodded, suddenly desperate to have him inside me. “I want to christen my deck with your dick.”
He laughed, grabbing my ass. “Fuck, I love you.”
“I love you more.”
“Not possible.” Jared pulled my hand up and rubbed his thumb over my engagement ring. “Tha gaol agom ort, Allegra McCulloch.”
“Tha gaol agom ort.” I brushed my lips over his and pressed our hands down on the deck beside his head. “Let me show you just how much.”
And so there on the loch behind Caledonia Sky, we undressed to the witnesses of nature and made love on the land that had given us both so much. It was our home, yes. But a home we’d found in each other.
Looking back, I don’t think I was desperate to stay in Scotland just for Scotland. I think somehow my soul knew that the missing piece of me was here. In Jared. So I’d done whatever it took to stay. To find it. To find him.
I’d do it again. I’d climb any mountain, travel any road, cross any ocean, and bend any law to stay by Jared McCulloch’s side for the rest of my life.
After all, it was where I belonged.