Epilogue
One Year Later
Sadie
The town hall is glowing with soft, twinkling lights, the wooden beams wrapped in garlands of dried roses and baby’s breath. Pine Hollow has gone all out for this year’s Valentine’s Day dance, and as I sway in Reid’s arms by the crowded dance floor, I can’t help but think about how different life was just a year ago.
Last year, I came to this dance heartbroken, believing I’d lost the man I loved. Now, that same man is holding me close, his warm hand resting protectively over the small swell of my belly, where our baby is growing.
“Still feels a little surreal,” I murmur, tilting my head up to look at him.
Reid’s blue eyes soften, his hand absentmindedly rubbing on my baby bump. “What does?”
I press my hand over his, covering where he’s cradling our baby. “This. Us .”
His grip tightens just enough to make my heart flutter. “I don’t know why. I told you I’d spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubted how much I love you.”
I bite my lip, feeling the sting of happy tears. “You have.”
“Damn right, I have.” His expression turns smug, but the way his eyes hold mine—tender, steady, full of that quiet devotion that still takes my breath away—tells me just how deeply he means it.
“I love you, you know.” I sigh, my voice barely above a whisper.
He turns me in his arms. His hand slides up my spine, fingers tangling in the hair at my nape. “Yeah, sunshine. I know.” Then he leans down, pressing his forehead against mine. “But I’ll never get tired of hearing it.”
I let out a breathy laugh. “Good, because I plan to remind you every single day.”
His lips brush against mine in a teasing whisper of a kiss before he murmurs, “You better.”
“Ugh, you two make me sick,” Annie groans as she steps up beside us, rolling her eyes. She’s got a drink in one hand and a plate of cookies in the other. She’s looking beautiful in a deep emerald dress that hugs her curves. “I mean, really. Can you not look at each other like you’re about to rip each other’s clothes off in the middle of the dance floor?”
Reid doesn’t even have the decency to look guilty. He just shrugs. “I can’t help it.”
I smirk. “Neither can I.”
Annie groans again, stuffing a cookie in her mouth. “It’s disgusting.”
Dottie chuckles as she joins us, her sharp eyes twinkling with mischief. “She’s just jealous, you know.”
Annie huffs. “I am not jealous.”
“Liar.” Dottie pats her arm. “But don’t worry, dear. I have a feeling your time is coming soon.”
Annie scoffs, crossing her arms. “Not unless there’s a catalog where I can order a grumpy, six-foot-five mountain man who chops wood shirtless.”
Reid snorts, shaking his head. “God help that poor bastard.”
Annie narrows her eyes at him. “Oh, don’t even pretend you don’t love me, Reid. I know you do.”
Reid lets out a long-suffering sigh. “Unfortunately.”
I giggle, squeezing his arm. “You do love her, admit it.”
Reid rolls his eyes, but there’s no real bite to it. “Maybe a little.”
Annie grins victoriously, popping another cookie in her mouth. “That’s what I thought.” Then she nudges me. “But seriously, Sadie. You lucked out. Not all of us get a surly, emotionally stunted mountain man who loves you beyond all reason.”
I glance up at Reid, at the way he’s already looking at me, his expression softer than anyone else ever gets to see. “Yeah,” I murmur, “I really did.”
Dottie gives Annie a knowing look. “Don’t worry, dear. Pine Hollow has a way of giving people exactly what they need—even if they don’t realize it yet.”
Annie rolls her eyes. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But something flickers in her expression, and I get the feeling that maybe, just maybe, Dottie’s onto something.
Reid clears his throat. “As much as I enjoy talking to y’all, I’d like to get my wife back on the dance floor.” He tugs me back into his arms. He takes me to the dance floor, and once we’re locked together in each other’s arms, he says, “You need to rest soon.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine, Reid.”
He raises a brow, unconvinced. “Doctor said you need to take it easy.”
“I am taking it easy.” I gesture to the slow waltz playing in the background. “We’re literally just swaying.”
Reid sighs, pulling me closer. “Just don’t overdo it, sunshine.”
I press my cheek against his chest, breathing him in. “I promise.”
The music plays around us, couples laughing, friends chatting, and I know I am exactly where I’m meant to be, here with Reid and a town full of people who have become our family.