9. Epilogue
Stella
Six months later
The mountain air is crisp and filled with the scent of pine, the early afternoon sun casting a golden glow over the secluded overlook. The place we’ve spent countless hours. Where we first kissed and where Pete proposed.
Now, it’s where we’re saying our vows.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my heart. Not because I’m nervous—I’ve never been surer of anything in my life—but because the moment is so perfect, so overwhelming, I feel like I might float right out of my skin.
“Breathe,” Lucy whispers beside me, her hand squeezing mine. She’s grinning, her eyes full of unshed tears. My best friend, my maid of honor. She’s the only one who knows just how much I’ve dreamed of this day.
I nod, exhaling slowly as I look down at my dress. It’s simple, elegant, exactly what I wanted. A soft ivory gown that flows like water around my legs, the delicate lace sleeves brushing against my skin. My bouquet—wildflowers Pete picked himself—is clutched tightly in my free hand.
Then, I see him.
My beloved mountain man stands at the edge of the overlook, the mountains stretching endlessly behind him, the wind rustling his dark hair. He looks rugged and handsome in his simple suit, but it’s the way he’s looking at me that nearly brings me to my knees. His gaze is steady, full of warmth, full of love. Like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.
I don’t even realize I’ve moved until I’m standing in front of him, his hands reaching out to take mine.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. His voice is rough, but I hear the emotion in it.
The officiant begins, but I barely hear a word. All I can focus on is Pete—his hands holding mine, the way his lips twitch like he’s fighting back a smile, the way his eyes shine when he looks at me.
And then, it’s time.
“Pete,” I whisper, my voice shaking just a little. “You are my home. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. You taught me love isn’t about grand gestures or perfect moments straight out of a romance novel; it’s about the quiet ones, the ones that mean everything. I promise to stand beside you, to love you, to cherish you, every day for the rest of my life.”
His grip tightens around mine, and he swallows hard before speaking. “Stella, I never thought I’d find someone who could make me want more than just the solitude of the mountain. But then you came into my life and changed everything. You are the only thing that’s ever made me want to step out of the quiet and into the world. I promise to love you, to protect you, to stand by you, for as long as I have breath in my lungs.”
Lucy sniffles behind me, and I hear the quiet murmur of our closest friends watching, but nothing exists beyond Pete. Just him, me, and the mountains that have always been his refuge.
When the officiant tells him to kiss the bride, Pete doesn’t hesitate. His hands frame my face, his lips pressing against mine with a tenderness that steals my breath.
Cheers rise up around us, but I barely hear them. All I know is that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Married to the love of my life, in the heart of the mountains, with nothing but the endless sky above us, and a lifetime of happiness ahead.
Want to read Lucy’s happy-ever-after? Read The Silver Fox Bidder next.