Epilogue
IVY
T he headboard rocks against the wall in a steady rhythm, which only grows faster as Cole quickens his pace.
He’s pinned me to the bed with the weight of his body, rolling his hips into me at the speed of a madman.
I moan as pleasure racks my body, bringing me closer and closer to my climax.
“Yes, Cole. Yes!” My eyes roll into the back of my head as the delicious friction of him thrusting inside me elicits fifty different kinds of sensations.
The sheets ruffle beneath me as I writhe, and my body screams for release.
“You’re so fucking perfect, baby.” With a grunt, he lifts my leg to hook my knee over his shoulder.
He slides deeper into me at this angle, and I cry out louder as spots scatter across my vision.
Sweat pools at my back as Cole drives into me, his thrusts exquisitely relentless.
I arch my back, and my body explodes, my orgasm vibrating through me with immense pleasure, thanks to this man.
As his own body trembles with release, he clings to me, his fingers digging into my slick flesh so hard I’m sure he’ll leave marks.
And the sexy thought makes me lick my lips.
“Fuck,” he hisses and plops next to me, so we both face the ceiling.
“Thank goodness, this is the last time we have to do this,” I manage through labored breaths.
“ Thank goodness is damn right.” He slips his strong arm around my neck, and I nuzzle myself into his side. “I’m sick of saying goodbye to you. I can’t wait to share this bed every… single… night.” He punctuates the last of his words with a parade of hot kisses, starting at my temple and ending at my jaw.
“One more month,” I whisper and sigh happily.
In a few short weeks, I’ll teach my final class.
I’ll say goodbye to weekly happy hours with Elaine and say hello to a new life here in Sapphire Creek.
I’ve already sold my house in Atlanta, and I’ve been living in my parents’ guesthouse for the time being. But in four weeks, I’ll be moving in with Cole.
It’s been almost a year of a long-distance relationship, but we won’t need to do that anymore.
When we had the discussion of our future a few months ago, it was a no-brainer, really. I could just see myself living in this charming small town. It felt right to settle down here.
The truth is, I fell in love with Sapphire Creek all over again when I visited last summer, and I miss it when I’m gone.
I never miss Atlanta while I’m away. Not like this.
I’ve already made a life in Sapphire Creek with its people, and not just Cole. When I visit him, I have coffee with Aunt Carol, lunch with Addie, and dinner with Cole’s parents.
Addie and I are both teachers, so we have a lot in common; it was easy to immediately connect. On top of that, she’s fun and easy to talk to.
She’s also the reason I was able to secure a teaching job here. With her glowing recommendation and my years of experience, the elementary school was happy to offer me a full-time position. I start in the fall, which means Cole and I have an entire summer to ourselves.
The main downside is leaving my family. My mother hasn’t taken the news of my move too well. She’s going to miss me, and I her, but this is the perfect path for me.
Besides, we’ll be close enough for easy visits.
“You’re still going to love me when you have to see me every day, right?” I playfully poke Cole’s side.
He lifts my hand to his lips and places tender kisses to each fingertip, taking his time like he’s savoring me. “I will love you every day for the rest of eternity.”
“That’s a long time. You think you can handle an eternity of makeup stains and sticky surfaces in your bathroom from all my hairspray?”
“I wouldn’t dream of living a life without your hairspray.” He chuckles. “Plus, I love the lipstick stains you leave on my neck.” He practically growls as he buries his face in my messy hair.
I lazily stroke his arm. Curling up in bed like this is my most favorite thing, and I can’t wait to make it part of our daily routine.
I can’t wait to settle into life with him, where we both get up in the morning, have breakfast, and jet off to work. I’m excited for a new school, and I’m happy for Cole too.
He takes on a few shifts a week at the Tap because he enjoys it so much, but he’s putting his lawyer skills to work too.
He and Josh started working together a couple of months ago on various projects involving historical landmarks. They worked out a system where Cole won’t need to travel as much as his brother, which I’m grateful for.
I’m tired of being apart.
“What time is your meeting tomorrow morning?” I ask.
“At eight, but you don’t need to leave early tonight because of it.”
I start to slide off the bed, but he tightens his grip and keeps me in place. “Of course, I need to leave early. You need time to prep with Josh, and you need your rest. Besides, I have some grading to do before school tomorrow.”
He groans, and I can’t say I don’t feel the same way.
I hate this part—the goodbye.
We’ve endured it countless times over the last ten months, but it never gets easier. The only saving grace this time is knowing it’s the last time.
I’m successful in getting out of bed with my second attempt, but more groans follow me around the room as I wrap a robe around myself and grab my suitcase.
“Just a couple more hours?” Cole insists.
“I would, but you also have a bar shift to get to, remember?”
“You could come up there for a drink. I’ll make you a virgin margarita to enjoy before your drive.”
“You’re making it very hard to leave.”
“That’s the goal.” His smirk stops me in my tracks, as does the sight of his messy hair from our morning romp.
He’s still naked too, and my mouth waters as I take him in, the sheet bunched around his waist.
Cole Rivers is a dream.
“One month,” I say, and it’s more for my own benefit than his.
I toss a couple of dresses into my open suitcase, then mosey into the kitchen for a glass of water. As I sip and cool myself off, I run through a mental checklist of all the things I still need to remember to pack, some of which include the clothes from the dryer. I did a load of laundry last night after I spilled wine on my blouse.
Addie knows how to make a woman laugh so hard she squirts wine out of her nose.
I’m just making my way back into the bedroom, blouse in hand, when Cole stops me.
He’s wearing boxers now, but his torso is still naked. That muscled, mouthwatering torso isn’t what pries my jaw open, though.
He’s dropped to one knee in front of the bed with a ring box in his hand.
“Ivy Smith,” he starts, and tears instantly sting the backs of my eyes. The blouse skitters out of my grasp and to my bare feet as he continues, “You asked me before if I would still love you even if I saw you every day, and here’s the truth. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I love you more and more every day. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
I clutch my chest, underneath which my heart knocks with joy. “Yes!” I shriek and leap into his arms. “I love you so fucking much,” I whisper into the crook of his neck and squeeze him tightly.
“I love you too, darlin’,” he says against my lips before planting a feverish kiss to them. “Wait, wait, wait.” He peels himself away from me and snatches the ring box from the floor. It must have fallen when I basically mauled him.
“Oh my gosh,” I breathe as he slides the ring onto my finger.
It’s a perfect fit, just as we are too.
“It’s so beautiful,” I say, and another tear skids down my cheek.
He kisses my temple. “Now can you stay a couple more hours, please?”
My laugh is watery as I nod. Like I can say no to that.
“Good, because I jumped the gun and planned an engagement brunch for us at the Tap. Everyone’s waiting.”
“You did what ?”
“There’s no time for questions.” He lifts a dress out of my suitcase and tosses it at me. “We’re running about thirty minutes behind, and my mother has already texted me six times to hurry up. Your mother’s texted me twice too.”
“My mom is here?” My jaw comes unhinged again as I shimmy into my baby blue dress, which is the only nice thing I brought. If I would’ve known, I would’ve been far more prepared for the momentous occasion.
But in hindsight, I wouldn’t change a thing.
The most wonderful man just proposed to me, and I couldn’t be happier.
“Your father, Spencer, and Elaine made the drive over too. I’m going to get my ass handed to me if I don’t get you to the Tap in the next ten minutes.”
I pat my hair down and bounce into the bathroom, calling over my shoulder, “I need fifteen!”
“I’m counting.” He chuckles from the other side of the door.
I’m on a time crunch, but it doesn’t stop me from pausing to admire the sparkling diamond on my finger. Who could blame me? It’s gorgeous, and it’s ten times more special because Cole is the one who gave it to me.
I couldn’t imagine a more perfect man for me.
In fifteen—hell, as the bride-to-be, I can take twenty, right?—minutes, he and I are going to celebrate our engagement with our friends and family, and I’m so close to bursting from joy.
In a month, I thought I’d be moving in with my boyfriend, but he’s officially my fiancé .
And we have new plans for this summer besides making room for my things in his house. We’ll be wedding planning.
I was excited to move to Sapphire Creek before, but with this engagement, I’m even more elated for it—and my future with Cole.
* * *
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