Epilogue
DANNI
Four years later…
“I’m so glad we stopped by,” gushes the woman in the pea-green sun hat. “We only stopped in for lunch and saw your place next to the restaurant…”
It’s a familiar story and how I attract most of my customers. Colter was right all those years ago. This is the perfect spot for a boutique studio.
I wrap the framed print in tissue paper for the woman as she gushes about her new purchase. It makes me happy serving customers like this lady who’ll get a lot of joy from her print.
“I’ll tell the other girls you’re here. We’re staying at the Emerald Heart Lodge, and I saw the brochure.”
There’s a tug on my skirt and I glance down at the anxious face of Bettie, my two-and-a-half year old. “Hungry.”
She doesn’t mince words in telling me what she wants. The customer’s face goes soft at the sight of my little girl as I scoop her into my arms.
“Oh, what a sweetheart.”
Bettie beams at the lady and reaches for her hat. I intercept her chubby hand before she can pull it off the lady’s head.
The woman takes the parcel and heads outside, another satisfied customer.
“Hungry,” Bettie says again.
“Should we go see Daddy for lunch?”
She nods, making her dark curls jump up and down.
At that moment, one of the MC prospects steps into the studio. Davis is about the same age as me, but his serious expression makes him seem older. He got an honorable discharge from the military and found his way to Wild Heart Mountain and the Wild Heart MC.
“Perfect timing.”
One of the guys always comes over to watch the shop while I go for lunch.
When I married Colter, I became part of the family.
The club helps each other out with big things, like building a brother a new cabin, and small things, like watching the shop while I go for lunch.
I’ve got a whole family here on the mountain.
I head out of the sliding door, painted a fresh ocean blue, and into the sunlight.
The scent of hops from the brewery hits my nostrils, but I’m used to it now.
The afternoon tour is just beginning, and I’m sure to pick up some business afterwards when the tourists wander around the small group of boutique shops that has sprung up in the courtyard.
Bettie clasps my hand as she toddles across to the workshop. It’s on the other side of the brewery, tucked in the corner.
Colter looks up from the bike he’s working on and gives a wide grin when he sees us. He wipes his hand on a rag and straightens up from his bike. It’s his own bike he’s working on today. His Harley Fat Bob. The one we take out most often for everyday riding.
A small, hard, plastic seat rests at the back of the bike seat.
“What’s this?”
Colter runs a hand over the seat, and I notice the straps coming off it.
“A child seat. This one’s getting old enough now to ride pillion.”
I knew this day was coming. Colter’s been wanting to get Bettie on a bike since the day she was born. I had to convince him to wait until she could at least keep her own head up.
He picks Bettie up, and she gives a squeal as he sits her on the seat.
“How does that feel, little one?”
She makes motorbike noises, her chubby cheeks blowing out raspberries.
Drawn to the noise, Daisy jumps up on the bike in front of her.
“You’re gonna have to give up your seat, old girl.” I run a hand over the aging dog’s head.
“No, she won’t.”
Colter gestures to a sidecar next to the bike.
“You’re going to put Daisy in the sidecar?”
He grins. “I’ve turned this into the family bike.”
I love that my husband is always thinking about us. How he adapted his life to fit me in. Well, he’s going to have to adapt again, once I tell him the news that I confirmed this morning.
I bite my lower lip, not sure how he’ll take it.
His gaze dips to my lip. “Oh no, what is it?”
He knows me so well. I slide my arm around him and lean back to see his reaction to my news.
“You’re gonna have to make room for one more.”
He looks confused for a moment until realization dawns. “You’re pregnant?”
I nod, the smile spreading across my face. Colter gives a whoop so loud that Daisy barks, which sets Bettie off crying.
We laugh as he scoops Bettie up and slides his other arm around me.
“You’ve just made me the happiest man on the mountain.”
It’s been a wild ride the last four years. It wasn’t easy telling Mom I was moving here. She cried and begged for me to come back, telling me all the ways it was going to go wrong for me.
I had to set boundaries for her, and we didn’t speak for six months. But when I had Bettie, I reached out to her, and she softened. She accepted Colter over time and begrudgingly agreed that my business is a success.
We have an easier relationship now, and she comes and stays every few months.
It was the best thing I ever did coming here and meeting Colter. He taught me to go after what I want and then gave me the freedom to get it.
But really the only thing I want is him and our family.
Daisy jumps off the bike and pushes between us, never wanting to be left out.
I rub her big head, and she rests it against my belly. I’m sure she already knows what’s growing inside. Dogs have a sense about those things.
Colter plants a kiss on my lips, and a familiar spark jumps between us.
“I’m so happy, Princess.” His eyes crinkle, and I know he’s telling the truth. We both got our happy ending. We both got what we want.