Epilogue
Two Months Later
"Where's my good girl? Where'd she go?"
I suppress a snicker as I tiptoe into the house, hoping Max didn't hear the garage door. Opening the video app on my phone, I hit record and hold the camera around the corner of the door frame, so I stay out of sight.
I watch the screen as Max plays peek-a-boo with our kitten, Van Nilla—Nilla for short.
Our puppy, Sprinkles, snoozes by the fireplace, clearly tuckered out from playtime.
Max grins as Nilla pounces on the blanket, and he picks her up, cuddling the tiny ball of fluff against his broad chest. He gives her little kisses on her head, and I cut the video.
"I'm home," I announce.
Sprinkles jumps up with a little shake, trailing Max into the kitchen to greet me.
"What have you been up to?" I ask.
"Not much." Max shrugs, leaning down to kiss me.
He hands Nilla over as if he couldn't care less about giving her up. She lifts her paw toward my face, and I grin down at her.
"How was the pedicure?"
"Amazing. I sat next to Violet and her friend, Naomi."
A group of us meets up once a month for pedicures. We book the entire place and catch up on everything going on in our lives. Betty organizes it, so I assume it's a way to get the scoop before everyone else, but it's become a great way to make sure the ladies of Duhring Park stay connected.
"Oh, yes, I know Naomi," Max says with a glint in his eye.
I give him a questioning look. "Yeah, she said she's living in the studio at the reception hall for now. How is she handling the noise?"
The guys are finishing up the project for Violet and Brooks. They’ve been starting at six in the morning to stay on schedule.
"She doesn't seem to mind," Max replies. "And it gives Jameson a chance to talk to her a lot."
My mouth drops open. "Jameson is into Naomi?"
Jameson is always polite to me, but Max filled me in on his background, and I would’ve bet money that man would stay a bachelor for life.
Max doesn't respond.
"Max, what do you know?"
Max walks to the fridge, pulls out a bottle of water, and drinks it with the door open as he surveys the contents. "I'm not saying I know anything, but I also couldn't say if I do know anything. Bro code."
I bite my lip, my eyes trailing over all his delicious, mouthwatering muscles. Yummy.
We moved in together almost immediately.
Max's house is closer to the bakery than my apartment was, and my lease was month-to-month.
I had intended to renovate the little space over the bakery and move in there at some point.
Miranda and Cole had a setup like that for a while, and I figured it would save me time on my morning commute.
But once we got the girls, Max convinced me we needed more space and a backyard, so I moved in with him.
The first night it was official, he made me dinner and proposed over the most delicious plate of carbonara I've ever had. We still plan to renovate the bakery space and rent it out in the next year, but for now, we're saving up for our November wedding.
"Hmm, well, I guess I'll let you have your secrets. They're bound to come out on pedicure nights anyway," I say with a shrug. "By the way, Naomi offered to help me plan a bunch of bridal party events this fall." I clap my hands. "I'm so excited."
"Anything that makes my baby happy is good with me." Max walks over and crowds me against the counter, kissing my neck.
We talked about eloping, but when it came down to it, I wanted to be surrounded by family and friends.
Then Piper and Candy took me to Gwen's Dresses on Main Street, and that sealed the deal.
Staring into that mirror, wearing a dress that made me feel like a princess, I decided I wanted a wedding.
Max said he didn't care either way, but now I think he’s more into the planning than I am, which is freaking adorable.
Speaking of adorable.
"Where's my good girl? Where'd she go?"
Max's head snaps up at the sound of his voice playing over the speaker on my phone, and my shoulders shake as I try to suppress my laughter.
His eyes narrow at me, and I burst out laughing, no longer able to hold it in.
He grins, digging his fingers into my ribs as he tries to get my phone away from me.
I'm laughing so hard, I'm out of breath.
Sprinkles barks at our feet, trying to figure out what's going on.
Max finally shows me mercy, and I smile up at my future husband. He leans down and kisses me, keeping his promise to show me every day how much he loves me.
He pulls back, placing his forehead against mine.
"I wanna be your good girl," I whisper.
Max growls and lifts me into his strong arms before I can blink. He takes off down the hallway toward our bedroom, and I laugh in delight, watching our little fur family chase after us.
I don't know what would have happened if I’d said yes when Max asked to kiss me in Sara's kitchen, but I wouldn't change the way things worked out for all the money in the world.
What if I didn't get my sexy man who buys me flowers every single week?
Or the excitement I have for our future as we build our life together?
I'd say no again and again because my answer brought him to that remote cabin, determined to win my heart.
And every moment after that has been the icing on the cake.
I hope you loved Max and Aubrey's love story!