Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
LOLA-MAE
VALENTINE’S DAY
I walk into the office and freeze at the sight in front of me. A gigantic bouquet of flowers sits in the middle of my desk. They’re peachy pink, white, soft yellows, and have added greenery.
Stunning is what they are.
If I had to describe it, I would say it’s country. Roses and hydrangeas, along with other things I couldn’t even begin to guess, but they’re gorgeous. The whole arrangement is absolutely breathtaking.
Shifting my gaze from the bouquet, I look across the road to see if Harlan is at the barn watching me, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Just like every morning, he was up and gone before my eyelids even thought about opening.
Making my way toward the bouquet, I see an envelope sticking out of the middle.
I reach out and slide my finger beneath the flap, opening it gently before I pull the card out.
The handwriting is Harlan’s, something that makes my lips curve up.
He may have ordered these flowers from a shop, but he wrote this note himself.
Notes.
Naughty little notes that he’s been very consistent about leaving at least once a week the past year. I love every single one of them.
I love to hear your voice… especially when you’re screaming my name.
-Cowboy
There are two hearts drawn on the corner of the card. I can’t hold back the laughter that bubbles from my throat. There is a little arrow at the bottom of the card, beneath the hearts, so I turn it over, and the laughter vanishes, because my heart squeezes and my breath hitches.
I love you, Lola-Mae.
He’s said it a million times over the past year, but there is something about seeing the words written out that causes my entire body to melt. I’m not sure why, but it just makes it all real, so amazingly and perfectly real.
Picking up the bouquet, I place it at the back of the desk so I can work and see it all at once. Then I take a piece of tape and place it on the card, sticking it to the side of my computer monitor to join the others.
There are dozens and dozens of little sticky notes and cards from Harlan, all of them with a little drawing on them, along with little messages. Most of them are sexy, some are sweet, and I cherish them all. They tell the story of our relationship, every single one of them.
My phone buzzes on the desk, but I don’t look down immediately. My gaze is still focused on the notes, my eyes scanning them and letting them fill me with love. With his love. Harlan Blackmoore is everything I never thought I could have and everything I’ve ever wanted.
When my phone buzzes a second time, I tear my attention from my computer and look down at my device. It’s an incoming text from Shandy. I keep trying to get her to come to Granite Falls. There is so much more for her here than back in Marro, but she doesn’t seem ready yet.
Although the push she needs may be here now. Harlan has agreed to her living in my old house. Two months ago, I moved into the main house with him, and now my little place sits empty.
He doesn’t need to hire anyone full time, and it will stay empty until he does.
But Shandy could rent it. It’s fully furnished and ready for someone else to lay their head down at night.
Sliding my index finger across the screen, I wait for the phone to unlock, then find the text app and touch Shandy’s name.
SHANDY: I’m ready to get the hell out of Marro. Is your offer still open?
Leave today!
SHANDY: Ha! I’m going to pack all my shit, and I’ll be there by the end of the week.
The house will be waiting and ready for you. What changed your mind?
She doesn’t respond immediately, and I think that maybe she isn’t ready to tell me, but then my phone buzzes with a new text. Flicking my gaze down to the screen, I frown. There is more to the story than what she’s saying, and hopefully, when she’s here in person, she’ll talk about it.
But Shandy comes from a past that is much like mine, so she may not want to go into detail. I know it has taken a lot for me to open up over the years.
SHANDY: There is nothing left for me here. I just realized it now more than ever before.
Instead of asking her to elaborate, even though I want to, I give her the most caring and encouraging response I can think of.
I’ll be here, and we’ll have a nice dinner when you arrive.
SHANDY: I love you, Lola-Mae.
Love you, too.
Placing my phone down on the desk, I stand at the sight of Harlan riding up to the barn. All thoughts of Shandy become fleeting. Harlan is in my view, and he’s all I can think about. Walking out of the back door, I watch as he dismounts from Spirit before he turns to face me.
The sun shines, and even though it’s winter, it’s sixty degrees and almost warm in the sunshine. Wordlessly, Harlan closes the distance between us. I feel his hands on my cheeks, then his mouth touches mine.
“Mornin’, darlin’,” he murmurs against my lips.
“The flowers are gorgeous,” I say as my response.
He lifts his head, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, I get lost in those eyes of his. Which isn’t hard to do; I seem to get lost in Harlan on a regular basis.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite girl.”
My lips curve up into a smile. You couldn’t slap it off my face at this point. I can’t stop smiling. I’ve never been this happy, not ever. “Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who has made my world a nonstop rodeo the past year, and I love it.”
“Love you, Lola-Mae,” he says, his voice rough and husky.
Hot.
So. Hot.