Epilogue – Tobias
Five Years Later
“You’ve got to be kidding. How am I even going to fit in the car?” I wiggle my hips, shifting the horse's body behind me to emphasize my point.
Tonight is the annual adult Halloween party at the community center in Temptation Ridge.
As in each of the past five years, Kysa is going as Xena, while I go as a different mythological Greek character each year.
The first year, it was Hercules. The second year was Zeus.
The next was Perseus, which was my favorite.
I got to carry a fake snake-headed Medusa around all night.
I didn’t even mind going as a Cyclops last year, but this year is too much. A Centaur, really?
“Stop whining. I think you look sexy.” Kysa pets the wig she insisted I wear, complete with a few braids to finish the look.
“You’re lucky I love you so much, wife.” I pull her into my arms for a deep kiss.
“I love you, too, husband.” She whispers into my mouth.
“Yuck. Mommy and Daddy are kissing again.” Our oldest, Tobias Jr., or TJ as we call him, at four years old, runs through the living room in his Batman costume, with his younger twin brother and sister, dressed as Robin and Batgirl, running after him.
“Just wait, little man,” I call after him. “Someday you’ll find a girl you can dress up as Cat Woman, Poison Ivy, or even Harley Quinn.”
“Come on, horse man.” Kysa tugs on my tail. “Let’s get them rounded up. Your brother promised to keep them overnight.”
“Only because his wife kicked him out of their bedroom after he bought not one dog, not even two dogs, but three dogs, one for each of their kids.”
“Luckily, I don’t have to worry about you doing something like that, right?”
Maybe now isn’t the right time to tell her I bought the other three dogs from that same litter.
-The End-
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Fake Dating the Mountain Man
Aspen
My mail-order bride company has been a huge success in Temptation Ridge, thanks to Wilder and his ability to talk so many of the single mountain men in town into signing up.
His easygoing charm and fun nature are what I love most about him. Yes, I’m in love with Wilder, but he only sees me as a newcomer to town that he’s helping out as a friend.
With Wilder’s help, I’ve developed a new feature for my mail-order bride company called “Date Night in the Mountains”, where they can choose from going camping together, attending a pottery class, or even salsa dancing classes at the community center.
It will give the mountain men and their potential brides an option to date before taking the giant leap into marriage.
Making sure the dates will be successful, I’ve decided to try them out first, once again with Wilder’s help. With each fake date, I’m finding it harder and harder to remember that we aren't a real couple.
Wilder
Aspen is new to town, trying to build her company and a name for herself in the matchmaking world. I’d give anything to make her mine, but for now, I’ll help her follow her dream as a friend until she’s ready for more.
Fake dating her is almost too much to handle. I’m not sure how much more I can take before I finally crack and make her mine for real.