Epilogue
Nova
FOUR MONTHS LATER
ISTRETCHED MY ARMS WIDE AS I LEANED FORWARD ON MY mat, my body twisting.
“Feeling the stretch of warrior two,” I guided my class, as the early spring sun streamed down on us and a soft breeze picked up.
“Keep breathing. If feelings come up, acknowledge them and let them flow. There’s no wrong feeling, and no feeling is final. ”
It had taken time, but I’d come back to yoga. It was actually my time in equine therapy with Marly that helped me find it again. The horses had helped me get comfortable with stillness, quiet, and feeling. And then I’d been able to find my practice again.
Now, I taught three days a week as part of a program that Aster ran on her ranch. And another four classes at a small studio in town. I still worked two days a week at the Boot, but I wasn’t sure how much longer that would last. There was more and more demand for me to do additional yoga teaching.
Wylder was still struggling. He hid it pretty well, but I could see the shadows he covered with easy smiles and ready jokes.
My go-to had been drowning myself in adrenaline, but Wylder did it with acts of service, helping others to the point of running himself ragged.
But it was something he’d have to figure out for himself.
“Coming out of warrior two, let’s windmill our hands back down to the mat and move into downward dog, then lower ourselves into child’s pose when ready. Nice, deep breaths. Think about letting go of whatever came up during the practice today.”
I held the pose for a minute and then straightened, placing my hands on my knees, taking in the class and the gorgeous surroundings of the field we were in and the ranch beyond. It was an absolutely dreamy place to teach. “Thank you for joining me today.”
As I pushed to my feet, a few of the students came to talk for a minute or thank me, but my gaze kept traveling to the man leaning against the U.S. Forest Service truck. He watched me with a single-minded focus that sent my pulse spiking.
Kol had settled into a good routine at work.
He had a team he didn’t mind working with—after Pete got demoted and transferred for insubordination—and he and his brothers had been able to take on a number of new cases through the Hourglass Network after my case was closed, still working in the shadows but doing immeasurable good.
I’d been able to sit in on a few of their meetings now, and it was beyond impressive what they were able to accomplish. In the past four months alone, they’d been able to help close two cases and were still working on four others.
“Thank you for this, Nova.”
I turned toward the deep voice, taking in Jack from the Compass organization. “I’m glad you’re liking it.”
“Never thought bending like a pretzel would be my thing, but here we are.”
I chuckled. “Life is full of surprises.”
Piper bounded up to us, pulling me into a hug. “That was the best one yet.”
She had recovered remarkably well from her ordeal. And when her cowboy had heard what had happened to her, he’d ditched the rodeo circuit and made a home right here in Starlight Grove.
“I’m so glad you thought so.”
“I need to go meet Sam for lunch, but maybe you and I can grab a drink this week?” she asked as she backed away.
“You got it.” I just didn’t mention that mine would need to be nonalcoholic.
“See you this weekend, Jack,” Piper called. She had now gotten involved in Compass as well. And it was something that gave us all a much-needed purpose.
Jack waved to us both as he headed for his truck.
Before I could bend to roll up my mat, Kol was there, doing it for me.
“You know I can manage that much, right?” I challenged.
He grinned at me. “Gotta take care of my girls. All of them.” Kol straightened, his hand coming to my belly. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. Just thinking about the fact that we’ll now need two of everything.”
Kol chuckled. “Maybe we can get a bulk diaper deal.”
My mouth curved. “You ready to do this, Daddy?”
He took my mouth in a long, slow kiss. “Nothing has ever made me happier than growing our family.”
“I love you.”
“More than you’ll ever know,” he whispered. “Even enough to build you a she shed.”
I pulled back, a huge smile splitting my face. “You started?”
“Framing’s all done, and you and Brae will have a clubhouse for all your troublemaking within a month.”
I kissed him again. “Have I told you that you’re the best, Boss?”
He grinned against my mouth. “Never hurts to hear it again.”
A whistle cut through the air, and we looked over to see Mav walking toward us, his arm around someone. I blinked a few times. “Is that Aster?”
Kol frowned. “Maybe she took a hit to the head and forgot who he is?”
A wave of worry swept over me. Aster had been through it lately, but letting Maverick touch her in any way was not on my bingo card.
“Hey …” I greeted. “What’s going on?”
“Just enjoying this fine spring day,” Maverick said.
I looked at my friend. “Aster, you do know Mav has his arm around you, right? Blink twice if he brainwashed you.”
Maverick scowled at me. “That’s rude, Supernova. And honestly, I’m surprised you’re shocked. It’s pretty normal for fiancés to show a little PDA.”
My jaw went slack. “Fiancés?” I squeaked. My gaze dropped to Aster’s left hand, and there was a massive diamond on her ring finger. “But you hate him.”
“That was just foreplay. Right, Kitten?” Mav cooed.
I was pretty sure Aster stepped on his foot as she gazed up at him. “You know it, Pookie Pie.”
I looked up at Kol as if he had answers, but he was staring hard at his brother.
“Don’t you spoil the surprise. We’re announcing it at dinner tonight,” Maverick warned us. “We want to tell the rest of the family ourselves.”
“You don’t need to worry about them being surprised,” I muttered.
“Good,” Mav said with a grin. “We’ll see you two later.” And with that, he guided Aster toward his truck.
I turned to face Kol. “I thought twin girls were going to be the dinner surprise.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think even quintuplets would have anything on Mav getting married to his archnemesis.”
“Something’s going on there, right?” I asked.
“One hundred percent,” Kol agreed.
I laughed. “Never a dull moment.”
He pulled me into his arms. “Regretting marrying into the most chaotic family on the planet?”
“Never,” I said, stretching up to kiss him. “You keep me on my toes. I’d hate to have a boring life.”
Kol’s mouth curved against mine. “You gonna meet me in the twilight tonight?”
“Only for forever,” I whispered back.
“Forever isn’t nearly long enough.”