Epilogue
EPILOGUE
TESS
All of these mountain men were definitely a mistake. First Hope, then Lila, then me, and even, reluctantly, Wren fell to the charms of an outdoorsy man. But none of us are complaining.
Except maybe me, right this minute.
Ian’s leading me on a short hike. Short is relative, I’ve found. Thankfully, he knows my limits and doesn’t try to push me to walk too far or too fast. But the spring air is crisp today, and the sky is a stunning blue. I can appreciate the beauty, even if I’d rather be cuddled up with him on my couch watching Conan the Barbarian .
What can I say? Ian got me hooked on Arnold’s movies.
“Are we pretty close?” I try to sound eager and not like I’m counting every step until I can sit down somewhere.
He takes my hand. “Very close.”
He grins at me, and—okay. Yeah. The hike is worth it to see him glowing like this.
His love for the mountains is undeniable. He’s climbed practically everything he can get a permit for around here in the last ten months. Some of that’s been through his job as a wilderness EMT, and some he’s explored with his new friends.
I’ve gone on a few of the shorter hikes with him, and it’s always the same. He’s brilliant out here. I love that he doesn’t deny himself what he enjoys anymore.
I don’t, either. Especially when it comes to him.
But if I start thinking about that I’ll want to stop for entirely new, inappropriate reasons. I turn my thoughts to the work ahead on my calendar. Two wedding cakes this weekend, three the next, with a dozen or more custom cakes in between.
Charlie’s modest hopes for Moonlight Lodge’s wedding bookings were totally blown out of the water. Not every couple orders a cake from me, but the numbers who do increases every month. And now that my cakes are up on Blackbird’s menu, it seems like everyone in town has a birthday or an anniversary to celebrate each week.
I love making every one. Most special of all was the wedding cake I made for Mom and Daniel a month ago. They opted for a courthouse wedding, and a casual reception at the lodge. Seeing her so happy in all ways just reminds me to grab my happiness when it comes around, too.
Which I will. Just as soon as I catch my breath.
We round a bend, and Ian squeezes my hand. I glance up to find a small lake spread out in front of us. Surrounded by pine trees, its gorgeous dark green waters seem like they were dropped here just for us.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe. More of a wheeze, really, but it’s still a pretty sight.
“Griffin told me about it a few months ago.” Ian draws me closer. “I had to bring you to your lake.”
“My lake?”
He gestures toward the water. A rough-hewn forest service sign declares it Angel Lake .
“Oh, Ian.” I turn to face him, and my already overtaxed heart stutters harder.
He’s on one knee, holding a tiny box revealing something shiny, smiling up at me as if I am the best thing he’s ever seen.
“Angel, I love you more than I ever thought possible. When my world was bleakest, you gave me hope. Joy.” His mouth quirks, and his eyes grow shiny. “A family. I want to go on loving you for the rest of our lives. Will you be my wife?”
I drop to my knees with him, ignoring my muddy pants. “Yes!”
He grins even wider as he plucks the ring from the box and slides it on my finger. The pale purple emerald-cut gem has green and white gemstones on either side making it look like a flower blossom. It’s perfect.
“I love you so much,” I tell him between kisses. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“I told August I was going to ask you to marry me.” His pale blue eyes glisten in the sunlight. “He, uh?—”
Ian swallows a couple of times, needing a second to gather his words. I run my hands over his shoulders, waiting. Seeing him choked up gets my tears falling, too.
“He asked if this means he can call me Papa.” He grins despite the rush of emotions overtaking him. “So. I can’t imagine a better day.”
“Yet,” I remind him. I crush him against me as close as I can. He holds the back of my head, his face in the crook of my neck.
“I love you with my whole heart and soul,” I tell him.
“My angel,” he whispers against my skin. “My wonderful Tess.”
We’re a tangle of limbs and overwhelmed smiles and pure joy. But after a few minutes, I have to pull back.
“When did you ask August? I can’t believe he kept this a secret.” Keeping his lips sealed isn’t exactly his forte.
“Oh, he didn’t. I asked him when we dropped him and Dutch off at Wren’s an hour ago. He wanted to run out to the car to ask you for me.”
That sounds more like it. “So Wren already knows.”
“Everyone already knows,” he confirms.
“I’m good with that.” I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “Will you say it?”
His gaze heats. “We’re in the mud.”
“That makes it more perfect. Just say it once for me?”
Once now…more later.
“It’s always for you.” But he tips his face closer to mine and growls. “Arr.”
“That’s my pirate.”