Epilogue
One year later
Mateo
“T his is great. I’m sure all the guys are thrilled.”
“You sure?” Mateo let his focus sweep across the crowd of people in their backyard. They’d invited all their employees, a couple of new hires, their families, and clients.
Sophia nodded, bumping her shoulder into his. “Positive. What better way to show your appreciation for everyone who’s making this ranch great. We’re really going somewhere.” That last part was said with so much awe that Mateo couldn’t help but look down at his sister.
She grinned at him with emotion shining in her eyes. “And that’s all thanks to you.”
He pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her neck and using his free hand to give her a noogie.
Sophia screeched and attempted to scramble out of his grasp, but his hold was too tight. “I’m not a kid anymore, Mateo! Gah!” She finally succeeded in escaping his grasp, her eyes shooting venom.
Mateo laughed, turning his attention to the people surrounding them. He’d always felt like an outsider, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he had a place where he belonged.
His attention zoned in on the one person who seemed to be key to that. She could always sense his gaze, and at that moment, her eyes met his.
Warmth flooded his entire being when she stared at him like that.
Sophia dug her elbow into his side, and he yelped. “What was that for?” He rubbed the offensive spot.
She smirked at him, then turned her focus to Nikki. They were several yards away from her, standing near the house while she hovered at the food table. “When are you going to take the leap?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s been a year, Mateo. She’s not Caroline.”
His smile felt plastered to his face as he attempted to calm his racing heart. “I know that.”
“She’s not going to leave you for someone else. And Caroline gave up tormenting y’all months ago.”
“What are you trying to say?” he asked weakly.
“I’m trying to find out if you’re going to make an honest woman out of her and ask her to be your wife.”
He hated how much that question gave him anxiety. They were in a good place—had been for months. It was comfortable and easy. But Sophia was right. Mateo had come to that same conclusion two months ago when he’d bought the ring. He just hadn’t gotten the courage to actually do it.
“She’s perfect for you, Mateo,” she said softly.
Mateo raked a hand through his hair and sighed. “Yeah, I know.”
“And you love that kid.”
That brought a smile to his face. “He’s a neat kid.”
“So, what’s the hold-up?”
He made a face.
“Uh-oh.” Sophia teased.
“ What ?”
“You’re scared .”
“I’m not scared,” he argued.
Sophia snickered. “Yes, you are. You’re scared to get married. What is it? You can’t be scared that she’s going to leave you. Is it the wedding day?”
He stilled. That was it. She made an excellent point. The thought of planning a big wedding and having to stand in front of a group of friends and family terrified him. It made him sick just thinking about it. Mateo turned to his sister and grabbed her by her upper arms. “You’re a genius!” He kissed her on the forehead and hurried away, ignoring her snarky comeback.
Mateo immediately sought out Paxton. He’d been waiting for the right time to talk to the kid about his plans. If Paxton knew too soon, he was bound to let the secret slip. Now, Mateo was ready. And if Paxton wasn’t, they could wait until he was.
Paxton was standing on a rung of a corral fence near the barn, watching his new horse. Dragon had a spunky personality, but he adored Paxton. Mateo could see it in the way they worked together.
Mateo slowed his steps as he approached, then leaned against the rail at the boy’s side. “Hey, bud.”
Paxton glanced up at him and smiled.
“I wanted to ask you something if that’s okay. Actually, a couple somethings.” Part of this conversation had a lot more to do with Paxton than Nikki. The boy needed to know just how much he meant to him.
“Okay,” Paxton said eagerly. “Are we going to talk about riding?”
Slowly, Mateo shook his head. “Actually, it has to do with you.”
Paxton frowned. “Me? Am I in trouble?”
He chuckled. “No, of course not. It has to do with your mom and me, too.”
His frown remained, and a crease formed between his brows. “Okay,” he hedged.
Mateo dropped down so he was eye-level with the boy. “Did you know that I love you?”
A hesitant smile spread across Paxton’s lips. “Yeah. And you love Mom, too.”
“I sure do,” Mateo agreed. “And do you know what men do when there are people they love?”
Paxton tilted his head. “You take care of them.”
Mateo ruffled the kid’s hair. “You’re too smart for your own good.”
The smile that boy wore could have set off rocket ships; it was so full of bright energy.
“Anyway, since I love you and your mom, I want to make you part of my family.”
Paxton’s smile changed to surprise, and it took all of Mateo’s courage to continue.
“I want to marry your mom.” His throat closed up as he forced himself to add, “And I want to adopt you—make you mine. Because you’ve become like a son to me?—”
Paxton dropped from the corral and flung his arms around Mateo’s neck. He buried his face into Mateo’s neck, and his shoulders shook. Was he crying? Laughing?
“Hey, hey, hey,” Mateo murmured, drawing backward.
A tear speckled Paxton’s cheek.
“What’s the matter?”
“You…” Paxton bit his lower lip. “You want to be my dad?”
Mateo sighed with relief, a smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, bud. I want to be your dad. Is that okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Do you want to come with me to ask your mom?”
Paxton’s eyes widened, and again, he nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered. “She’s gonna be so excited.”
“I hope so, kiddo.” Mateo stood and held out his hand to Paxton. “Come on. Let’s go find her.”
* * *
“Come on, Mom. You have to come over here.” Paxton was playing his role perfectly. Their plan was to lure Nikki away so no one would know what was happening—namely Sophia.
Mateo could hear Nikki laugh even though she was out of sight. Their shuffled footsteps drew closer and closer until Paxton dragged his mother around the side of the barn.
Paxton grinned, and Nikki stared at Mateo with surprise.
He’d already gotten down on one knee, and he held up the ring for her to see. She brought her hands to her mouth with a gasp, her wide eyes darting from Mateo to the ring, to Paxton and back. “What…”
“You are the love of my life,” Mateo started, “the dream of my past and the light of my future. There is no one I want to spend my life with more than you.” His eyes dipped to Paxton momentarily. “Both of you.”
Nikki pulled Paxton closer to her, and emotion brimmed in her eyes as he stared at him.
Mateo’s voice shook. “I already feel like you’re part of my family, but I think we need to make it official.” He gestured with the ring. “What do you say? We could get out of here.”
“What? Now?” Nikki gasped. “We need?—”
He got to his feet and pulled her into him, brushing his lips to her temple. “All I need is you. We could go now—fly to Vegas and be married before tomorrow. We could slip off to the mountains and find a priest to help us. I don’t need a big wedding.” He pulled back enough to look her in the eye. “I. Just. Need. You.”
Her smile melted him from the inside out. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” She tilted her head. “But I do think your siblings would skin you alive if they weren’t invited, especially Sophia… so maybe we make a plan that includes them.”
He groaned, which brought a laugh to her lips. “Fine. But we’re getting married before the month is over.” He smiled down at Paxton. “I can’t wait to be a dad.”
* * *
“Who’s that?” Nikki said as they walked back toward the backyard party.
“Hmm?” Mateo wouldn’t release Nikki. His arm remained around her waist, and his other hand gripped one of Paxton’s. He was on a completely different kind of high right now, and anything anyone said to him might actually go over his head. Nikki was going to be his.
“The guy Sophia is talking to.”
His eyes shifted to where Nikki pointed.
Sophia looked livid. Her whole body was stiff, and her face looked like it had been carved out of stone. The man’s demeanor, on the other hand, was more relaxed. He smirked at her while she railed into him about something.
Mateo watched for a moment, then when Nikki nudged him, he murmured, “Cameron Walker.”
“Does Sophia know him? Why is he here?”
“He’s a new hire. I don’t think they know each other. I met him last summer when I went to an auction. He’s been making waves in the breeding world. It’s actually amazing, the work he does.”
Nikki rested her cheek against Mateo’s shoulder. “It sort of looks like they know each other.”
He continued to watch their interaction with interest. Then he shook his head. “Nah. Cam would have told me if he knew her. He’s been here a couple days. And it doesn’t take much for someone to get under Sophia’s skin. He probably said something she found offensive.”
“Hmm…” Nikki said, not continuing the conversation further.
He turned his attention to his fiancée, a huge smile on his face that would likely be there the rest of his life with Nikki as his bride. “Come on. Let’s go save him from whatever nonsense Sophia has him involved in and tell her the good news!”
* * *
Hello Sweet Romance Reader!
I hope you loved watching Mateo and Nicole fall in love—and how little Paxton managed to steal everyone’s hearts.
Ready for another unforgettable Palmer love story? This time it’s Sophia’s turn…
She had a week-long fling with a handsome horse breeder five years ago—and a broken heart to show for it. Now Cameron Walker is back, working on her family’s ranch, and Sophia can’t decide if she wants to kiss him or chase him off with a pitchfork.
Don’t miss the fiery sparks and second chances in Sophia & Cameron , the next Palmers of Copper Creek book!