Epilogue
6 Months Later-Kora
“W hat the hell was I thinking?” I felt like a frazzled mess, and driving Matilda didn’t make me feel much better. I had to use Matilda for an emergency trip to the vet for Percy. He ate something and hadn’t been his usual pain in the ass self. But of course, as soon as I made the appointment and got him all the way there, he was fine. So fine, he chewed on everything he could get his mouth on in the vet’s office and caused all kinds of chaos. I called Tonya on my drive home. I had to vent to someone. She said that was just like a baby. Not that I would know anything about that. But maybe one day.
I stopped at home and dropped off Percy and had to pick up Kai.
I finally turned into his driveway, and the gravel bounced me around. I hated driving his truck, but he had to talk with his crew about the construction and couldn’t take time away.
The house came into view and so did Kai’s sexy body. He stood with his hands in his back pockets as he talked with a few of the men. My lips curled up and butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I hoped he would always have this effect on me.
I looked in awe at the structure going up across the field. The walls were complete, and it finally started to look like a house.
I pulled to a stop and was wrapped in Kai’s arms as soon as I climbed out of his truck.
“Was Matilda good to you?” he asked when we stopped our kiss.
“Matilda was fine. Percy on the other hand.” I laid my head on his chest and felt it vibrate as he laughed.
“He’s a goat. How bad could it have been?”
I lifted my head, and my eyebrows shot up. “Do you really want to know?”
“Nope. Not now.” He shook his head. “I want to give you a tour.” His eyes gleamed like a child’s on Christmas morning, and he pulled me through the front door.
“Okay, now use your imagination.” He gestured around.
Though the walls were up on the outside, the inside was still a skeleton.
“This is the living room. There will be a fireplace here.” He pointed to the corner. “The kitchen overlooking the living room with a bar counter here so we can watch the kids play as we make dinner.”
I laughed out loud. “I think you’re jumping the gun a little.” He was so wrapped up in the house and my tour, he didn’t hear me, and I followed him up steps, down what was going to be a hall, and passed two future spare bedrooms.
We entered the back bedroom. It was huge, and three windows took up the back wall.
I walked up next to him, and my jaw dropped. “Kai, this view is beautiful.” I stared in wonder at the view out those windows. I could see the river meandering slowly through the trees. The opposite bank was met with fields, and now they were filled with the yellow flowers of soybeans. As far as the eye could see. Just beyond the field were hills green and lush with trees. In the fall, the colors would be magical. “This is everything I love about Orlinda Valley. The hills and fields, the river.” I turned toward Kai. “It’s perfect.”
I froze. Kai’s eyes were down, and his chest was moving fast like he was having difficulty breathing. “Kai, what’s wrong?” I hadn’t seen him look this pained and confused in a long time.
He shook his head and his eyes met mine. “Nothing’s wrong.” He rubbed his hand across his face. “Tonya and Kaye are going to kill me.”
“What?” He muttered the words so low I almost didn’t hear them. “Why would Tonya and Kaye kill you?”
My question was cut off when his lips crushed against mine. My breath caught but quickly caught up and my nerves stood at attention and met his kiss. Those amazing lips drew me in. The kiss softened as quickly as it started. Our lips lingered on each other before Kai broke away and I was left breathless.
He hovered close and brushed his knuckles against my jaw.
“I love you, Kora.” His voice was deep and raspy and caused my pulse to kick up a notch.
“I know—” My words were interrupted before I could finish my sentence. He placed his fingers over my mouth.
“I never knew this type of love was possible until you. You are everything. You’re the reason I breathe. You’ve given me a reason to live.”
My heart thumped hard against my chest. “Kai,” I whispered. His behavior made me nervous.
“You say this view is perfect. I say it could be. It could be if I wake up and get to look at you every day for the rest of my life.”
My breath caught as Kai put his hand in his pocket and— oh shit! “ Kai.” His name was just a whisper as he got down on one knee.
“Everything would be perfect if you said yes. Kora, I didn’t know real family, or real love, until I changed your tire. I want to change your tires forever. I want to be with you forever. Will you marry me?”
It was difficult to see him behind the wall of tears that blurred my vision, but that was the easiest question I’d ever had to answer. “Of course. There’s no one else I want to change my tire or see the river with.”
Kai jumped up from the ground and wrapped me in a hug. He spun us around and kissed me surprisingly softly for the joy that raged like an uncontrolled wildfire throughout my body.
Then he slipped the ring on my finger and my breath caught. It was beautiful. It was an oval diamond that glittered brilliantly when it caught the sunlight. It was perfect. “I love it.”
Words he said earlier came back to me and I pulled slightly away from him. “Why would Tonya and Kaye kill you?”
“Shit. We gotta go.” He pulled me to the truck.
Kai opened my door, and I hopped in. He drove like a bat out of hell, and I braced myself against Matilda’s dash. I tried to make eye contact with him, but he was focused on the road.
“What the hell?” I asked as we pulled up my driveway and it was filled.
“Yeah. So, I invited everyone over earlier than usual. Don’t worry. They’re doing everything,” Kai said as he turned the truck off and turned toward me. “They’re expecting me to propose in front of them, but I couldn’t wait.”
I brushed my finger against his scar and gazed deep into his eyes. “They’ll get over it. They just want us both happy.” A smile spread across my face. I couldn’t help myself. I played with the ring on my finger, and it already seemed like it was always there. Everything was perfect. “I love you.” I stared into Kai’s crystal eyes. He was proof that you aren’t always the product of your environment. He was the sweetest and most loving man I knew, and he was going to be mine forever.
His smile met his eyes, and he cupped my face in his hands. “Nothing could make me happier than having you as my wife forever. You and these crazy people are my family.”
His lips touched mine in the softest sweetest kiss.
“I love you too, Kora,” he whispered. Then his dimple popped. “Let’s go tell the family our news.”
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