Epilogue
Annie
Six months later…
Spring is in full swing, the mountain air is thick with the smell of pine and wildflowers, Crystal Falls is bursting at the seams with nosey neighbors, and every old-timer is wearing their Sunday best.
“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Aubrey whispers in my ear, fixing my veil for the hundredth time. “More like…I can’t believe Garrett Hall finally found someone to put up with his grumpy ass.”
“And it’s the finest grumpy ass I’ve ever seen.” I grin, giving her a wink.
“Okay…eww.”
We both bust out laughing.
I look back at Aubrey from the floor-to-ceiling mirror we are standing in front of, nerves and happiness twisting together in my stomach. “Are you crying right now?”
She snorts. “Bitch, it’s allergies.”
A few minutes later, it’s finally time. When I walk down the aisle, Garrett looks at me from the altar like he’s just won the lottery. My heart is so full, it’s about to burst.
The ceremony flies by, Garrett’s hands shaking as he slides the ring on my finger, my vows choked with tears, and then the whole town cheers when I kiss him like I mean it.
I do.
Later, during the reception, I find Aubrey outside, sitting on the diner steps. She’s nervous, which is weird for her.
“You okay?” I ask, sitting next to her, nudging her with my leg.
“Just peachy.”
I glance around, eyes catching a bike parked close by.
The thing is all black chrome and danger, the engine still hot.
Leaning against it is a guy I definitely haven’t seen before…
tall, built, tattooed, and with messy black hair.
Looking like he owns the whole damn mountain.
He’s nervous, watching the party and his surroundings with this restless energy.
His arms are folded, jaw set, looking like trouble wrapped in all black.
“Who’s the new guy?” I ask, nodding toward the mysterious biker.
She shrugs, but her cheeks instantly flush. “Dean. Dean Calloway. Says he’s just passing through, but you know how that goes. All secrets and trouble.”
I grin. “You look like you wouldn’t mind a little trouble.”
She shrugs. “Maybe I could use a little. Or a lot. It’s not like any of the guys in this town know what the fuck to do with a woman like me.”
As if on cue, the hot biker guy heads in our direction, his heavy boots crunching gravel. He stops in front of Aubrey, eyes a stormy gray. I take in his busted lip and bruised jaw that says he’s seen too much.
“Is this place open or what?” His voice is rough, tilting his chin toward the diner entrance behind us. Clearly aware that it’s not, since the dining room is pitch black.
Aubrey smirks, fearless. “Maybe. Are you planning on making trouble, biker?”
He grins, dark and slow, and it’s like the whole world tilts just for a second. “Depends. Are you going to stop me, pretty girl?”
She stands close enough that one step forward would have her body against his. I’m beginning to think there’s more to this situation than I’m being led to believe. “I dare you.”
Dean’s gaze drops to her mouth, then back up, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. “Careful. You might get exactly what you ask for.”
I watch as Aubrey laughs and walks away, Dean following, danger and desire trailing behind him.
Garrett comes out and finds me on the steps. I stand, and he wraps his arms around my waist, mouth hot on my neck.
“Are you enjoying the fireworks?”
I glance over to where Aubrey and Dean are now standing near his bike. “Something tells me this town’s about to get a hell of a lot more interesting.”
He laughs low and wicked, nipping my ear. “Long as a biker war doesn’t break out at our wedding, I’ll call it a win.”
“Shut up and kiss me, mountain man.”
And he does. While I also get the feeling Aubrey’s about to start her own kind of trouble, with the new mysterious biker in Crystal Falls, and by the looks of him…someone you wouldn’t want to cross.
Thank you for reading Rescued by the Mountain Man.