Epilogue
SUTTON
Five Months Later
Holding the door for Felix to walk into the coffee shop, I try to not let the door slam behind us. The bells still jingle softly—fitting since it’s only a couple days before Christmas.
“Sorry. We just closed,” Kelsey’s voice floats from somewhere in the backroom.
I hold a finger to my lips and look down at Felix. “Shh.”
Like the good boy he is, he stays quiet and just stares at me with those soulful brown eyes, like he always does.
So I pat him on the head and bend down to wipe the snow off his paws.
After taking care of him, I kick the snow off my own boots from another early winter storm, and walk to the counter.
I was worried the snow was going to delay my return flight into Jackson, but thankfully, luck was on my side today.
After the way the last couple of months went, I’ll take that luck.
Flying back and forth between Jackson, Seattle, and Sterling Springs has been stressful, but I knew it would be worth it in the end, even if I missed Kelsey every second I was away.
That toy she bought definitely helped, but nothing compares to actually being in her presence and holding her close to me.
When the Seattle restaurant opening got delayed, I barely held it together. I had to get more involved than I planned, but now Jade has it running like a well-oiled machine. I kept my deal with Slade, and that chapter is now closed.
There was a similar fiasco with the garage back in Sterling Springs. Thankfully, Dad stayed true to his word and finally hired someone to help, letting me stay out of it. The garage finally seems to be in good shape now too, despite some growing pains.
Either way, I’m finally trying to give myself the space I need and keep a healthy—OK, healthy-ish—distance while I continue building my life here.
So it might be two months behind schedule, but I’m finally exactly where I want to be—back in Jackson, with my girl. That’s if she’d ever come out.
I tap my knuckles on the counter and muster my best feminine voice. “Do you think you can make an exception for a lost-out-of-towner? I thought this was the place with the famous Honey Badgers, I’ve heard so much about.”
A second later Kelsey pops her head out of the kitchen. “OK. Maybe I can ma—”
Her eyes widen when she sees me, and the smile that spreads across her face was worth running through the airport and dodging the hoards of holiday travelers. I think I’d run over an elderly priest just to see her smile at me like I’m her world.
“You’re here!? What are… no, how are you… you know what? Nevermind. I don’t care.” She sprints around the counter and I barely have time to brace myself before she leaps into my arms and wraps her legs around my waist.
Yeah. I’d definitely mow down a priest and his traveling sisterhood, in an airport days before Christmas, to be greeted by her like this. I’d go to hell because I’d even do it on Christmas Day because I’m never going to let anything keep me away from her again.
“I missed you so damn much,” I say, holding her tight, planting a kiss to the top of her head. I relish in the feeling of her soft hair, remembering what it feels like when we wake up in our bed together with her pressed against me.
Technically, it’s the bed in TJ’s guesthouse we’ve been staying at while remodeling the upstairs of Gloria’s the past few months. It doesn’t matter though because while I’ve come to love Jackson as my home, nothing compares to how much I love her and being a part of her world.
“I missed you too,” she whimpers as she nuzzles her face into the crook of my neck.
Breathing in her coffee and cinnamon-spiced scent, it immediately washes away all the travel day nerves and stress.
Reminding me that I can finally—truly—focus on us.
“I can’t believe you came home early. You weren’t supposed to be here until Christmas Eve. And why didn’t you come see me first?”
I drop my hands to her waist, setting her back on the ground. I feel like it’s abundantly clear why I wanted to be home. Every second we’re away from each other feels like I’m missing part of myself.
“I already told you. I wanted to order a Honey Badger,” giving her a wink before I continue, “but I figured Felix and Oscar had been cooped up in the guesthouse all day, so I grabbed them then came straight here.”
She rolls her eyes and sighs, playfully shoving me in the chest. “Seriously, is everything alright?”
I nod. “More than alright. I actually finished early. Everyone’s trained. Their reservations systems are squared away. The menus are set. They’re finally ready for trial by fire in the holiday season without me holding their hands. I’m done.”
That’s only part of why I came home early, but I’m not ready to tell her the rest just yet.
She tilts her head. “Done?”
“Yes. Done done.”
That’s when it registers and I swear by the unrestrained smile spreading across her face, she might full-on tackle me this time.
“Done with Seattle? Like fulfilled-your-blood-pact-with-your-brother-and-I-finally-get-you-all-to-myself done?”
“I mean… you still have to share me with our fur children, and I’m pretty sure TJ would starve without me, but yes. I’m all yours now.” I lean down and press a kiss to her lips. “So about that Honey Badger?”
She glares back at me and shakes her head, but that damn smile tells me she’s just as happy as I am that I’m finally home for good.
She slowly unzips my jacket, looking back up at me.
“I think I can make one for you before we go back to the guesthouse. You really want a Honey Badger though? You never order them, even if it really is a local specialty.”
I let out a contemplative hum, but I can’t control my grin. “Hmm. I think I’m looking at the best local speciality.” I turn toward the door and hitch my thumb over my shoulder. “How about we skip the coffee and get out of here?”
“Yeah, just let me grab my—” Her eyes land on my backpack and she groans. “What did I tell you about bringing Oscar into the shop?”
I shrug. “Felix was sitting by her backpack and wouldn’t stop whining. I had to bring her. What was I going to do? Tell our son no?”
She laughs and heads back into the kitchen, emerging with her bag and parka a moment later. “Alright. Let’s go dorks.”
I throw my SUV into park, right by the stairs to our apartment.
“Um, why are we stopping here?” Kelsey asks. “I thought we were dropping Felix and Oscar back off at the guesthouse and then having dinner with TJ and Grace?”
“We’re still meeting them, but I needed to grab something from here first.”
I hop out of the car but she stays put. I shut my door and walk around to the passenger side.
Opening her door, I find her sitting in the passenger seat with her eyes closed, the massaging seat quietly rumbling.
I lean into the open door and she waves dismissively at me. “I’ll wait here. Don’t mind me.”
I chuckle, reaching in to shut off the car, turning the massaging seat off in the process. Her eyes fly open and she casts me a sidelong glare. “Really? Did you have to do that? You couldn’t just let me enjoy my passenger princess moment of solitude?”
“Afraid not. Come on, I need your help with this. Might as well bring the kids too.”
She groans, but unbuckles her seatbelt and gets out of the car.
I let Felix out of the backseat and he bounds straight up the stairs to our apartment, wagging his tail at the top while he waits for us.
With Oscar’s backpack on, I follow Kelsey, my boots crunching the snow underneath me with each step.
I’ve learned following her up the steps is always one of my favorite views, one I’ve missed every single night I was in Seattle.
Three or four nights here, with her, was never enough.
Now, we’ll finally get to be together with no countdown until my next flight.
“So what all do you need to grab here? I want to get back to the guesthouse and head over to TJ’s.
Grace finally agreed to start watching Housewives.
We were going to start season one tonight while you make dinner.
Speaking of, you better have dinner ready before tonight’s episode comes on.
We're not missing it,” she says over her shoulder before stopping at the top of the snowy steps.
“We won’t miss it. Also, sorry in advance…” I stop behind her on the landing at the top of the steps, which feels very cramped with the two of us and Felix. “I didn’t need to grab anything.”
“So then why did you drag me out of my moment of bliss in the car and into the cold?” She cocks a hip out and gives me a skeptical look.
I grin and tilt my head to the door. “The contractor finished a week early. So welcome home, I guess?”
She looks like she’s about to burst with joy. “You’re serious? Why are you just now telling me?”
“I guess that’s one of the perks of using TJ’s contractor.
He wanted to keep him happy.” I step toward her and take her gloved hands in mine.
A tuft of her bangs stick out from under her beanie, with a cute puffy ball on top.
It’s adorable, but it also draws my eyes to hers.
I can see the excitement there, which is exactly why I wanted to get back so soon.
We remodeled the upstairs to open up the two apartments.
The idea of having a nicer, more spacious place was great, but it was just as much about building something for us to have together—to make ours.
“And I didn’t tell you because I wanted to see your reaction in person.
I wanted to be here the first time we get to step into our new home.
I wanted to share this memory with you.”
Her eyes sparkle up at me and her mouth lifts into a little smirk. “Pretty and sappy. I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you.”
I lean down and press a kiss to her lips. She lets out a hungry little hum, a sound I didn’t realize how much I craved until just now.
“Love you too.”
She smiles and it scrunches her face, highlighting her rosy cheeks from the cool winter air. “Can we go inside now? It’s close to below zero out.”
“Yeah. Just one second.” I fumble in my pocket for the keys and step up to the door and unlock it.
Felix rushes in and Kelsey tries to follow, but I don’t let her.
Instead I grab her by the waist, lifting her clean off her feet.
She squeals when I hook my elbow under her knees so she’s cradled in my arms. She furrows her brows and slaps me on the chest. “What are you doing? Let me go inside! I want to see it! It’s been months. ”
“It’s bad luck for you to walk over the threshold into your new home. What kind of unofficially diagnosed hero-complex-having boyfriend would I be if I didn’t carry you in?”
She laughs and I step through the door with her in my arms.
I set her down inside the entryway and she immediately spins away from me, looking at the remodeled space. I can’t help but smile because I know how excited she was about doing this and living here. I’ve had no greater joy than being able to give her this.
She walks toward the kitchen island and I take Oscar’s pack off and let her loose.
“You know, I’m pretty sure that whole threshold-bad-luck-tradition is just for newlyweds and brides.”
A contemplative hum rumbles up my chest as I walk up behind her. “Yeah, I think you’re right. That’s why I was planning on doing something about that.”
“What?” She turns around and her eyes drop to me, kneeling in front of her, in the place I want to build our life together.
I hold out the ring I’ve been hiding for weeks and counting the seconds until I could give it to her.
“I’ve wanted to ask you this for weeks, Kelsey.
Every minute I spent away from you, it felt like this ring was burning a hole in my pocket.
It’s been a constant reminder that this is where I want to be for the rest of my life—right here with you.
Every night I was alone, it made me that much surer that I wanted to end each of my days and start each of my mornings with you in my arms.”
She looks down at me and I can see those eyes sparkling for a different reason now. She kneels and I think the anticipation for her to say anything might actually kill me. “Was there a question somewhere in there?”
I grin. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes.” She holds her hand out and I slip on the ring. “I’ll marry you.”
“Good because I’ve been holding onto that long enough I can’t return it and I don’t think I can pull off diamonds.”
She rolls her eyes, still smiling. “Dork.”
Her smile is so bright and I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of anything in my life.
It doesn’t matter that Gloria’s managed to get its first star a month ago, even with me splitting time between here and Seattle.
It doesn’t matter that my protege, Jade was listed as one of America’s hot new chefs to watch.
Ever since the first night, making Kelsey Rivers smile has been, and will always be, the highest honor I could ever earn.