Epilogue
It was hard to believe so much had changed in such a short space of time.
Sorcha shook her head and chuckled to herself as she dialed Doreen’s number and waited for her friend to answer.
In fact, everything had changed since she’d called Doreen yesterday to share her decision to stay in Bear Creek with Christopher.
Through the cabin window, she could see him helping a family load their SUV, his strong arms lifting suitcases with ease.
Her heart swelled watching him—her bear shifter, her mate, her future.
“Sorcha!” Doreen’s voice exploded through the phone. “I’ve been waiting for your call!”
“Sorry, I just got your text.” Sorcha’s stomach fluttered with nerves. “You said you had news?”
“News? Honey, I have the news of the century!” Doreen’s excitement vibrated through the line. “I got the feeling you were wavering on taking over for Dominic, and so I pitched an idea to my publisher friend at Horizon Books.”
Sorcha’s breath caught. “You did?”
“Of course I did! I pitched the idea of your turning your best articles into a book. And guess what?” Doreen paused dramatically. “They want it! They’re interested in a full collection of your travel essays with new material!”
The room seemed to tilt slightly. Sorcha sank onto the couch, her knees suddenly weak. “They…what? Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack! They love your writing. They’re offering a two-book deal, Sorcha. Two books!”
“I can’t believe it,” Sorcha whispered, her free hand pressed against her chest. “This is…I never expected…”
“Well, believe it! I’ll have the contracts ready to sign in a couple of days. We’re talking about a decent advance, too. Not quit-your-job money, but definitely validation money.”
Sorcha’s gaze drifted back to the window, to Christopher. An idea sparked. “Doreen, why don’t you come here? To Bear Creek? You could bring the contracts, and I could show you why I’ve fallen in love with this place.”
A pause stretched between them. “Come to the middle of nowhere? In winter?”
“It’s beautiful here,” Sorcha urged. “And I’d really like you to meet Christopher.”
“Ah, so that’s the real reason,” Doreen teased. “You want my approval on your mountain man.”
“Oh no, he already has my approval.” Sorcha smiled. “But I do want to see you. We can talk face-to-face about the book, about everything.”
Doreen sighed dramatically. “Fine. For you, I’ll brave the wilderness. Send me the details, and I’ll see if I can make it work this weekend.”
“Really? That’s perfect! Thank you, Doreen.”
“Don’t thank me yet. If there’s no decent coffee in this Bear Creek of yours, I’m turning right around.”
Sorcha laughed. “We have coffee. Promise.”
After they hung up, Sorcha sat stunned on the couch. A book deal. Her travel stories bound together, preserved. A dream she hadn’t even dared to form was suddenly within reach.
The cabin door opened, letting in a blast of cold air along with Christopher. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, snowflakes clinging to his dark hair.
“Hey,” he said, his face lighting up at the sight of her. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Sorcha stood and crossed the room to him, unable to contain herself any longer. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, savoring the cold freshness of his lips, the woodsy scent that was uniquely him.
Christopher responded immediately, his arms encircling her waist, lifting her slightly off the floor as he returned her kiss. When they finally broke apart, his eyes were dark with desire.
“Not that I’m complaining,” he said, his voice husky, “but what was that for?”
“Doreen just called,” Sorcha said, the words tumbling out. “A publisher friend of hers has offered me a two-book deal!”
Christopher’s face transformed with joy. “Sorcha, that’s incredible!” He lifted her again, spinning her around the small living room until she laughed breathlessly. “I’m so proud of you.”
When he set her down, his hands remained on her waist, warm and steady. “I knew your writing was special from the first article of yours I read.”
“You read my work before we met?” Sorcha raised an eyebrow.
Christopher’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Maybe I did a little research when I heard a travel writer was coming to review the cabins.”
“Sneaky bear,” she teased, brushing snowflakes from his hair.
“Strategic business owner,” he corrected with a grin. Then his expression softened. “This is perfect timing, isn’t it? Everything’s falling into place for us.”
Sorcha nodded, her throat suddenly tight with emotion. “Doreen’s going to try to visit this weekend. She wants to bring the contracts and meet you.”
“I look forward to it.” Christopher’s thumb traced circles on her hip, a gesture that never failed to send warmth spreading through her. “Should I be nervous? Will she give me the third degree?”
“Probably,” Sorcha admitted. “But she’ll love you. How could she not?”
His answering smile made her heart skip. As Christopher pulled her close again, Sorcha rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat. Everything was indeed falling into place—her career, her relationship, her new home in Bear Creek.
There was only one more dream left to fulfill, one she hardly dared to voice even in her own mind. The image of a child with Christopher’s dark hair and her eyes flashed through her thoughts, sending a longing so intense through her that it took her breath away.
But there was time for that. Time for everything now that they’d found each other.
“I love you,” she whispered against his chest. “To the moon and back.”
Christopher’s arms tightened around her. “And I love you, my mate. Forever and always.”
As the snow fell softly outside their cabin, Sorcha closed her eyes and savored the moment, grateful for whatever twist of fate had brought her to Bear Creek and into the arms of her bear shifter.