Epilogue
HILL
I rubbed my hands on my thighs. “I should’ve warned him I was coming. This was stupid.”
He snorted. “It’s a little late now.”
I glared. “If you won’t be helpful, be silent. I can have you replaced, you know.”
He chuckled, knowing his job was secure. I’d gone through three security guards—sorry, personal protection agents—before I’d clicked with Jeremiah and Serena, who worked alternate weeks.
We approached the house, and I leaned forward impatiently.
I hadn’t told Josh we’d completed production earlier than scheduled.
He was supposed to meet me in Malibu next week, but two months of only talking to him on the phone was too long.
Being alone in my condo, which had once been my sanctuary, didn’t appeal. My heart was here.
Josh had been painting the downstairs of his new house earlier when I’d texted to make sure he was home. He wanted to finish everything before he left to spend a week with me in California. While he was gone, his friend Diego would oversee pouring the foundation for Josh’s nephew’s tiny house.
We pulled up in front of the steps leading to the wraparound porch. Jeremiah and I got out, and the driver popped the trunk so we could grab our bags.
“Hey, take my picture.” I passed my phone to Jeremiah, who backed up a little, then snapped a photo of me standing in front of the porch. Grinning, I texted it to Josh.
Eagerly, I grabbed my bag and bounded up the steps, Jeremiah following more slowly. I pressed the doorbell and waited.
A man’s voice shouted, “I got it!” The door swung open, and... well, this had to be Josh’s grandfather. In the flesh. The very naked flesh.
I gaped at him longer than I should’ve. He put his hand on his hip. “Well, now. Josh didn’t warn us you were comin’.” He gestured at Jeremiah. “Is this some sort of threesome thing? He didn’t warn us about that neither.”
“Who is it, Gavin?” An older woman, also naked, came up behind the guy. Jeremiah made a choking sound and turned his back to them.
“Um, hi.” I trained my eyes on their faces. “Sorry to disturb you. I’m Hill, and this is Jeremiah, my bodyguard.”
From behind the house, I heard Josh yell, “Oh, shit! Grandpa, don’t open the door!”
Delighted smirks appeared. “Well, come on in! I’m Gavin, and this is Betty. Sorry you caught us in the altogether, but it’s after 10:00 p.m.”
He stood back and held the door wide. Thankfully we didn’t have to walk right past their nude bodies because Josh came racing around the side of the house.
“Oh, fuck! Grandpa! And Grandma! Shit!” He ran up the steps, and I held out my arms. Hugging him felt better than anything had since our time together in Paris. My throat went tight, and my chest warmed. He kissed me, then pulled back. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
“I got done early, and I wanted to see you.” Not letting go, I spun us around. “This is Jeremiah.” Josh stuck out one hand, and they shook. “Hey, nice to meet you in person. Sorry about the grands.” He waved his hand toward his grandparents, who were beaming at us.
“No worries. It’s after 10:00 p.m.” Whatever that meant, but I wasn’t above scoring points with Josh’s family.
“Joshie,” Betty said. “We’ll put Jeremiah up in your old room, and Hill can stay with you in the new place.”
Jeremiah insisted on checking out where I’d be, so Josh took us around the outside of the main house to give us the tour. He pointed at the barn. “In the morning, you can meet Benny and the others.”
The little house was similar in size to my condo, but it looked sturdy and sound. “I can’t believe you did this yourself.”
He shrugged, smiling. “My friend Diego helped. The inside’ll be more comfortable once I get some furniture.”
Jeremiah quickly explored the open living room and kitchen, the bathroom, and the loft bedroom before taking off to go back to the main house. “They’ll be dressed now, I promise!” Josh called after him. He made a face. “If you’ll be here a lot, Jeremiah needs his own tiny house.”
Shutting the door, I put my arms around him. “I’ll be here a lot. I love your place.” It was cozy like my condo, and while there wasn’t anywhere to sit downstairs yet, I could see the corner of a bedframe over the edge of the loft.
Josh cradled my face in his hands and kissed me. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Yeah? How glad?”
He smiled wickedly. “Why don’t I show you the bedroom while I tell you?”
“Perfect.”
After we made love, Josh dropped off to sleep immediately. I resisted succumbing to the lassitude, not wanting to let go of this moment, savoring holding my love in my arms at last.
I didn’t feel my usual longing for the peace and quiet of my condo. Josh belonged here, with his very interesting family, his animals, and his lovely house. And I belonged to Josh.
I looked at him, asleep and curled into me, and my heart felt huge in my chest.
I was home.