Epilogue Marlowe
Ten months ago, if you had told me I’d be standing on the porch of a secluded mountain cabin, wrapped in the arms of the grumpiest, most territorial man in Colorado, I would have laughed in your face.
Then again, ten months ago, my entire existence was defined by running, hiding, and waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Now? The only thing dropping around here is Kane’s jaw whenever I walk into the room wearing one of his giant flannel shirts and nothing else.
"You're standing on the cold porch with no shoes on again, sweetheart."
Kane’s deep, gravelly voice rumbles right against my back a split second before a thick, warm fleece blanket is draped over my shoulders.
His massive arms wrap tightly around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard chest. His calloused hands come to rest flat over my lower stomach, where a tiny, barely detectable bump is just starting to show under my clothes.
I lean back into his strength, letting out a soft, contented sigh as he buries his face into the crook of my neck, his stubble tickling my skin.
"I've been out here for thirty seconds, Boss," I giggle, tilting my head to give him better access to my pulse point. "And the sun is fully out. I'm not going to catch a cold."
"Doesn't matter," he growls against my neck, pressing a warm, lingering kiss right over my collarbone. "You're carrying my baby, Marlowe. My job is to make sure you're warm, fed, and completely taken care of. Non-negotiable."
I turn in his hold, sliding my arms around his broad neck. I look up into those dark blue eyes that once scared me. Now, all I see in them is a steady, unwavering ocean of love and devotion.
Kane Langston is still a mountain of a man.
He’s still the grump who scowls at the delivery drivers and makes the crew at Forge Creek Municipal Contractors stand at attention with a single glance.
He still walks with that rigid military authority and tracks every entrance to every room we step into.
But for me? For his family? He melts.
"You're a softie, Kane Langston," I murmur, tracing the faded scar on his jaw with my thumb.
A tiny, lazy smile tugs at the corner of his lips—a private, beautiful sight that no one in this town ever gets to see except me.
"Only for you," he rumbles, capturing my hand and kissing the inside of my wrist where my pulse leaps. "Did you finish your assignment for class?"
"Just submitted it," I say proudly, a swell of genuine accomplishment filling my chest.
Kane suggested a few months ago that I check out a few online classes to see if there’s anything that looked interesting.
I found a graphic design course that I loved, and he was all in.
Kane didn't just offer to pay for my degree, he practically set up an entire home office for me, stocked it with every single thing a student could possibly need, and made sure I had uninterrupted study time every single night.
He believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.
"I knew you would," he says, his blue eyes softening as he looks down at me. "Proud of you, Mrs. Langston."
Mrs. Langston. Hearing my name wrapped up in his still sends a thrilled shiver straight down my spine.
"I love you, Kane," I whisper, stepping up on my tiptoes to wrap my fingers in the dark hair at the back of his head. "More than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. Thank you for giving me a home. For keeping me safe. For... everything."
Kane’s arms tighten around my waist, lifting me off my feet effortlessly until we're eye-to-eye.
"You gave me a life, Marlowe," he says, his voice thick and rough with emotion.
"Before you walked into Forge Creek, I was just surviving.
You're my home, sweetheart. You and this baby.
I swear on my life, I'll protect you, honor you, and love you until my last breath. "
My heart feels so full it aches in the absolute best way.
"Prove it," I whisper against his lips.
Kane doesn't hesitate. His mouth covers mine in a deep, possessive kiss that instantly sets my blood on fire. It’s slow, sweet, and heavy with a burning heat that promises everything we're going to do once we step back inside the house. His tongue tangles with mine, stealing my breath, while his hand slides up to cup the back of my neck, anchoring me to him like I’m the only thing keeping him grounded.
When he finally pulls back, we're both panting, our foreheads resting together as the mountain breeze swirls around us.
I catch my breath, a wicked, dimpled grin breaking across my face as I pat his broad chest.
"Not bad, Langston," I tease, my voice full of mischief as I slip out of his hold and take a step back toward the front door.
"Now, if you want to keep earning those extra credit points, you're going to have to carry me inside and rub my feet while I tell you all about the rule of thirds for my upcoming design project.
Kane lets out a low, reluctant laugh, shaking his head as his dark eyes flare with heat. "Deal," he growls, stalking toward me with that slow, alpha stride that makes my knees go weak. "Get inside, woman. Your shift at being spoiled just started."
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