I travel back to Cady Hollow Road where I have permanently moved in with Liam. Only three months ago, my life plans were so different. Now, mom and dad’s cabin is renovated and stunning. Lots of buyers wanted it resulting in an bidding war. The buyer closes on it next week. He seems like another guy that wants to live and stay in this mountain area. He and Liam quickly hit it off.
Once the cabin is sold, I’ll have enough to pay off my student loans andmaybe upgrade my current vehicle to something a little newer. Mom and dad will have a tidy sum to put back into their accounts. And, we’re getting married during Liam’s winter break from teaching. I always wanted one of those bridal dresses with white fur trim. Now, I’m going to have it … and so much more.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath of the mountain air.
I came here to sell a cabin.
I stayed to build a life.
And I have never been more certain of anything.
Second Epilogue
Liam
The pizza box sits empty on the kitchen counter, grease stains and crumbs the only evidence of our quick dinner. I grab two bottles of beer from the fridge and follow Tessa outside to the deck where steam rises from the brand new hot tub like morning mist off the lake.
She's already beside the tub, testing the temperature with her hand. The deck lights cast a warm glow over her face, and I can see the contentment there—the same look she's worn more and more since she decided to stay.
"Perfect," she says, glancing up at me.
I hand her a beer and watch as she takes a sip, her lips curved in satisfaction. "Good game tonight, Coach."
"The boys played their hearts out," I say, setting my bottle on the deck rail. "That last touchdown pass was well executed."
She laughs, that sound I've come to crave. "You're being modest. I saw you coaching that kid through it. The way his whole demeanor changed after you talked to him."
I shrug, but her praise warms me more than the steam rising from the water. "Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them."
"Like you believed in me," she says softly, stepping closer. Her fingers find the hem of my pullover, tugging it upward. "When I was dealing with raccoon shit and ready to cry."
I help her pull the shirt over my head, my skin immediately prickling in the cool night air. "You never needed me to believein you, Tessa. You just needed to believe in yourself."
She's already working on the drawstring of my khakis, her touch deliberate and hungry. "Maybe. But having you in my corner didn't hurt."
"Into the water with you," she says, stepping back to pull her scrubs over her head.
I kick off my khakis and boxers, not caring about the cool air against my skin. The hot tub beckons, steam curling up into the star-filled sky. I sink into the heated water first, the temperature perfect against my muscles still tight from pacing the sidelines.
Tessa follows, slipping out of her bra and panties with an ease that still takes my breath away. She steps into the water with a soft sigh, settling beside me on the curved bench.
"This was worth the wait," she says, leaning back againstthe jets.
I pull her closer, her back against my chest, my arms encircling her waist. The water laps around us as we settle into the rhythm of the bubbles, the distant sound of night birds calling across the lake.
"Ahhh, this hot tub is the best investment I've made in years," I say. My hands slide over her wet skin beneath the surface. "Though I had ulterior motives."
She laughs, tilting her head back against my shoulder. "Oh really? And what might those be?"
"Getting you naked and relaxed after long shifts at the hospital," I say, pressing a kiss to the curve of her neck. "Making sure you have a reason to come home to me every night."
"As if I needed more reasons," she whispers, turning in my arms so she's facing me. Water droplets cling to her lashes, and her skin glows in the soft light. "I love this life we're building, Liam. I love coming home to you."
My hands find her hips beneath the water, pulling her closer until she's straddling my lap. The heat of the tub surrounds us, but it's nothing compared to the fire building between us.
"I love having you here," I tell her, my voice rough with want. "Every morning when I wake up next to you, I still can't believe you chose this. Chose me."
She cups my face in her hands, thumbs brushing over my cheekbones. "I didn't just choose you, Liam. I chose us. This mountain, this life, the way you make me feel like I'm exactly where I belong."
