Sighing, he released her and stood. “I couldn’t sleep last night, so I got in my car and drove. Next thing I knew, I was sitting in front of my dad’s. He invited me in and we…talked. Cleared some stuff up.” He turned to face her. “Thanks to you.”
“Me?” She rosed to her feet, her chest full to bursting with emotions. “I didn’t do anything. You took a chance and heard your dad out. I know how difficult that was. I’m so proud of you, Sinjin,” she whispered, her throat hot with tears as she slid her arms around him and barreled into his chest.
Strong arms wrapped around her and held her tight. “And I’m so grateful you walked into my life, Isla.”
“So am I.” She sighed into his chest.
She was so damn lucky.
He drew back, lips curved, light dancing in his eyes. “You’re just grateful because I know how to take you to your happy place.”
“True, but I think you know it’s more than that.” She cupped his face and smiled. “You, Sinjin,youare my happy place.”
Epilogue
Even though summer was coming to an end, Sinjin didn’t think Texas had gotten that memo, because it was still hot enough to cook eggs on the sidewalk.
Good thing there weren’t any in Gabe’s backyard.
It was Labor Day weekend and Gabe was manning the barbeque and talking on the phone. Some of the guys were throwing horseshoes, while others were playing volleyball, and Mac was getting Holden settled into Sinjin’s vacant cottage. Lyndsey and Emily were showing his father the foster animals kept in an outbuilding.
He and his father visited each other often. They were slowly rebuilding a relationship, thanks to Isla. She’d accompanied him on every trip to El Paso, and she talked all the time with his sister, who loved to tell tales of their childhood.
“So, does Isla know about the cake?” Hunter asked as they added more beer and soda to the coolers.
Last month, he’d moved in with Isla. They had decided to keep her cottage, since he spent most of his time at her place anyway. Besides, he didn’t like to be away from her any longer than necessary. She was his air, his sunshine, his light.
“No.” He grinned. “She doesn’t know.” As a surprise, he’d asked the sisters who owned the bakery to make her something special to celebrate receiving her nursing license. “And as long as it’s chocolate, I know she’ll love it.”
Hunter chuckled. “So will most of the women here.”
They added the last of the cans and closed the coolers as Gabe headed toward them, shoving his phone in his pocket. Sinjin watched the guy’s gaze flick over to where Isla, Christa,and the woman’s son sat playing with a ball.
He felt rather than saw Hunter stiffen next to him.
“So,” Gabe said, bending down to dig out a can of ginger ale. “I hear Holden’s in town.”
He nodded.
“Mac’s going to bring him here soon,” Hunter said.
Gabe rubbed his jaw. “He finally dropped his papers and left active duty.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “Yep.”
Gabe nodded. “You two help him move in this morning?”
“No, he arrived an hour ago,” Sinjin replied.
The guy was parking in his old driveway when he and Isla were getting in the car to come to Gabe’s. He’d barely had time to introduce his buddy to Isla.
“Why?” Hunter asked.
Sinjin cocked his head. “I take it your call was bad news.”
“Depends.” Gabe eyed them closely. “Ackerman was found dead this morning in his cell. Heart attack.”
Well, damn.
