“Safe…”
He sighs. “Good. I have Roxy.”
My heart squeezes and for the first time today, I allow myself to feel a wave of relief. “Jordan’s gone. I don’t he’ll be coming back.”
He breathes, heavy for a moment, his relief palpable without any words. “You’re safe. We’re safe. I’m never leaving you again. I’ll be there in five minutes to take you home.”
Home.Because that’s where I live now.Our home.
Chapter 39 – Molly
One month later…??
“It’s beautiful,” I state, spinning around the gorgeous brewery. Reclaimed wooden ceilings, sparkling, rose gold appliances and hand painted photos cover the walls of scenes from the Marshall farmstead in each season. The design details that Colt thought up and Cash built are breathtaking and I’m so happy I finally got to see it in person.
“Your vision turned reality, I love it,” I murmur to him.
Colt pulls me close, his hands gripping my hips in that protective, grounding way that always makes me feel safe. I love the way he holds me. It’s just one of the many things about him that I’ve come to cherish over these past few months together. He’s always been protective over me, and I think that’s because he always knew I’d be his someday.
Since the grand opening last month, the Charlotte-basedWhitewood Creek Brewery & Restauranthas been thriving. The place is packed every night, hosting everything from live musicto holiday events. Lawson and Regan’s financial projections show it’s on track to be featured in theBest of Charlotteawards at the end of the year for both Best Brewery and Best Restaurant—a huge accomplishment for the family and another opportunity to put the Marshall family name on the map.
Colt’s parole was officially lifted three weeks ago, making him a free man at last. But between the booming success of the brewery’s flagship location, and the release of the new seasonal brew, summer has kept everyone too busy to celebrate. Today is the first chance we’ve had to visit the brewery in person together, and I can see the pride and anticipation in Colt’s eyes at seeing my reaction, even if he’s trying to play it cool.
He’s grown more comfortable expressing his emotions over the past three months, but he’s still not one to wear his heart on his sleeve with just anyone. But with me, he’s vulnerable, tender and open. And that’s all that really matters. I can tell how much this moment means to him, and it makes me proud to share it with him.
“So, what’s next?” I ask as we step inside, taking in the lively atmosphere that’s buzzing around us. It’s midday now and the whole place is filled with a mixture of people dressed in suits on their lunch breaks or yoga pants and t-shirts.
“We’ve got our second retirement party we’ll be hosting here booked for next month and Lawson just finished hiring the last of the wait staff,” Colt says. “Cash is already working on the sister brewery and restaurant we’re opening in Whitewood Creek at the end of the summer. It should be ready to open in early September.”
I nod, already familiar with the family’s latest business plans. The success of the Charlotte location has rippled across the state, with requests pouring in from surrounding towns—and theloudest of them all, has been our own. The people of Whitewood Creek have been clamoring for a local spot to replace Krissy’s Bar that recently closed in the town square, and the Marshall’s have once again answered their pleas.
Colt has been tirelessly working on designs for the new location, incorporating all the charm and character of our hometown into the style and Cash has wasted no time putting those ideas into action, starting with gutting Krissy’s—a struggling business that was on the brink of closure after its previous owners were caught funneling money into my father’s gambling debts.
It feels serendipitous that it’s also the place that started it all for Colt.
Now, the bar is getting a fresh start. Cash has gutted the place entirely, expanded the back parking lot into a sprawling outdoor seating area complete with games for patrons. It’s just the beginning of what will become the Whitewood Creek Brewery’s second location, and I can already picture how much life it’ll bring back to the heart of our little town.
It felt surreal to see Colt working at a place so tied to his past—a full circle moment that sometimes made me wonder if it was too much for him. This was the site where everything changed for him, where he picked up the charges that ultimately sent him away.
But if the history weighed on him, he never showed it. Instead, he faced it head-on. And there was something cathartic about watching him work day and night with that sledgehammer, breaking down the walls of the place that almost destroyed him. He tore through the remnants of its former life, ripping out appliances and fixtures with nothing but his hands and sheer determination. It wasn’t just healing for him; it was healing for me too. I was proud watching him work. He was reclaimingsomething that had once broken him, turning it into something new.
“You think you’d want to have the wedding here?” I ask.
Though we’ve only been engaged for two months now, we haven’t started planning anything. Life has been too busy, and honestly, I don’t mind taking our time.
What’s the rush when you’re marrying the man you’ve been in love with for two decades?
Colt’s lips brush against mine in a kiss, soft despite the strength of his grip on my hips. “I don’t care where we get married,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice quiet and only for me. “As long as I’ve got you, I’ll be happy.”
I smile, resting my hands on his chest. “Let’s get married by the creek then. For Maverick. It could be small. With just your family and the ceremony in our new backyard.”
His expression shifts, his eyes turning serious as he nods. “I think Mav would have liked that.”
We stand there for a moment, the quiet between us full of unspoken emotions. But the moment breaks when my phone buzzes in my back pocket. Colt lets me go, heading toward the makeshift kitchen to clean up a few spilled napkins as I pull my phone out to check the caller ID.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hi Molly, it’s Linda from Child Protective Services in Whitewood Creek.”
