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He brushed his lips across hers. “That was actually the easy part.”

EPILOGUE

Audra took Dawson’s hand,slipping her fingers between his, and followed him up the path behind his cabin toward the main house. The last two weeks had been interesting.

The Python Challenge hadn’t been the focal point. Actually, no one cared anymore. Well, not true. Everyone cared about catching the snakes and getting rid of them, and plenty had been removed. Audra didn’t know the exact number, but it had been posted, and Keaton had been more than pleased with the results.

But the talk of the town had been the local hero.

The chief of police, Dawson Ridge.

The man who’d brought down a major drug and arms dealing ring and put a damper on the Mendoza Cartel distribution into the United States. Trevor had even stuck to his end of the agreement. The Feds had moved him to a different facility, and his family had been taken into protective custody. All of this because of Dawson.

Dawson refused to take the credit. He attributed it to the great work of his second-in-command, Remy, and the three men he’d retired from the Navy with. And also, some amazing townspeople, including Mo, a man who’d been bullied into working for Paul and his son Benson.

He’d also made it clear that he couldn’t have done any of it without the help of Calusa Cove’s most notorious Owl Witch, Audra, who, after sixteen years, had been cleared of any suspicion of the murder of her father.

Mo hadn’t gotten off scot-free, but he’d been given a plea deal. A good one. Two years’ probation. No jail time.

And Anna got to keep her job working for Dawson because he was a good man.

But now Audra had some life decisions to make. She’d already made one by turning in her resignation in her current position. It had been a tough choice. That career had served her well. It had been a dream come true. But she’d used it to hide. To run from her life instead of living it.

However, she had no idea what to do next. Walking down the streets of Calusa Cove, she still turned heads, though not in the same way as before. Her hometown felt more like home again, thanks to Dawson.

“What are we doing?” She’d been given the tour of what Dawson referred to as the “big house” a few times. And it was gorgeous. Spectacular. Now all he had to do was decide what to do with the damn place.

“I want to show you something.”

“Shouldn’t we get ready for the campfire?” She glanced over her shoulder.

“Hayes and Keaton should be pulling into the cabins right about now. They’ll get things started. Fletcher will be by in about ten. I told Baily and Trinity to come in about a half hour. Trinity said she would bring stuff to make s’mores.”

Audra laughed. “You know if she’s in charge, they will be designer s’mores.”

Dawson chuckled. “Oh, I’ve already had those. I told her if she didn’t bring regular shit, not to bother. She promised the cheap stuff. And Baily is bringing ingredients to make margaritas, so we should be set for all the usual fixings.”

“Good.” She took Dawson’s hand, and they navigated the new porch, which had been completed a couple of days ago.

“The inside is coming along nicely. The kitchen doesn’t have any appliances yet, but it will by the end of the month,” Dawson said.

“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.”

“Just let me ramble and get through this,” he said. “I designed it to be a bed and breakfast. It has twelve rooms. Three of them are family style. But for whatever reason, I did make the third floor fully contained. It has one bedroom, its own bathroom, and a small kitchen as well.”

“I know. You could live there if you wanted to.”

“I suppose.” He opened the door. “But I thought more of hiring a B&B manager to live here, and since I’m a selfish bastard and don’t want you to leave Calusa Cove, but don’t think we’re ready to live together, I thought maybe you’d like the job.”

Audra’s heart fluttered as she stood in the middle of the living room. It was spacious and had a big stone fireplace. “What would the job entail?”

“Managing the bookings and the staff, which would include a cleaning service and a cook—unless you wanted to do any of that. The pay isn’t great, but it’s not awful.” He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “I care about you. I don’t want to rush things, but I don’t want you to walk out of my life, either. Please stay.”

“Could I also work at Everglades Overwatch? Take out a few tours? Tell a few Owl Witch stories?” She wrapped her arms around his waist and waggled her brows at him.

“I’m sure that could be arranged.” His arms came up around her. “Is that a yes?”

“That concussion must’ve really done a number on my head,” she said, “but Calusa Cove is home. There are no more secrets lurking in the shadows here. I have nothing to run from anymore. As long as you don’t mind me crashing with you until this place is ready, I’ll take the job.”