Page 77

EPILOGUE

EMORY

“ Y ou’re not supposed to drag your husband into a darkened hallway on your wedding. It’s very bad luck.” Aiden’s voice is low and teasing as I pull him off the dance floor and into the same hallway where he found me that night all those months ago.

“There are five thousand people out there, and I want you to myself.” Everyone in Hart’s Hill was invited to our wedding, and I’ve been slowly making amends with the people in his social circle. Amy asked me if I wanted to get lunch next week.

He chuckles, and I glance back at him. His eyes are bright with happiness.

He looks so handsome it makes my stomach flip.

His hair is lighter, from a summer spent on the boat, and his face is tanner.

He looks relaxed so many mornings now. He does the crossword with Dusty by his side, and he lingers in bed to have coffee with me.

I will do anything to keep him that way—carefree, that spark we lit burning inside him.

He’s working with the head distiller on the new whiskey and he comes home every day full of ideas and excitement.

I would kill for him. I’m always watching, making sure the shadows don’t get too dark for him again.

“Remember this?” I tip my head toward the study, before I push open the door. “You were worried I’d want love.”

“Silly me,” he murmurs, as I back him against the wall. His fingers curl into my dress. It’s red. He insisted.

“Silly you,” I whisper back. “I don’t think either of us could have stopped this.”

He grins down at me. “I wouldn’t want to if I could.”

“Me neither.”

His hands tighten in the red silk. “You going to maul me now, evil queen?”

My heels bring me nearly to his mouth. I tap him on the lips, and he nips at my finger. “I have to stake my claim.”

His eyes darken. “Stake it, then. You know I’m yours. I changed my name for you.”

I still, my pulse fluttering. “You what?”

He grins, slow and sexy. “You didn’t check the marriage license? It’s Aiden Hunter-Prince now.” His teeth sink into his lower lip as his smile grows.

“Aiden.” My whisper is broken. My eyes heat.

His hand cradles my jaw, his eyes warm. “You don’t have to take it, but I’d like it if you did.”

I nod, words escaping me, before I brush my lips over his. “Mine,” I breathe.

“Yours,” he agrees.

“Forever,” I say, something hot and desperate clawing inside me. “Please, Aiden, forever.”

“Anything for you,” he promises. “Anything.”

I kiss him before the words are out of his mouth, trying to breathe them in and keep them inside me. He slips his tongue into my mouth and his hand around the back of my head.

He breaks the kiss, panting slightly. “Damn, I want like a hundred kids with you.”

“What?” I laugh through my surprise.

He blinks down at me. “Sorry. That, uh, that just slipped out.”

“I like it,” I say shyly. The thought of little boys and girls running around Crownhaven fills me hope. I want Aiden to have the family he deserves. “I’ve always wanted kids. I love them. I just didn’t think you’d want that.”

He kisses me again, his lips warm and insistent. “With you,” he says roughly. “I want it all.”

“Should we start right now?” I ask. “I can feel how ready you are.” He’s already hard against my stomach.

“In a few years,” he says. “But until then I think we should practice.”

We grin stupidly at each other.

“We should make sure we get really good at it,” I say solemnly.

He winks, before he nips at my neck. “But I’ll still be better.”

I wriggle in his arms. “It’s not a competition.”

“Oh pretty girl,” he growls against my ear, “it’s always a competition with us.”

THE END