Epilogue

 

“I can’t believe this is where you grew up,” she said months later as they drove through the gates of his parents’ property.

“It is. A far cry from our small apartments, huh?”

She snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”

She didn’t believe him when he finally told her his background. That his grandfather was like a billionaire oil tycoon. She just laughed and said no way. “I don’t know his net worth, nor would I ask. Let’s say it’s a lot,” was all he responded to her shock.

“Everyone is excited to meet you,” he said as he pulled the car to a stop.

“I’m nervous,” she said. She wasn’t good enough for these people. What could Vin have been thinking?

“No reason to be. Everyone will welcome you with open arms.”

He was right. They did. So much so, it was overwhelming. She could see this was where Vin needed to be. Where he wanted to be. There was a lot of talk about him coming home to take over the security aspect of the business. That he needed time to learn the ins and outs if he was going to ever take it over completely. But for now, he had to start somewhere.

The only problem was she didn’t know where it left her. Where it left them. Her life was back in Albany. Her store. The only thing she had.

They loved each other. She knew that, but was this goodbye now too? She was just getting over everything that happened with Kaylee and now this? How much could she go through this year?

But the next day they were driving into town, pulling in front of an empty storefront with a “for sale” sign out front. “What do you think of it?” he asked.

“About what?”

“For a bakery? For a Sweet Eats here?”

“You want me to open a bakery here? In Midland? What about Albany? That’s my home.”

“I’d like your home to be where I am. But if you really want to stay there, we can. Maybe I’ll be able to convince you to come here at some point in the future.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Mean what?” he asked.

“That you want me to be where you are. Does that mean you want us to live together?”

He laughed at her. “Piper, I want you to marry me. I want you to do it this weekend. On the ranch. No time to think. No time to question anything. Let’s just do it. You know it’s right. Sometimes you just got to be crazy and go with the flow. Be crazy with me.”

“But my life is back there.” And then she stopped. She really had no life back there. The only family she ever knew was gone.

Even though Jane and Chris said they didn’t blame her, she could never look at them the same. Skip was their son and though what he did was wrong, they wouldn’t choose her over him. And she would never go near Skip again. That part of her life was over.

“This weekend?” she asked. “As in two days from now?”

“Yep. I’ve just got to make a quick call and it’s all set to go. We can do something bigger at another date, but I figured you’d want it like this anyway.”

He was right. She had no one else. No one but Sam and Nicole. That’s it. She’d love to have them here, but didn’t know how that could happen.

“I need a dress,” she said. Was she really considering this? Was she really going to get married in two days to a man she’d known for just over six months?

One that saved her life? One that made her feel like she’d always wanted to her whole life. Like she belonged. Yep, she was going to do it!

“My mother will take you shopping in an hour when we get back. No worries.” When she hesitated, he added, “Sam and Nicole and her family will be here tomorrow,” he said, then kissed her quickly.

“Really?”

“Really? I knew you’d never do it without them. My mother is dealing with all their clothing for the wedding too. Seriously, money gets you things fast,” he said, laughing. “All I need you to do is say yes.”

“Yes,” she said, throwing herself into his arms.

Two days later, Sam walked her down the aisle toward Vin in the backyard of his grandfather’s cattle ranch. A judge performed the short and sweet ceremony and she was soon Piper Steele. And in that moment, she had an instant family and a life she’d never dreamed could be hers.

 

Want to read more books by Natalie Ann?

 

Want to read more of the Love Collection?

 

 

Vin Steele has always been in control. Always been a leader. Failing at what he always did was a bitter pill for him to swallow, sending him into an isolation…of sorts. A new life and a new career, trying to find the person he lost.

Piper Fielding spent her life putting on a good face. Looking for the positive in the light of all the negative in her world. When a threat forces her to face the ugliness she always avoided, she finds herself running to the only person she can trust. Her sexy neighbor that has mystery and complications written all over him.

 

 

 

Shattered dreams vs a new beginning. Can they help each other heal?

Jared Hawk thought he had it all. Until he didn’t. Until a bomb exploded bringing a building down around him and his unit, leaving him less than the man he was.  Broken and disabled, he needed to figure out a new plan of action hoping to find a glimmer of the happiness he’d had before.

Shelby McDonald wanted a fresh start. A new life. She didn’t expect to be a single mother—a widow—at just twenty-three. She was strong enough to start over once, she could do it again. She had to. She had no choice. It may not have been the life she envisioned, but she’d be damned if anything was going to hold her back…including the sexy Navy Lieutenant trying to find his way again.

 

What happens when a hopeless romantic falls for a cynical romance writer?

 

Sheldon Case spends her days writing about romance and love. Only she doesn’t believe in it herself. Happy ever after…nah. It only exists in books and movies.

 

Dr. Erik McMann had the love of his life...or so he thought. Until he found out it really didn’t exist like he imagined. Like he always dreamed. But now he wants to try again, and when he meets Sheldon, he decides she’s the one. If only he could convince her that what she’s believed her whole life is false.

 

 

A reformed playboy. A woman looking for love. What happens when trust becomes an issue?

If you looked up privileged in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of Dr. Connor Landers, trust fund playboy extraordinaire. He loved having that title, but the real reason he was that way was something very few people knew. Then reality was shoved in his face and he had to make a choice.

Melissa Mahoney was looking for love in all the wrong places. How hard could it be to find someone to trust? Someone to give her what she’d been dreaming of? She takes a risk and puts her heart in Connor’s hands, but will he just end up shattering it like she’d been fearful of all along?

 

 

A detective on the mend. A psychiatrist being tormented. Can their pretend relationship uncover who’s behind the threats?

 

Dr. Cameron Mason went into private practice so she could help the victims. She spends a lot of her time putting the accusers away. It’s what she thrives at. What she wants. What’s right. Until someone didn’t think it was so right and decided to silence her from ever helping others again.

 

After killing a teenager hopped up on heroin—that happened to be stabbing his partner—Detective Ian Price is mandated to get released by the city shrink. He wants to get in, get his release and get out. Until he sees she’s being victimized herself. Now he must go undercover in his most dangerous assignment yet. The threat isn’t just for his safety or his sanity, but also his heart.

 

 

The Road Series-See where it all started!!

 

Lucas and Brooke’s Story-

Jack and Cori’s Story –

Mac and Beth’s Story-

Ryan and Kaitlin’s Story-

 

The All Series

 

William and Isabel’s Story —

Ben and Presley’s Story –

Phil and Sophia’s Story –

Alec and Brynn’s Story –

Sean and Carly’s Story —

Drew and Jordyn’s Story—

Finn and Olivia’s Story—

 

The Lake Placid Series

 

Nick Buchanan and Mallory Denning –

Max Hamilton and Quinn Baker –

Caleb Ryder and Celeste McGuire –

Cole McGuire and Rene Buchanan –

Zach Monroe and Amber Deacon-

Trevor Miles and Riley Hamilton –

 

The Fierce Five Series

 

Brody Fierce and Aimee Reed -

Aiden Fierce and Nic Moretti-

Mason Fierce and Jessica Corning-

 

Love Collection

 

Vin Steele and Piper Fielding –

Jared Hawk and Shelby McDonald –

Erik McMann and Sheldon Case –

Connor Landers and Melissa Mahoney-

Ian Price and Cam Mason-