Epilogue

TWO MONTHS LATER…

“What are you doing with that laptop? Everyone will be here in a few minutes,” Violet asked Cain, who sat on an upside-down paint bucket with his laptop on a big piece of plywood.

“I’m deleting that stupid online dating profile,” he told her.

Violet rested her chin on his head and chuckled. “Not one of your smartest moments.”

He grunted and continued to type for another moment before closing the computer and pushing it back. “Done!” he said as he swiveled around and grabbed Violet’s waist and pulled her onto his lap. “Nice dress.”

“Thanks.”

“Easy access.”

She shooed him away and stood. “No time for that.” She laughed as he swooped down on her and picked her up. “Cain!” she giggled as he carried her over his shoulder.

“There’s always time for a little—”

The knock at the front door interrupted them. “Damn it!”

“Told you.”

Cain set her on her feet, and Violet ran her hands down her dress and fussed with her hair. “I can’t believe they couldn’t wait a few more days. We don’t even have chairs yet.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He laced his fingers with Violet’s and pulled her toward the front door.

The gang all poured inside in a big jumbled mess of noise and laughter: Tony and Francesca, Chrissy and Jack, and Slade and Jessica, trailed by Jamie Lynn, Travis, and Enzo.

Travis spoke first. “Can I be perfectly honest, darlin’?”

“Of course,” Violet said.

“This place is a fuckin’ disaster,” Travis said as he leaned on the banister by the stairs. As he said it the banister wobbled and he lost his balance. “Shit!”

The group roared.

“You’re just jealous,” JL said as she playfully slapped the back of her brother’s head. She looked around the two-story colonial-style house that was about thirty minutes away from Tarpon Springs. To Cain and Violet she said, “It needs some work, but I can see why you fell in love with it.”

A week after Cain had returned, they’d flown to Texas together, packed up his parents’ old house, and sold it. She’d also immediately moved into Cain’s apartment. Then a week ago, Cain had surprised her in the middle of the day by picking her up at work with a picnic lunch and driving her to this old run-down house.

It was a hideous shade of beige, the inside needed to be gutted, and it needed a new roof, new wiring, new…everything. But it was on a two-acre spread of land and had an enormous wraparound porch and an old red barn out back. She immediately loved it. Just being happily in love with Cain was enough; she hadn’t needed the house. But he insisted, and with the proceeds of the sale of his parents’ home and a big chunk of his savings, which surprised the hell out of Violet, he’d bought it for her. With a lot of TLC and time, they’d eventually build the perfect home here.

“So, it looks like you got your happily ever after.” JL came up behind Violet and put an arm around her shoulders.

“It’s weird, isn’t it? I honestly never thought I could be happy again, and now I don’t remember ever being happier.”

“You deserve it, honey.” JL hugged Violet. “More than anyone I know, you deserve it.”

“You do too, Jamie Lynn.” They strolled outside and rested their forearms on the veranda railing. “You know, you could have love too if you just gave a guy the time of day. Maybe Enzo?”

“Enzo?” JL shook her head. “Nope. Never gonna happen.”

“Why not?”

“Have you seen the man? When he’s not in the Academy he’s always in a suit and on his cell phone running the universe. I’m pretty sure he’s loaded.”

“And?”

“And? Come on, Vi.” JL pushed off the railing and paced up and down. “He rarely goes to the Pier because he thinks he’s too good for the shitty bar. I have tattoos and my hair is blue—or at least it is today.” She shook her head as if trying to make sense of it. “I mean, really, Vi. Could you imagine him meeting Rita? I don’t know who’d be more surprised.”

“Your mother’s not that bad.”

“Rita’s not that bad only when she’s not that high.”

“Okay, fine. Forget your mom. I think you’re underestimating the man. I think he really likes you.”

“And I think he really just wants sex. Sex isn’t worth it. Too many issues between us. I’d rather get sex elsewhere.” JL waggled her eyebrows.

“Whatcha talking about?” Chrissy came out, followed by everyone else.

“Nothing much,” Violet said.

“So, we going to the sponge docks, or what?” Francesca asked.

“What exactly is that? A bunch of sponges? Doesn’t sound like a good time,” Tony said.

“Tarpon Springs is famous for its sponge farming, and the docks are filled with shops selling beautiful natural sponges. It’s fun. There’s a festival and delicious Greek food,” Jessica said.

“Yeah, let’s head out,” Tony said as he took Francesca’s hand.

“You coming?” Enzo asked JL.

“Nah. I have something I have to do.”

“What are you doing?” Enzo said, preventing her from stepping down off the porch.

“None of your business.”

“Are you going on a date?”

“None of your business,” JL repeated. She crossed her arms. “And anyway, aren’t you married or something? You really shouldn’t be flirting with me if you’re married.”

“The woman’s a bitch and we’ll be divorced as soon as she signs the paper. It’s a matter of days. I haven’t seen her in almost a year.”

“Look, I’m flattered, but really, you and I…it’s never going to happen, so you may as well stop.”

Enzo advanced toward JL, forcing her to back up toward the wall of the house. He placed both hands flat against the siding, caging her in. “You have some stupid hang-up about something, but I can’t seem to figure it out. I didn’t leave Brazil to go from one crazy-ass woman who loves to play mind games to deal with this here in the States. I want to go out with you.” He leaned closer, and the ever-confident JL actually looked like she was cowering. “Jamie Lynn, will you go out with me, please?”

“Never.” She placed both hands on his chest and pushed him out of the way.

“That really is a shame, because…” He leaned closer. “You’re going to feel like a fool when you’re begging me to kiss you some more.”

“Some more? We’ve never even—”

Enzo wrapped his hand around her neck roughly and pulled her close, stroking her cheek with his thumb as the other hand fisted her shirt by her hip. Her body melted against his.

When he pulled away, JL looked completely frazzled as he adjusted his glasses. “Now, we have,” Enzo said. “And next time you’ll beg.” He winked cockily and left on his expensive convertible.

Just then, Cain and Violet, who had been discreetly watching from inside the house, came out. Cain gave JL a look and chuckled before turning to lock the door.

“Holy crap! That was crazy hot,” Violet said as she rushed over to JL, whose lips were swollen.

“Oh, God,” JL whispered.

“You’re totally going to beg next time, aren’t you?”

“I think I’m screwed.” JL stood up straighter, then headed to her car. “See you later. Got a thing to go to. Come by after the festival to pick up Bird.”

“Do I have to?” Violet whined.

“Yep. Can’t wait until you see the cute little things I taught him to say.”

That evening, Cain sat on a blanket on the floor of the wraparound porch, Violet between his outstretched legs, her head leaned back on his shoulder.

“How did I get so lucky?” she mused.

“I ask myself the same question every day. I thought I’d wind up alone, pining after you for the rest of my life.”

Violet looked up toward the stars. “Maybe someone up there is looking out for us?”

“Maybe a lot of someones are looking out for us, sunshine.”

“I like that thought.” She smiled lazily and then turned her head to him. “I love our new house, Cain. I can’t wait to make it into a home.”

“You’re in it, so it’s already my home, Vi. Wherever you are, that’s my home.”

She turned around and straddled him. “I love you, Cain.”

“I love you better, sunshine.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly. “So, have you ever made love under the stars?”

She smiled coyly. “No. Maybe it’s time for another lesson….”