Chapter Thirty-Four

Sage and Otis walked down Main Street. What once looked like an abandoned town had become home. Who would have thought a speck of land in the middle of nowhere could offer her everything a girl needed? Who would have thought the call she made to HR this morning telling them she wouldn’t be returning would be so easy?

Aspen Cove didn’t have a Target, a Starbucks, or a movie theater. There was no Dunkin’ Donuts, Taco Bell, or shopping mall. There was Cannon, and he made up for the shortcomings.

As she walked down the street, she caught the smell of chocolate floating on the air. Her pace picked up because who didn’t like chocolate? Even Otis seemed eager to close the gap between him and the bakery, but that was because Katie had a bucket of treats she kept inside for him. There was one thing Otis liked more than belly rubs, and that was Milk-Bones.

“Wait up,” came a familiar sexy voice from behind. Cannon jogged to catch up to her.

Sage tilted her head in confusion. “I thought you were meeting up with Bowie?”

His shoulders sagged forward. “He canceled again.”

Sage stopped and pulled him in for a hug. She knew how important it was to both Cannon and Ben that Bowie come home, but this was his third cancellation, and she was sure Cannon was losing hope.

“He’ll come home when he’s ready. He needs time to figure things out,” Cannon said.

Sage couldn’t imagine coming back to the place where he’d lost it all. “I know, but I’m sure you miss your brother.”

He set his head on top of hers and hugged her back.

Sage thought about how quickly a life could change. It had changed in a matter of seconds for Cannon, Ben, and Bowie. For her it took a little longer, but the outcome was better. She’d found love. Things had been easy between them since that day on the deck. Everything had fallen into place like someone had planned it with precision. She looked to the sky and said a silent prayer to Bea because without her gift of hope and love and faith, Sage would still be walking the lonely halls of some hospital in her squeaky white loafers.

“I can’t get your brother to come home, but I can offer an alternative.” She gave him what she hoped was a sex-kitten smile. “How about we grab a muffin and go back to our home—back to our bed? We’ve got the house to ourselves. No guests arriving until later.”

Cannon had all but moved in with her. Little by little, she found his clothes hanging in the closet. His toothbrush on the counter in the bathroom. His socks shared space with hers. She liked the way he decorated her life with happiness and love.

“Sweetheart, you make it sound like spending time with you comes in second place.”

“Not at all. Get me a muffin, and I’ll show you how first rate I can be.”

Sage laughed when Cannon rushed into the bakery ahead of her.

Katie was boxing up a four-pack of muffins when Sage and Otis made it inside. “Treat?” Katie called out. Though Otis couldn’t rise up on one leg, it didn’t stop him from trying. His back end whipped around like a wrecking ball, overturning everything in its path. By the time Katie laid down a handful of Milk-Bones, three chairs were down.

“It doesn’t take much to make him happy,” Cannon said, handing Katie a twenty to pay for the muffins while Sage righted the chairs.

Katie looked down at the dog lying at Sage’s feet. “He’s male. You guys are easy to please,” she said.

Sage and Cannon walked out hand in hand. She had muffins, a loyal pet, and a sexy boyfriend. Life didn’t get better than that. Their hands swung back and forth between them as they headed for home.

Sage looked up to the man she loved. “When I moved to Aspen Cove, there were three things I knew for certain, but I was more wrong than I was right.”

Cannon pulled a warm muffin from the box and offered her the first bite. “You? Wrong?” He laughed. “No way.”

She nearly choked on her muffin. “I know. Unbelievable, right? But it’s true.” She gave him an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Seriously, I have ‘Sage’ observations.” She air-quoted her name for effect.

“First, death can’t be escaped, but neither can life. It should be lived with love and passion, and you.”

“I agree.” He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

“Second, hell isn’t a cold day in Denver, but heaven is living in Aspen Cove wrapped in your arms.”

“You trying to make me blush?” Cannon asked.

They neared the end of Main Street and made a slight left toward the bed and breakfast.

“Last.” She stood at the doorstep. “Mr. Right is definitely Mr. Right Now, who happens to be Mr. Tomorrow, and the next day after that until forever.”

Cannon turned the handle and held the door open. Otis walked in first and made his way to his chair.

“As happy as I am to be your Mr. Right Now, I’m even happier to be your forever. I love you, Sage Nichols, with every cell in my body.”

Although the sheriff’s friends were arriving in a few hours, Sage knew there was enough time to reaffirm that love, because today there was one thing she knew for certain. The rest of her life started now.