Epilogue
Blake
October
The water stung my ankles like tiny needles jabbing around the bone every time the surf rushed over my skin. My feet sloshed through the ripples. My toes sank deeper in the wet sand. I picked up a shell and skipped it across the breakers. It sank twenty feet from where I stood. What was it about this place?
It didn’t matter what I did, where I traveled, or how long I was gone; the island pulled me back like a relentless tide.
A gull swooped over a sandbar, diving head first between two swells.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, wiping the salt water off in the process.
A year ago I arrived here a bitter man. An angry man. I thought I was in control, but I wasn’t. The hurt was. It would be easier if I could label it as pain. But it wasn’t that alone. It was mixed with embarrassment and humiliation. Time had eased parts, but I knew it was a wound that would never truly heal.
I felt closer to him here. Whether that was a good thing, I still hadn’t decided. I finally was getting to know the parts of him I never met. The other life he had tucked away here between the dunes. Caleb. Bonnie. The Dune Escape. This stretch of beach where he used to fish. I moved to the side when a strong wave pushed on shore. My charcoal pants were rolled a few cuffs above my ankles.
I felt the heaviness settle in my chest. The weight of the questions sinking from my head to my lungs. What was here wasn’t enough. I’d never talk to my dad at Buddy’s while we sat at the wooden bar. I’d never understand why he chose to raise Caleb and not me. I’d never know why he left my mom.
Instead I had pieces. Scraps and discarded bits like the shells under my feet. Broken wholes thrown on the beach with only half of their story visible.
I reached for another shell and watched it bounce twice when I threw it. I lowered my eyes to the water rushing around me.
I felt the warmth of delicate arms circle my waist and the heat of her body pressed against my back.
“What are you doing out here?” Her cheek flattened against my shoulder blade.
“Thought I’d take a walk before we leave.”
“I was almost afraid to bother you. You looked intense.”
I shook my head. “Just thinking.”
“Hmm.” She withdrew her arms, positioning herself in front of me. “It could only be one of a hundred possible things going on right now. Want to talk about it before I start guessing?”
I kissed her on the forehead. I loved her for asking. I loved her for loving me so much.
“Thinking about my dad. Letting the beach suck me in when I know better. Nothing is going to change.”
“Do you want to know what I think?” She smiled.
“Of course I do.”
“I don’t think it’s the beach’s fault. I think the trip has you worried.”
“What? No. That’s not it.”
She tilted her to the side, her eyes squinting from the sun. “How could it not? You’re worried what people will think or how you even fit into the equation. They’re going to ask uncomfortable questions. And I know you’re good with awkward—you can charm, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, but it flew free anyway. It reminded me of the first time I saw her at the Cove. She was irritated and lost, a beautiful woman trying to get her bearings. A woman whose view of the world changed mine almost instantly.
“And then there’s the toast,” she reminded me.
“Yeah, the toast. That one’s really got me up all night.” I laughed at the look in her eye.
“Don’t mock me, Blake. I’m the one person who knows how difficult the wedding is going to be for you.”
“It’s not going to be difficult. I am happy for Lea and Caleb. I am going to dance with the most gorgeous woman there. I am going to give one hell of a toast. And then you and I are going on our mooncation.”
“You don’t have to pretend for me.”
“Darlin’, I’m not pretending.” I looked at my watch. “I think we better head back to the house before the car service beats us.”
She stood on her toes, tugging my neck with her hands. “Ok, but kiss me on the beach. We’re not coming back for awhile.”
I dipped my head, taking her lips, pulling her into my arms. My mouth covered hers hot and urgent. My lust and love for her fired through my body. God, this girl could drive my crazy. My fingers snaked up the back of her shirt, eager to feel the softness of her skin.
“I love you, Aly.”
“Don’t stop,” she whispered.
“Never.” I pecked her check. “Now come on. I don’t want to be late.”
She rolled her eyes. “We have a private car and a chartered plane. Don’t they run on your schedule?”
Her fingers threaded through mine as we walked along the beach.
“So, you don’t have any pre-wedding jitters about you’re ex?”
I stopped, my feet dragging in the sand. “Who said anything to you about Holly?”
Alyson’s hands went to her hips. “Lea might have mentioned it. It slipped when we were talking about the wedding party lineup.”
My eyes narrowed. “She’s the maid of honor. I’m the best man. I can’t do much about it.”
“I know that. What about seeing her? Have you thought about it?”
“Once or twice, but not like what you’re implying. Our relationship never became serious.” I tried to think of how to phrase it so she would understand. “But it wouldn’t matter if I dated her for five years or five minutes.” I squeezed Alyson’s hand. “There’s only you. You are the girl flying to North Carolina with me. You are the girl I’m taking to the wedding. And you are the only girl I’m going to spend two weeks with in France on an aptly named mooncation.”
She grinned and suddenly I realized she hadn’t been jealous. “I like it when you say things like that.”
“You do, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I like words.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
I looked up at the condo windows as we crossed over the Escape boardwalk and passed Lea and Caleb’s blue beach shack.
“Do you think our mooncation trend is going to catch on?” She turned slightly as she pressed on the latch, unlocking the gate to our boardwalk.
The wooden slats were chipped and the decking needed a coat of stain, but Alyson wouldn’t let me touch it.
“It’s perfect like this.” She eyed me the day we moved into the house when she caught me making a list of improvements.
She grabbed the pad from my hand. “Old and dated is ok. This place has character. I thought that’s why you bought it.”
I shoved the pen in my pocket. “I bought it because the final condo sold at the Escape, leaving us homeless.” I saw the look in her eye. “And because you fell in love with it the instant the realtor unlocked the door.”
I had given in to the beach house, its crooked shutters, and the steps that creaked every time I climbed them. I chuckled to myself following Alyson up the stairs now.
“Let’s see. We are taking a honeymoon without getting married, but vacation is way too understated for what we’re going to be doing. I think more people will be mooncationing all over the place.” My hands immediately cupped her bottom as she bounded to the last step on the deck.
“I think I hear the doorbell.” She ran into the house before I could I could get my hands around her waist.
I walked inside, surprised when I saw we had guests.
“Blake,” Jennilee squealed before tackling my knees.
“Hey, tiger.” I wrestled her free then tossed her in the air.
“We’re going to sit on your house.”
I looked at her quizzically and laughed.
Bridget walked toward us. “Jennilee, it’s called house-sitting.”
“Oh.” The little girl giggled.
Alyson handed Bridget a pair of keys. “Thanks for looking after the house for us.”
“Not a problem. We’ll come by every day after school and collect the mail.”
I listened while Alyson doled out the instructions for the alarm and told Bridget the watering rotation for the tropical plants on the deck.
I crouched to the floor. “Jennilee, what do you want us to bring you from France?”
She scrunched her face together. “A purple kite. A big one.” Her hands spread wide, demonstrating she didn’t want anything small.
“Ok. I’ll see what I can do.”
Bridget pointed to the glass door. “I think I see the car service in the driveway.”
“Time to go.” I rolled the suitcases to the porch.
“I want to see those wedding pictures when you get back.” Bridget followed behind us.
“I’ll text some to you.” Alyson gave her a hug.
The driver met us at the top of the stairs and lugged the bags to the trunk. We left Bridget and Jennilee with the keys, standing at the top of the staircase. The girl waved as hard as she could.
My hand clasped Alyson’s as we pulled out of the driveway.
“I didn’t know they were house-sitting.”
“I forgot to mention it. Sorry. It seemed convenient since they only have to walk a few doors down from the Escape.”
“Makes sense to me.” I leaned into the seat. We had a forty-five minute ride to the airport. “You think they’re happy living there? I know they don’t have a yard or anything. And all their neighbors are over sixty-five.”
Alyson touched her finger to my lips.
“They love it. Letting her lease to own one of the condos was the best solution. An amazing solution.” She grinned. “You are brilliant sometimes.”
“Only sometimes?”
“And so humble about it.” She poked me in the ribs.
“Somebody’s gotta be, baby.”
I looked out the window as the car approached the bridge. On the other side was the resort construction site. The foundation was in. I couldn’t see it from the road, but I knew it was there.
We started to climb over the sound, the car carrying us to the other side. I reached in my pocket for my phone, but hesitated.
“Aly, I have something to show you.”
“What is it?” Her head was turned toward the opposite window. I had lost her to the October sun bouncing off the water.
I debated whether I should even mention the information I had, but I had sworn there wouldn’t be any more secrets between us. Even if what I had to tell her would hurt her.
“This came through a few minutes ago when Bridget was at the house.” I handed her my phone.
At first she didn’t react. She studied the file on my phone. She scrolled to the bottom.
Her eyes flashed to mine. “What does it mean? What does James say?”
There was a copy of a rental agreement signed by Marci P. and a few pictures James found on a neighbor’s social media account.
“The email from James says the pictures are three months old. He flew into Portland yesterday and interviewed the neighbors.”
“But she’s not there.” Her voice quieted.
“No, but he’s close, Aly. Closer than he’s ever been. My hope is that when we get back from France we’ll know where Kendal is.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “We’re really going to find them.”
“Yes. And make them safe. I swear to you. No one will go near your sister or Cami.”
She leaned against my chest, her hair tumbling over her shoulders and I couldn’t help but pull her into my lap. I needed to hold her, touch her, protect her.
“I’m glad you told me.”
I ran my fingers over her head and down her arm. “I promised you I would.”
She sat forward. “All these things you’ve done are because of me.”
“Yes. And I’d do them over again. No question.”
“You don’t regret any of it?” she asked, toying with the collar of my shirt.
I reacted to her fingertips on my skin. “No. My only regret right now is that we aren’t headed straight to France.”
She squirmed under my hands. “And miss the wedding?”
“We can go to others.” My hands massaged her lower back.
“I’m not missing it, or the chance to see you and Caleb in tuxes at the same time. It’s like a unicorn sighting. That’s probably only going to happen once…” She stopped, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.
I brushed my mouth over hers. “Or twice,” I growled. I kissed her hard. I wanted her to know I wouldn’t let her down. I would be there for her. I would love her. Make love to her. Fight with her. Make up with her. Kiss her when she needed to be kissed. Hold her when she had one of those days. Laugh with her. Cry with her when she couldn’t hold it together anymore. Share secrets. Share life. Damn it, I wanted her to know I loved her every way I knew how to love.
I smiled, folding her into my arms. Yes, there was only one way this was going to go from the beginning. Somewhere between the Cove and that sandy stretch of beach to the Escape, I had landed the deal of my life. An unexpected, earth-shattering deal.
The car deposited us on the tarmac next to the jet. I helped Alyson out of the car and led her up the staircase.
She looked around. “This is going to be amazing. I can’t believe we have our own plane.”
“You have no idea.” I ordered two glasses of champagne.
The flight attendant placed them on the table in front of us. We waited for the pilot to finish his pre-flight checks before we could leave Texas.
“I bet Lea is crazy nervous right now,” Alyson tilted the glass to her lips.
“Yeah, probably so.” I didn’t know what brides did the day before their weddings.
“What time do we land?” she asked.
“We’ll be there by two. Plenty of time before the rehearsal dinner.”
Her smile changed. I saw the way her eyes shifted to the door behind us. “Didn’t you promise me a proper introduction to private flying?” Her lips parted, her teeth edging over her lip enough to drive me crazy.
I looked around for the flight attendant. “Right now? Before we take off?”
She unbuckled her seat belt, crossing in front of me. Her hand trailing over my legs. “Let’s see if we can time it just right.” She winked. “Coming?”
And I knew then.
God help me, I was going to marry this woman.
###
Can’t get enough of bad boys? Follow me on my !
Want to meet another one of my sexy billionaire cowboys?
Keep reading for Bucking Wild.