Page 115 of Words of Love
Epilogue
One month later
Snow capped the mountains and tree branches like frosting on a cake. Sunlight glittered off the expanse of white, and the air was crisp and cold. Winter would soon give way to spring.
Brooke breathed the fresh air in deeply as she followed in Sam’s tracks to the front door of the Eagle’s Nest. They’d stolen away for a weekend together before she flew to New York the following week for staff meetings and to discuss her continuingLifelong Flingseries.
“Hold on a sec.” With a frown, Sam patted his pockets. “I can’t find the key.”
“Didn’t Felix leave one by the door?” Brooke looked around for the fake rock that had held the front door key.
“No, because I picked it up from him at the hardware store yesterday.” Sam scratched his head. “Last time I was here, he had a spare at the back door. I’ll go around and check.”
“I’ll grab our bags.”
He stomped through the snow around to the back of the cabin, while Brooke unloaded her travel bag and his duffle from the truck. She waited on the front porch, hoping they wouldn’t have to drive back to the ranger’s station to contact Felix.
After the four-hour drive, she was eager to start the weekend back at the place where her and Sam’s epic romance had started. All week, he’d been checking multiple different weather forecasts, but there was no chance of another storm. They’d both been a tad disappointed about that.
She glanced at her watch. He must be having trouble finding another key.
She traipsed back to the car to bring over more of their stuff. As she was carrying a case of lemon-cayenne iced tea to the front porch, the door opened. Sam stood in the foyer with lights glowing behind him.
“Oh, good, you found it.” Relieved, Brooke handed over the case of tea. “You got the generator going already, too?”
“I did, indeed.” For some reason, he appeared inordinately proud of his efficiency. He set the tea on the bench in the foyer and picked up her travel bag and his duffle. “Let’s get this stuff in. I’ll unload the food later.”
Brooke followed him inside and closed the door. The woodsmoke scent of a fire curled through the air.
“You already built a—” She stopped, her eyes widening.
A blanket fort made up of multiple colorful blankets and quilts filled a large part of the main room. Dozens of fairy lights decorated the top and sides, with more strings draped over the loft railing and around the windows. A fire burned cheerfully in the fireplace, filling the room with a warm, flickering glow.
“Oh, Sam.” She brought her hand to her chest as tears blurred her eyes. “It’s beautiful. When did you do this?”
He grinned. “I came up last weekend to get it set up so all I’d have to do was turn on the generator and light the fire.”
After they’d taken off their boots and parkas, Sam turned off the overhead lights. He took her hand and led her around to the front of the fort.
The flaps were open to reveal the interior, where a fluffy mattress was piled high with animal-shaped pillows, pattered bedspreads and comforters, and huge, soft Indian-print cushions. More fairy lights twinkled around the border of the ceiling, and a tray held all the important supplies—popcorn, cookies, hot cocoa, animal crackers, board games, and romance novels.
“This is incredible.” With a laugh, Brooke crawled inside and flopped back against the cloud-like pillows. “Thank you so much. I love it.”
He came in after her and closed the flaps behind him. Then they were enclosed in their own private, softly lit world—which was still the way they both liked it the most.
Slowly, however, Sam had been easing out of his solitary lifestyle. After the Book Fair, he’d started helping out with The Reading Project, and he’d agreed to host several local author book signings at Title Wave.
He’d donated books to raffles for the Vitaphone’s film series, and he’d told Brooke he planned to anonymously fund an expansion of the elementary school library. He didn’t want to do things for attention or acclaim, and he’d never run for town council, but he had his own quiet way of showing he cared about the town they both called home.
Brooke had moved into his rental house as she worked out negotiations for her job’s new structure, while also interviewing Bliss Cove residents for herLifelong Flingseries. Sam had started outlining the plot—and the romance—of the next John Kane book, while continuing to open Title Wave in-between writing and boxing.
They balanced intimate dinners at home with nights out at the Mousehole or a club. Sam had come with her to her father’s birthday party, he’d taken to having the occasional beer with Charlie, and he’d joined Jake and Hunter for pool a couple of times.
Brooke had never been so happy. Their days were busy, their nights were hot and tender, and neither of them was in a hurry to figure out what happened next. They were both too busy enjoyingnow.
Sam settled back against the pillows beside her. Instinctively, she curled against his strong body and rested her head on his chest.
“As much as I love living in Bliss Cove, I think this cabin will always be my favorite place forus.” She stroked her hand over his abdomen.