by Melody Anne
“It’s what I need,” she told him. She wanted to think.
Everyone came up and wished her well; then finally Eden was alone. She didn’t know what would come next. But for now she’d give her body a little bit of time to heal, and perhaps that would clear her mind and heart as well.
Maybe then she’d get answers as to what would come next in her life.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chaz had come down the mountain covered in soot and burns, all his hair gone, while there was still a search team looking for him. He’d raised his gun and basically initiated a suicide-by-cop. He wouldn’t be a threat to anyone ever again. He also wouldn’t be giving them any answers as to whom he’d been reporting.
Many people wondered how someone who had seemed so successful, who seemed to have his entire life together, could commit such a monstrous act. They never would get their answers. Owen figured it all came down to drugs. They drew a person in, and they never let go. It was tragic.
He wiped sweat from his brow. There was still danger out there, but it was growing weaker. They were on the winning team, and they’d get their town back soon.
It had been two weeks since that day in the hospital, two excruciatingly long weeks. Eden had been released, then told him she needed to take care of some things. She’d left town. He’d gotten only a few text messages from her the entire time. But Roxie assured him he needed to give her space to figure things out on her own. He’d taken ten years to pull his life together. The least he could do was give Eden a couple of weeks.
Even if his love life was a disaster right now, his work life was going a lot better. The winds had died down, and they’d gotten a couple of strong rainstorms, and now the fire was 98 percent contained. They’d finally gotten it under control, and even though Edmonds had a new view in many directions, the town was safe, and the air was beginning to clear.
Nature had a way of cleaning itself up. He had no doubt the phoenix was going to be rising from the ashes all over the Cascade Range. This time next year, new trees would be peppering the hills, and grass would be a soft carpet for visitors. This was why he loved fighting fires, to save the land and people’s property. It was hard work, but he was always awed and humbled by the end result.
Owen had to force his mind back to his current situation. Even though the fire was contained, there was still a lot of work to be done, and all the men were exhausted. There were other things going on in his town as well that scared the hell out of Owen.
Chaz had been a lunatic, a man out for vengeance, but the evidence they’d found in his place had shown the scope of this ring he’d been a part of. That drug cartel had taken the lives of good men, had nearly taken the life of his sister-in-law, Keera, had nearly taken the life of the woman he loved, and had destroyed the land he’d grown up on. His brother Declan was more uptight than usual because he’d yet to catch the ringleader and put a stop to the mess.
They’d get the bad guy. It was only a matter of time, but right now Owen couldn’t focus on that. By the end of each night, he barely managed to stumble back to the station, where he crashed on one of the cots.
He had to figure out if he was going to build a new home or buy one. He loved his land, though, and most likely would build. That just meant he didn’t know where he was going to go in the meantime. That decision rested a lot on Eden. He didn’t care where he was as long as she was with him.
On this particular night, he decided to visit Declan. His brother was in his den when Owen arrived. The two sat for a while in silence as they drank a cold beer and watched the flickering flames in Declan’s fireplace.
It was odd, because he should have been sick to death of fire, but a contained one in a hearth was soothing.
“When are you going to propose to the girl?” Declan asked after they’d sat in silence for a while.
“I’d do it right this minute if she’d come home,” Owen told him.
Declan let out a sound that some might have thought was a groan but that Owen knew was a chuckle. It was almost a scary sound, but Owen and the rest of the family were getting used to it.
“Throw her over your shoulder, and don’t take no for an answer,” Declan told him.
This time it was Owen who was laughing. “Aren’t you FBI?” he asked.
“So?” Declan said.
“Isn’t that considered kidnapping?” he pointed out.
Declan waved his hand. “Only if the girl doesn’t want to be captured,” he assured him.
“I’m pretty sure she wants to be caught,” Owen said.
“You two have been in love for as long as I can remember. It seems all of you guys are falling in love. I’m going to be the only bachelor,” Declan said. Owen was surprised by the note of bitterness in his brother’s words.
“You don’t have to be,” Owen told him. “I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some sparks between you and Angela.”
Declan glared at him. “She’s a mom, and she has no business with someone like me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Owen asked, slightly irritated. “I think you’re far too hard on yourself. She’d be lucky to have you.” He didn’t like it when anyone put down a member of his family, even if the one slinging the insults was a member of his family speaking about himself.
“I’ve got too many skeletons in my closet,” Declan told him. There suddenly seemed to be a sadness to his brother he’d never seen before.
“I hope you’ll tell us about it someday. I think it would help,” Owen said.
“I will,” Declan told him. Owen wasn’t surprised. Declan would talk when the time came.
They chatted for a while longer, then Declan stood. “Use the guesthouse on the back of the property. You’ll have privacy, and you can stay until you build your new place.”
“That sounds just about perfect,” Owen said, feeling relieved. He hadn’t thought of that, but it was a good idea. It was a place he could bring Eden where she’d feel comfortable.
Declan threw him a key, then left the room. Owen now had nothing to do but wait. He hoped it wouldn’t be for too long.
They think they’ve won.
Fury rushed through the man’s body in waves so intense he found his heart thundering and his veins burning. They’d taken everything from him, and he wasn’t sure how to strike back at them. Everything he’d tried so far had failed.
Looking through his high-powered lens, he watched as Declan approached the maid Arden Forbes employed. She had her child with her and was standing in front of the café she worked at part-time. Declan stood close to her—protectively close. A person walked by the three of them and nearly bumped into the kid, and Declan quickly swooped the boy up in his arms, cradling him close to his chest.
The maid looked at Declan as if he was her hero.
The man on the hill above the town smiled. His fury dissipated as a plan began forming in his mind.
Declan had a weak point.
And he had a way in. They all thought he’d died long ago. But he was a man not easily killed. He was a man used to hiding in the shadows. And he had history with Declan’s love interest . . . history with her and with the boy. He had more history than any of them could possibly imagine. It was about to all come around in one beautiful circle.
A smile replaced the scowl the man had been wearing. He knew how to get his revenge. He knew exactly where to strike to make the entire Forbes family bleed.
“I’m Mario Vasquez, and I take no prisoners,” he said aloud. It was time to finish what he’d begun.
Chapter Forty
Eden found herself smiling as she came back to town. She didn’t know why it had taken her three weeks to realize the heart knows what the heart wants. The past didn’t matter anymore. It was all about the future. And her future wouldn’t be complete without Owen Forbes as a part of it.
She sent him a short text as she rolled into town, telling him to meet her at the dock. She had no doubt he’d be there. She should’ve called him, s
hould’ve told him more, especially after making him wait what had to feel like an eternity. But she’d had to do that. She didn’t want him to think she was only staying with him because of the situation they’d been in together.
A lot of relationships that began in highly intense situations fizzled out when the adrenaline was gone and the people realized they had nothing to sustain them. But what Eden had failed to realize was that she and Owen had something so much deeper than one moment. They had years. Not all of that time had been good, but no matter what, she’d loved him, and she knew he’d always loved her. That would be enough. Love truly would get them through a lifetime together.
Her passenger gave a yelp of excitement, and Eden turned, smiling as she reached out and scratched the four-year-old black-and-white boxer’s scruffy head. She didn’t have a home, didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but on her journey of finding herself, she’d managed to walk into a shelter. The moment she’d looked into Scooter’s eyes, she’d known they belonged together.
“We’re almost home, Scooter,” she told him.
His tongue flopped from his mouth as he looked at her with total adoration. They’d found each other, and she had no regrets.
She reached her property, glad she was the first to arrive. She didn’t have to put a leash on Scooter, as he didn’t let her more than a few feet out of his sight, so she let him out of the car, and the two of them walked down to her dock and looked out at the peaceful view of the water. The smoke was gone, the winds taking the final tendrils that had been hanging around far away. The smell of burning trees still hung in the air, but that was fading, too. Soon, no one would even know there’d been a deadly fire there, threatening their town.
Soon life could get back to normal.
Rolling up her pant legs and tossing her shoes aside, Eden sat on the dock, immediately feeling at peace as she stuck her feet in the refreshing water. Once Scooter was assured she wasn’t going anywhere, he explored the water’s edge and began marking as many places as possible. They were both relieved to be out of the car.
She was tuned in to the sound of Owen’s arrival and knew the minute he’d parked his truck. Her heart began thumping. There wasn’t a single doubt in her mind he’d accept what she was offering, but she still found herself nervous. It was silly and irrational, but so were a lot of things in life.
She felt him before she saw him. Turning her gaze from the beautiful view of the sun beginning to set over the water, Eden watched as Owen made his way down the trail to her dock. At the sight of a new person, Scooter rushed to her side and sat there, definitely trying to decide if this man was friend or foe.
Her heart stopped for a few moments, before it started beating like a sledgehammer. She’d missed him so much. There was no way she could go endless amounts of time without being with him, not when she knew he wanted her. Those days were behind them. It was time to grow up, stop playing games neither of them knew they were playing, and open their hearts. She could do that. She knew he could, as well.
She loved him. It really was as simple as that.
Love. What a tiny word for such a massive emotion with so many facets to it. Not even the brightest of the bright would ever figure out why or how love happened. At the end of the day, it was something a person had to take a leap of faith on. She guessed she was back to believing in fate.
Owen drew closer, and each step he took made her feel as if she was becoming a little bit more whole by the second. He truly was her other half, and without him she never quite felt right, never felt complete.
“Looks like you found a friend,” Owen said as he looked down at Scooter, who looked as if he hadn’t made a decision about Owen yet.
“This is Scooter. I’ve adopted him,” she said, laying a protective hand on him.
“I like him,” Owen said with a smile. She let out a relieved breath. Scooter seemed to do the same, as he relaxed. She didn’t have a chance to say anything else before Owen continued speaking. “I’ve missed you.” His words were quiet and intense at the same time.
And just like that, Eden couldn’t stand not to touch him. She stood and rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck, nearly knocking them both over. It was a good thing Owen was so strong, or they probably would’ve ended up in the lake. Scooter chased after her and whined at their feet, unsure of this new development.
Owen didn’t hesitate as his lips met hers, the kiss so hot it nearly burned them both. It was several moments before she was able to break away, her skin tingling, and his eyes burning with a light that made her want to forget all about talking.
She reached up and caressed his cheek, loving the feel of his five-o’clock shadow, loving how strong his jaw was, but loving the light in his eyes above anything else. How could she ever doubt her emotions for this man? She’d been a fool.
“I missed you, too,” she said, then giggled. “Obviously.”
“Are you back to stay?” he asked. She loved that he was trying to hold back, that he was trying to give her the space she’d asked for. It made her love him that much more.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised, and saw relief in his eyes.
“I love you, Eden.” He spoke the words almost defiantly, as if daring her to tell him not to say it. She had before. She never would again.
“I love you too, Owen,” she said with ease.
His arms tightened around her, and his lips crashed against hers as his hands molded to her back. It was a very long time before he stopped, leaving them both out of breath and about to be in trouble for indecent exposure if they continued. She pulled back, her thumb rubbing over his bottom lip, which was swollen and red from her teeth.
“I carried the past as armor for too long. We were just kids. We’re all grown up now, and I love you and trust you,” she said.
He looked at her with such adoration, she knew she’d made the right decision. There was no longer anything that could keep the two of them apart. It made her happier than she’d ever been.
“If I hadn’t hurt you, you wouldn’t have had anything to fear. I won’t bring it up again, but this final time I’ll tell you I’m sorry. You’re the most important person in my life, have always been. I want to give you the world, give you those babies you want, and be by your side when we’re old and gray,” he said.
She sighed as she reached up and kissed his jaw. He suddenly picked her up, and she let out a giggle, forgetting all about her shoes as he carried her up the trail. Scooter was running circles around his legs, and Owen spoke softly to the dog, assuring him everything would be okay. Scooter seemed to understand him and calmed down as he stayed right on his heels. Eden was confused when they reached his truck and she found a chair sitting beside it.
He set her in it, then dropped to his knee and reached into his pocket. Tears instantly filled her eyes. Scooter’s head twisted back and forth between them.
“I’ve carried this around for years,” he admitted, and she believed him, as half the velvet had been rubbed off the box. That only made it that much more beautiful to her. When he opened the lid, she couldn’t stop her gasp. The box might have been damaged, but the diamond inside sparkled as the setting sun hit it.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life cherishing you, loving you, and being your equal partner. I can’t promise we’ll never argue, but I can assure you you’ll always win. There’s nothing I’m not willing to do for you, and I know you feel the same. Let’s start over right here, right now. And let’s ride off into eternity together. Marry me,” he said.
She could barely see through her tears. She could barely speak as she watched him tremble before her. But she knew this was the most perfect moment of her life. She knew this was right.
“Oh, Owen, it will be my honor to marry you, to carry your name, to be your wife and the mother of your kids,” she said, amazed she was able to get the words out.
The sun sank below the horizon as he slipped the ring on her finger; then she jumped into his arms
, knocking them both over. Scooter joined in, and Eden realized her life was so beautifully good. They had to put Scooter up in the truck after a while because they didn’t want any interference. They made love right there in the shadow of his truck, with the stars twinkling down on them.
When they were finished, Eden looked up and made a wish, knowing without a doubt it would come true. Fate had a funny way of working, but she was discovering it truly did always get its way.
Chapter Forty-One
There was never a more perfect time than the end of summer in Washington State. The breeze cooled the air just enough to make the sun’s hot rays feel good on the skin, and the water was finally warm enough to touch. It wouldn’t last long, but it was enough to make any ills fade away.
Eden was trying to figure out what her next step in life was going to be. There was no way she could go back and sit in a stuffy office five days a week, not after spending time investigating the arson and feeling what it was like to have freedom and responsibility.
She had loved her job for a while, but now she knew it was time for a new adventure. She just wasn’t sure what that would be. Even knowing it was time to move on, she found she had a difficult time saying goodbye to Sal, her boss. A few tears might have been shed—and they weren’t just hers.
Eden stepped outside, her bag hung over her shoulder, and when she looked up, she was stopped dead in her tracks. She blinked a couple of times and found herself grinning as she faced Owen in his worn blue jeans, black T-shirt, and baseball cap . . . leaning against a shiny black Lamborghini Reventón, Scooter happily sitting at his feet.
She approached slowly, afraid to even touch the $1.4 million car. Apparently Owen didn’t have the same problem, since he was leaning against it, unafraid that his raggedy jeans might scratch it.
“What in the world are you doing?” she asked, unable to take her eyes away from the beautiful car.