“I know you inside and out, Chase Stone. I knew there was no rogue killer living inside you.”
“And that’s another of the million reasons I love you.”
She looked up at me. “I love you, too. And all the crap we had to go through to get here was worth it, just to be in your arms and to hear you say those words.”
I nodded. “Now that I have you again, I’m never letting you go.” I squeezed her tightly and she squeezed me right back.
“You better not. Or I’m gonna go rogue on your butt.”
I laughed. “If I ever let you go, I’ll deserve that.”
We danced together in silence for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence. It felt so good to be with her without the shadow of the past looming over me. I was finally free of all the guilt and the pain. I was no longer stuck agonizing over what might have been. I could finally look forward to the future. A future with Holly at my side.
“I just wish ten years of our lives hadn’t been stolen from us,” she said, almost like she’d read my thoughts.
“It’s a long time, but I think we can make up for it. Starting now.”
I took her hand and led her away from the party. We had a celebration of our own to attend. Just the two of us.
Epilogue
I watched from the front porch of our new home as Zoe and Colton pulled up the winding driveway. One of the benefits of being allotted a house in Sky Valley territory was that even though we had a secluded plot far enough from the main estate to afford us privacy, I got to be close enough to see my sister regularly.
Zoe stepped out of the car wearing a bright yellow dress that rippled in the breeze. Colton wore a button up shirt and trousers. We wanted to keep things casual today. Simple.
My father got out of the back seat. Of course, he wore a suit. That was about as casual as Mason Winters ever got.
Zoe rushed up to me and gave me a hug. “Oh, my God, I’m so excited.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said.
Zoe let go of me. “Are you kidding? Like I would miss this?”
Colton climbed the porch steps, his boots clomping over the wooden planks. “Well, Holly Winters, you look absolutely beautiful today.”
“Thank you, Colton. But I won’t be Holly Winters for much longer.”
He smiled. “No, I suppose you won’t.” He held a brightly wrapped gift in his hands and he passed it over to me. “Just a little something in celebration of today.”
“I appreciate it.”
He looked around at the quiet surroundings, devoid of people other than us four. “You know, if you’d gone for a bigger wedding, you’d have gotten a lot more gifts.”
Chase walked out the front door to stand beside me. “No, thanks. The last big wedding we went to almost got me lynched.” He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him.
Zoe smiled. “That’s true, but it also got you two lovebirds back together. So, it was kind of a win.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Chase said.
My father walked up to the foot of the stairs. “You look radiant, honey.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
He clapped his hands together. “So, are we ready to do this or what?”
I glanced at Chase and he nodded. “I’ve been waiting a very long time to make this lovely woman my wife.”
We moved as a group to stand beneath an ancient oak tree beside the house. Its branches towered over us like a canopy. Like everything today, it was simple and uncomplicated. This was about Chase and me joining together. We didn’t need the ceremony or the huge celebration. All we needed was each other and the people we cared about most in the world. It was perfect.
Chase stood in front of me with Colton at his side. Zoe moved next to me. My father settled in front of us.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” my father began. “We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman as husband and wife.”
“Dad!” I said, interrupting him.
“What?” he asked, blinking at me.
“I asked you to keep this simple. Just speak from the heart.”
He nodded slowly, his eyes lost in thought. “Well, I’m not one for big speeches, but I’ll do my best. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. It’s hard to admit that, but it’s the truth. My biggest regret was ever thinking that Chase Stone and my Holly shouldn’t be together. Fortunately, fate has a way of outsmarting even foolish old men like me.”
“It brings me great joy that you’ve asked me to conduct your wedding ceremony. It’s an honor. I couldn’t be prouder of my daughter for how she’s grown, and I couldn’t be happier that she didn’t listen to me about Chase. The two of you will have a long and happy life together. But you all didn’t come here to listen to me. Chase, you’ve prepared some vows.”
Chase nodded. He turned to me and took my hands in his. His eyes gazed deeply into mine.
“Holly Winters, my heart has belonged to you since the day we met. Back then, I was a lost child and you showed me kindness, comfort and warmth and allowed your soul to shine through. We have been tested by so many things, but through it all, one thing has remained constant. My love for you. I am forever grateful we found our way back to each other. I know to the very depths of my being that we were meant to be together and I promise to spend the rest of my life trying to be the man you deserve—and I promise to never leave your side again.”
My heart swelled with joy at his words. I forced myself not to cry as Chase slid a ring over my finger.
“Holly, your vows,” my father said.
“Chase Stone, you are the other half of my heart. My life is not complete without you in it. I have loved you since we met, even when I hated you.” He smiled at that. “It was a rough journey that got us here, but that just proves that our bond is stronger than anything the world can throw at us—as long as we weather it together. You are my love, my life, and my always and never again will we part.”
Chase blinked back tears. I placed the ring on his finger, binding us for the rest of our lives.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” my father said. “You may kiss the bride.”
Chase swept me off my feet and spun me in the air, kissing me long and deep, a kiss that held our promise of forever.
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