“I’m not sending you back,” he said with a grin. “Not ever. I love you so much.”
“I love you so much. Kiss me, Drake.”
He didn’t hesitate. He pulled her up so that she was almost all the way off her feet and he covered her warm, soft mouth with his. She parted her sweet lips, and he let his tongue taste them first before delving into her mouth. Her tongue came up and met his as the passionate kiss went on and on. The only reason they broke was for air, and given half the chance, both of them would have passed on that. Breathless and struggling to get his voice back, Drake smiled and said, “I think Mac is waking up.”
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
The afternoon air was cold, but there was no wind or rain. It was a perfect fall day, and the trees that surrounded the bright-green meadow were on fire. The gold and scarlet and burnt-orange leaves licked at the sky overhead as they swayed in the gentle breeze. They were nature’s decoration for the celebration that was happening tonight. An entire community had come together to celebrate the union of two souls underneath the Harvest Moon.
As the wedding march began to play, Sophie stood at the back and looked up at the altar. Brooke was there, her maid of honor. She’d become good friends with the other woman over the past year. They had bonded over their love for Drake but found they had much more than that in common day by day.
Sam was there, standing alongside Drake. Her beautiful fiancé was wearing a light-brown suit that contrasted beautifully with his dark eyes. He was fidgeting with his tie and looking nervous. Sophie smiled, and she felt her heart speed up. They’d both made the inn their home over the past year, and Drake had become an intricate part of the day-to-day affairs of it. Their first winter open had been a roaring success as the tourists had descended like crazy for the snow-covered mountains, the fresh air of the country, and the hospitality of an inn that was rapidly gaining a countrywide reputation for being the best.
“Are you ready, pretty girl?”
Sophie looked down at Mac. He was dressed in the same color suit as his nephew, and he looked so handsome. Drake had wanted him to be his best man, but Sophie had stolen him to walk her down the aisle. He’d fought through his recovery like a champ and after he’d gotten stronger, Drake had taken him up to see the kits, who were nearly grown but still acted like they knew him. When he got home, Brenda had presented him with a puppy that she told him they could share custody of. The two of them had become really close friends, and every time Sophie saw them together, she knew she had one more thing to be grateful for.
She glanced up and saw her beautiful mother in the front, standing and looking in her direction. This was a day that Sophie hadn’t been sure would ever come, but Brenda had always known. Sophie only hoped that one day she could be half the mother that hers had been.
She took Mac’s hand and said, “I am so ready. Let’s get this happily ever after started.” He smiled at her and pushed the button on his new electric chair. He and Brenda had begun taking walks every day, spending time at the library, and picking apples together. He needed something a little faster to keep up with her, and his nephew had been more than happy to provide him with it.
As Sophie walked toward her future, she looked at her fiancé’s gorgeous face, and she knew for sure that everything she would ever need lived right there in his smile.
~ The End ~
Want to read more about the people of Brook Haven? Please give book two a try, October Kiss.
About the Author
Charlene Bright is the author of several contemporary western romance novels. She’s a lifelong resident of the American South and currently residents in southern Oklahoma on a family-owned cattle ranch. She greets each morning with a hot cup of coffee and an optimistic smile. Traveling to America’s national parks is her favorite pastime. You can find out more about Charlene and her books at Charlene Bright.
Harvest Moon (Brook Haven Romance Book 1) Page 13