Mason, because Coop would be coming with me to LA for a week and Mason didn’t like to fly—not even in private planes.
I did another check on the house and staff lodge, making sure everything was ready for whatever came next at Mistletoe Lodge, then Coop and I grabbed our luggage and loaded my rental car. It was such a domestic thing to do, it sent a shiver through me. Was I really ready for this kind of domesticity? Was I really ready to settle with one man?
And then, I had to laugh, because it wasn’t settling. It wasn’t settling at all.
As we stood by the car and stared at the beautiful lodge, all noble and silent and bathed in a sprinkling of snow, he put his arms around me and held me, and I realized what this really was.
It was my fairy tale.
And it had come true.
Would we make it this time?
If I had to guess, I’d say, damn straight we would.
Damn fricking straight.
Epilogue
Two Weeks Later
Coop woke me up with a big sloppy kiss on Sunday morning. After a couple weeks at my place, I’d come up to visit him in Seattle. I loved his big comfy bed and flannel sheets. Mostly, I liked the way he warmed them.
I knew by now to expect him to wake up early and bring me coffee when he got tired of being alone, so the big sloppy kiss was kind of a surprise, but it was nice.
Except his breath. His breath was terrible.
I was about to tell him to go and brush, when, from the doorway, he bellowed, “Mason, stop that.”
I opened my eyes to see a gaping maw right before my eyes. Big teeth. Lolling tongue. Really bad breath.
Egads.
“Get off the bed.” Coop hauled the great beast to the floor and sat down beside me with my coffee. I took it and sipped. Moaned. It was good.
And then, once my brain kicked in, “I can’t believe your dog just French kissed me.”
He grinned. “At least he likes you.”
I sighed and studied the Rottie. “I think he misses Lola.”
“Maybe I should get a Chihuahua.”
I made a face. “Not if I’m going to live here!” During the past week I’d pitched my ideas for expanded staff training to the Grimm brothers, the owners of Eden Inc., and they’d loved the idea. Since the trainings could take place anywhere, I suggested we set up headquarters in Seattle. They’d agreed.
So, yeah. I was moving.
To Seattle.
And I had a new job!
Before this, the thought would have horrified me. Leaving my home? My job? My world? No way. I was, to be frank, in one hell of a rut. I hadn’t been unhappy, but I sure as hell hadn’t been happy. I’d been with someone, but always felt alone. I’d been marking time, and that’s no way to live a life.
But now I had a reason to make a change.
Now I had Cooper.
We were definitely a thing. A thing that could really last.
Not to mention, the new position had a nicer paycheck…
During the week at my place, when I worked, he lounged around the pool. When I came home, he was there.
I’d never had someone to come home to before.
I liked it.
I liked it a lot.
I especially liked that the two of us chose to stay together.
When I chose him. Chose Seattle.
It wouldn’t be easy and I would have some large adjustments to make…
Most specifically, “No Chihuahua.”
“Okay,” he said with a sly grin. “We’ll see.”
This, I did not dignify with a response.
He leaned back on the pillow and looked at me. Just looked at me, until I said, “What?”
He shrugged. “I’m just happy, Vic.”
“I’m happy too.” Not trite in the least.
Wow. How’d that happen?
“I mean, we’re together again.” He lifted his arm and I cuddled in. “I can’t tell you how freaking…happy that makes me.”
“Me too.”
He held me for a long while. Just held me.
I reveled in every second.
Then he kissed me on the nose and asked, “So, Vic. What did you think about your blast from the past? Being back at Mistletoe Lodge? Being one of the shrubbery people again?”
Egads. What did I think? About all of it?
Herding my staff and sleeping in a crowded bunk for a week? Mason’s farts all night long?
“It was terrible,” I told him. “I loved every minute.”
And it was true.
THE END
About the Author
Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous romances. She loves writing in all genres and sub-genres so her books range from sweet & snarky to scorching hot. And occasionally snarky and hot at the same time. Whatevs. You get the point. Thar be snark in them thar books! Consider yourself warned.
Whether your jam is hot Highlanders; suave, urbane (and naughty) Dukes, scorching hot SEALs in action, sexy stripper Cowboys (at the Stud Ranch) or a hot, horny guy trapped for centuries in a magical lamp… Sabrina has something for you! Check out excerpts for all her books at SabrinaYork.Com.
Sabrina’s recent accolades include: 2018 Holt Medallion Winner, 2017 RITA® Nominee for Susana and the Scot, and 2017 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.
Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Who knows? You might win a tiara. Represented by Nicole Rescinti with the Seymour Agency.
VIP NEWSLETTER?
Hey, kids! Join my VIP newsletter list—and receive 2 free books (Rebound and Dark Fancy) to see if you like my contemporary or historical styles—at Sabrinayork.com/gift. I promise, I only reach out when I have news you want to hear about a coming book or tiara giveaway. Please tell your friends. It is my solemn belief that everyone on this planet should have at least one tiara. I humbly do what little I can to contribute to that kind of utopia. Sigh. If only more people knew about my books and my tiara mission. Please do share the word. HELP SABRINA BLING THE WORLD! (Or at least my corner of it!)
You can also connect with me here:
Social Media Links & Connections
VIP Newsletter: http://sabrinayork.com/newsletter/
VIP Newsletter and 2 free books: http://sabrinayork.com/gift/
Website: http://sabrinayork.com/
Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooks
Twitter @sabrina_york https://twitter.com/sabrina_york
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817917.Sabrina_York
Pinterest boards: http://www.pinterest.com/sabrinayork/boards/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sabrina-york
Facebook VIP Chat Room: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SabrinaYorkChatAndContests/
Come and play!
BOOKS by Sabrina York
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
James Patterson BookShots
Bedding the Highlander
Noble Passions Series
Friends and enemies tangle in the dark underbelly and High Tea Rooms of Regency London. Och, aye. And Scotland too!
Dark Fancy, Book 1
Dark Duke, Book 2
Brigand, Book 3
Defiant, Book 4
Folly, Book 5
Waterloo Heroes Series
Can Love Heal a Wounded Heart?
Tarnished Honor, Book 1
Call of the Wild Wind, Book 2
Untamed Highlanders Series
Hot Highlanders and Independent Lasses
Hannah and the Highlander, Book 1
Susana and the Scot, Book 2
Lana and the Laird, Book 3
Say Yes to the Scot Anthology
The Highlander Is All That, Book 4
What a Highlander’s Got to Do, Book 5
The Dundragon Time Travel Trilogy
Laird of Her Heart, Book 1
Her Hot Highlander Book 2 (Coming Soon)
His Highland Lass Book 3 (Coming Soon)
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Wired Series
Office Hijinks are seriously off limits. Seriously!
Adam’s Obsession, Book 1
Tristan’s Temptation, Book 2
Making Over Maris, Book 3
Elite Metal
Action Adventure Romance
Sterling’s Seduction—Elite Metal
Lithium’s Rescue—Elite Ghosts
Cesium’s Capture—Elite Elements
Stone Hard SEALs
Action Adventure Romance
STONE HARD SEALS FULL COLLECTION
Stone Hard SEALs (Action-Packed Military Romance Duet) Book 1 & 2
Guard Dog, Book 3
Herding Cat, Book 4
Hot Rod, Book 5
Gun Shy, Book 6
Whipped (Contemporary Romance)
Stripped Down Cowboys (And Prequel Novellas)
Come visit the Stud Ranch! Yee Haw.
Prequel Novellas
The Real McCoy Prequel Book 1
Come Hell or High Water Prequel Book 2
Protect and Serve Prequel Book 3
Novels
Stud For Hire, Book 1
Cowboy to Command, Book 2
Spurred On, Book 3
Tryst Island Series
Steamy Contemporary Romance Series about friends & lovers
Rebound Book 1
Dragonfly Kisses Book 2
Smoking Holt Book 3
Heart of Ash Book 4
Devlin’s Dare Book 5
Parker’s Passion Book 6
Stand Alone Kickass Romance
Heartbreak on a Stick (Trope-tastic Contemporary Romance)
Pool Man (Sexy Vacation Debacle)
Fierce (One Night Stand Series, Decadent Publishing)
Snow Angels (Calendar Men Series, Publishing)
PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Wicked Enchantment
Trickery
COLLECTIONS & ANTHOLOGIES
Say Yes to the Scot (Historical Romance)
Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge (Contemporary Romance)
Dukes by the Dozen (Historical Romance)
Something Completely Different?
As in Sabrina’s Evil Twin Writes a Space Opera?
Check out The Viridian Convict, by Sam York
(Readers recommend reading the glossary first)