Page 78 of Chosen

“I’m really happy you’re staying in Roanoke, Sam,” he started. “I’m… really happy you decided to give us a chance like this. I promise, I’m not going to let you down.”

“I never thought you would. Not for a second.” I smiled over at him. “I don’t think that’s even possible, anyway. Not when things feel so right between us. Not when I know…”

Nervousness suddenly gripped me by the throat, the words I wanted to say stopping short of coming out of my mouth.

“When you know what, Sam?”

“When I know that you’re the one for me,” I murmured. “When I know that you’re the one I’m supposed to be with for the rest of my life.”

“That’s how I feel about you, too, Sam.” Damon’s hand found mine, his fingers locking against mine. “I feel like… like my life is finally starting now that I met you. Like things are finally falling into place.”

Damon gave my hand a final squeeze before he brought it back to the steering wheel, starting up the engine. A few moments later and we were headed down the road, headed down a new adventure together, the great unknown spreading out in front of us.

Even so, I wasn’t scared. Not with Damon by my side.

Because I knew no matter how rough the roads got, how dark things seemed around us, he’d be there as my guiding light, my shining star.

My Mountain Man who’d protect me with his everything, with his life.

The missing piece of my heart who’d keep me safe through it all.

20

DAMON

EPILOGUE

“You’re late,” Jacob said plainly, as I walked into Wild Woods HQ. He didn’t even look up from the paperwork on the front desk, seemingly enthralled in whatever he’d been so closely reading.

“I’m not late,” I replied. “I was just checking the perimeter. You can check the cameras if you want but I was definitely on site at the right time.”

“I trust you.” Jacob cracked a smile before he looked up at me. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t slipping into your honeymoon phase with Sam. I know how falling in love can make people forgetful.”

“Thanks for being so concerned about my emotional and mental state,” I joked, before walking up to the desk. “Anything new I should know about?”

“Actually, something came for you last night!” Parker beamed as he came up to meet me at the desk, a package already in his hands. “It was after hours, so you were already home with your beloved, but the rest of us single people had time to hang around.”

“What is up with you two and talking about my relationship?” I playfully scoffed. “What happened to spending your free time gossiping about the guests, Parker? And Jacob, what happened to hounding me about spreadsheets?”

“I still have a few spreadsheets to hound you about. Don’t worry.” Jacob lightly chuckled.

“And I still have some gossip to spread but that’s not as important as this,” Parker said, pushing the package into my grip. “Open it! I’ve been dying to know what’s in there since last night.”

I placed the package on the desk as I started to open it up, Parker’s eyes basically glued to my every move. A few seconds later, and the package’s wrapping paper was on the floor, a pricey box of chocolates now revealed.

“Ooh la la!” Parker started. “Is that a package from your beau?”

“I hate you both,” I murmured, even as a smile spread across my face. Of course, the package was from Sam, a thoughtful gift to help get me through the day. I’d mentioned a few nights ago that I was craving something like this, the kind of chocolate that could only be found in fancy gift packages.

I couldn’t deny that Sam being this level of sweet had an impact on me, even as I tried my best to hide my growing grin around Parker and Jacob.

“I think it’s really sweet, actually,” Jacob said. “How much he cares about you.”

“I think it’s sweet, too,” Parker added, with a smirk. “Even if I’m never going to stop giving you shit for it. I mean, you literally turned a customer into a non-customer. Sam’s never going to have to pay to stay at a Wild Woods property ever again. I don’t know how Jacob is even still letting you work here, really.”

“You know, you two really paint me out to be a lot more severe than I actually am,” Jacob said, his attention back on the paperwork in front of him. “I think I’m a pretty understanding guy, if you ask me.”

“Did he just—did you just—” Parker started and stopped his sentence, a look of pure shock taking over his expression. “Jacob, are you serious?”

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