Page 89 of When You Saved Me

Epilogue

One Month Later

DEACON

“You know I can just keep my eyes closed right?” I asked Charlie as she stood on her tiptoes, giving her best attempt of covering my eyes with her hands.

“I know you’ll peek.”

I raised a brow, and I felt the tiny hairs brush against her open palm. “I’m no surprise ruiner.”

“Mmhmm,” she hummed. “Says the man I could barely keep away from this place all month!”

“I was only trying to break in because I missed you.” It was the truth. Aside from the flooring renovations I’d had done after the burst pipe was fixed, Charlie had spent countless hours painting away in the tiny cabin. We’d decided together that her moving back in wasn’t the right play. We both wanted the other close and given how quickly thingswere progressing between us, her and Casper staying with me made the most sense.

That didn’t stop her from wanting to turn Badger Creek Cabin into a little getaway space for us and anyone else who needed it.

Her giggle broke through my thoughts as she started to lead me through the front door. “I missed you too! But this had to be done. It was calling to me and I can’t wait for you to see it.”

“Me too, Sunshine.”

Having her maneuver me through the small space was a clusterfuck to say the least. But by the end, she got me to the edge of the kitchen counter where I could stop tripping over her tiny feet.

“Ready?” she squealed with excitement.

“Let’s see this thing,” I responded.

“Okay! Open your eyes!”

It took a few blinks for my eyes to adjust to the space, but once they did my jaw went slack in awe of what Charlie had created. Months ago, she’d started on the far wall, turning it into a misty scene of the cabin’s backyard.

Now, the entire interior space made me feel like I was outside.

She’d continued the scene of pine trees on the back wall, bringing it along the space next to the bed. Then the painting transitioned to a field of tall grass with hazy gray skies over rolling hills, just like the ones throughout my property. It was a perfect replica and somehow it looked even better than the real thing. Whimsical, like I was in a dreamland that seemedoverwhelmingly perfect. As I continued turning, the sky she’d painted started to brighten until I looked back at the front door we’d come through and saw the view of a sunrise. Soft hues of purple, red and orange melded together in such a way that I found myself losing my breath at the sight.

“Charlie,” I whispered, bringing her in close. “This is magnificent.”

“You like it?” She sounded unsure.

I looked down at her, grasped her chin between my fingers then kissed her lips. “It’s the second most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“What’s the first?” She batted her long auburn lashes at me while a hint of a smirk danced at the corner of her mouth.

“I think we both know the answer to that question.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Yeah, but I want to hear you say it, Grumps.”

I lifted her onto the kitchen counter and groaned as she wrapped her legs around my waist. “What did we talk about? Grumps is out. I need a new nickname.”

She leaned forward and tugged at my bottom lip with her teeth. The sensation had my cock flexing against my jeans. “I might be persuaded with some kisses.”

I chuckled. “Is that right?”

“Mmhmm!” She nodded, biting her own bottom lip.

“What about here?” I dipped my head low and kissed the crook between her neck and shoulder. Goosebumps rose along her skin and some feral part of me loved watching her come undone from my touch.

“Nope.” Her lips popped on the p.

---