Page 16 of Grump of Misty Mountain

“Solid deduction.” I picked up her left hand and began rubbing slow circles on her palm. Okay, so I broke one little promise, but she didn’t protest my touch. Nothing short of a bomb was going to get me to stop, either.

“Um, so yeah, I found a notepad, and under it was a cover mock-up for the final book of the series. Which threw me, I’m not going to lie, and there was your name, your real name, on an attached piece of paper. Then I noticed the art on the walls, the other covers in the series, and it just fell into place. You wrote all those books. But I didn’t know what to do at the moment, so, I wrote the note, and put the pad back where I found it. I then leftit on your kitchen counter and went to work.” Her chin went up, a dare in her eyes to get mad at her for going through my stuff.

Instead of answering, I cupped her chin and gave her a hard, quick kiss. Another shiver rocked her and this time, I groaned. I loved her responses to my touch. And oh, yeah, she wasn’t going anywhere.

“I know I could have told you when I saw you had my book the first time we were here. But I’d been keeping it a secret for so long, not just from everyone in town, but also from some of my closest friends. And I really wanted to see if you’d like me for me and not as someone who writes a book you like.” I can’t remember the last time I’d ever felt this vulnerable as I waited for her to take it all in.

“That makes total sense. But you should have told me after the first time we made love. Or maybe after you declared I was the one, or any day since then.” Hurt filled her voice. My secret may be different than the awful secret her ex had kept, but harmless secrets could still hurt.

“You’re absolutely right. I’m sorry, Sami.” I could have said more, but even I knew less was more. It was the power and truth behind my words that counted.

“Thank you. As silly as it sounds, I was really upset at first. Here I am, falling in love with a man with a secret identity right after I kicked my ex to the curb for having a secret lover. I mean, you can’t make this stuff up.”

I gave her a beat to realize how that sounded. I was rewarded with a puzzled look right before she laughed. God, I loved that laugh.

“Okay. Mr. Writer, you obviously know all about making things up. But, if we’re going to be together, then?—”

My mind scrambled backward. I’d missed something very important. “Wait, you said, ‘falling in love with a man.’ Is that man me, and how long have you been keeping that secretfrom me?” My vow, the second one, to not touch her until our conversation was over, was broken again.

Gathering Sami in my arms, no, that wasn’t near close enough, so I lifted her onto my lap. She squealed, then settled in, wiggling her sweet bottom against my cock. I’d been hard for her since I sat down, but now it throbbed, threatening to bust from behind my zipper. Would my body ever get enough of her?

“Well, at first, I wasn’t sure how to tell you. After all, I made such a big deal about us just ‘enjoying’ each other, no strings, and….”

“So, say it Sami.”

“I love you.” She placed her hands on either side of my head, then pulled me just a hair's breadth away from her lips, still swollen from my last kiss. Softly, she whispered, “I love you, Finn. Take me home.”

“Best ending to a beginning—ever. I love you, Sami.” I kissed her until the sun had fully set. Until the breath had been robbed from both of us and kissed her again. Then I took her home and started our next chapter.

EPILOGUE

THREE YEARS LATER

SAMI

That couldn’t be right? The wand I was holding shook as I tried to contain my shock. So many wonderful things had happened since I moved to Misty Mountain, and here was another. The first had been Finn’s unwavering love and devotion. Theo Mason Campbell had been the second.

The hazel eyed, chubby baby had necessitated me saying goodbye to the Pine and Petal, but only from behind the counter. Unfortunately, the various smells of the coffee and baked goods had made my near pregnancy long morning sickness unbearable.

Thankfully, once he’d been born, I was able to visit Ms. Clara’s cafe and indulge in one of her honey and lavender lattes again while she ooh’d and aah’d over her godson.

Now at thirty-seven, I couldn’t have been happier. Becoming a mom was the blessing I never thought I’d experience. But this? It was beyond what I could have dreamed of.

Plus, Finn had just published the first book in his new series, and the novel recently became a New York Times Bestseller. Life had never been more exciting especially as our raven-haired two-and-half-year-old son ruled the roost with his daredevil antics.

The latest was riding empty cardboard boxes down the staircase. He was keeping me on my toes in between working on my design projects when he napped or after he’d gone to bed. Finn and I would take turns depending on our deadlines. Finn was even now knee deep in his next manuscript. I was beyond proud of him and the little family we’d created.

And most nights, after Theo went to bed, Finn made sure I never forgot how much he loved my curves. But I should have realized that when a new wave of exhaustion hit me a couple weeks ago that it had nothing to do with our toddler, but the new life the positive pregnancy stick in my still shaking hand had just declared.

I wanted to run and tell him, but he was on the phone with West. They’d been working on dates when Finn could make another visit to the veteran’s retreat in his hometown of Pineville, Idaho.

I’d been hoping to go with him this trip since it would be the first time we could introduce Theo to his friends. Maybe my morning sickness wouldn’t be as bad this time as it had with our son. I couldn’t wait to call my cousins and the friends I’d made the last few years. Each one had discovered their own happily ever after in Misty Mountain with one of the men who came to this small town looking for either solitude or a fresh start and had found love instead.

An hour later, after I put Theo down, I was settled in our bed. I was practically vibrating with excitement as I tried to appear normal, but feared my perma-grin would give me away. But Iruined it when Finn walked into the room, when I burst into tears.

“Babe.” He sat on the bed next to me and tugged me into his arms. “Let me guess. Rough bath time with the wild child?”

Sniffing, then laughing, I wiped my tears. “Yes, but that’s not why I’m crying.”

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