Page 18 of Her Mountain Man Protector
Mila blinks, her lips falling open. “You mean…live here forever? With you?”
“Yes.” My pulse jumps nervously. She looks shocked, and I can’t tell if that’s a good thing. “We can plant our garden. Build a life together out here. It won’t be as glamorous as the Hamptons, but I’ll do everything I can to make you happy, sugar. That’s a promise.”
“Oh, Holden…” She rests a hand on her chest, breathing hard. “I…you…that would be…b-but Grace…”
The words come out in a series of splutters, and I bite back a smile. I’ve never seen Mila look so flustered. It’s adorable as hell.
“Grace can stay as long as she needs,” I tell her. “It doesn’t have to be just a few weeks. She’s family, and I know how much you care about her. I’d never dream of kicking her out.”
Mila stares at me for a moment, then to my surprise, she laughs, throwing her arms around my neck. “What did I do to deserve you, Holden? I must have been some kind of saint in a past life.”
My pulse quickens with anticipation as I hold her close, rubbing her back. “Is that a yes, sugar?”
“Yes! A million times yes.” She pulls back, beaming at me with tears in her eyes. “I’d love that more than anything. Living with you would be like a dream come true.”
Joy buzzes through me, filling my veins with warmth as I pull Mila into another passionate kiss. My heart is soaring, everything melting away as I pepper her pretty face with more kisses, from her forehead to her chin. She’s laughing and crying all at once, clinging to me like she never wants to let go.
“I love you, Mila,” I tell her, my mouth brushing her ear. “So fucking much.” I hear her breath catch, her body stilling as I continue, “You can tell me I’m crazy and that it’s too soon, but it’s how I feel, sugar. I’m in love with you, and I always will be.”
Her face is like sunshine, radiating pure light as she says, “I love you too, Holden. I feel exactly the same way.”
My chest feels like it might explode as I let her words hang in the air between us for a moment.
I love you too, Holden.
“You’re meant to be mine, sugar,” I murmur. “I knew it the minute I saw you.”
“I felt it too.” Mila laces her fingers through mine, letting out a sigh of contentment. Then she giggles softly and says, “This is going to take a lot of explaining to Grace.”
“And Isabelle,” I add, wondering how my daughter will react when I tell her I’ve fallen in love with the runaway bride I found in my shed. I know she’ll be happy for me, but nobody could be happier than I am right now. I feel like my cheeks are going to break from smiling so damn hard. I’ve never felt this kind of joy before, and it’s all thanks to Mila.
My Mila.
Something tells me she’ll be wearing a white dress again before long. I’m determined to put a ring on her finger and show the world that this angel is mine. The future is stretching out in front of us, full of possibility, but for now, all that matters is thismoment, sitting here with my girl in my arms. I never imagined I’d find the woman of my dreams hiding in my shed, but I guess it’s true what they say. Love really does show up where you least expect it.
And I’ll thank my lucky stars every damn day that it found me.
EPILOGUE
MILA
I doone last sweep of the flower shop, making sure everything is in its place. Lydia had to leave early to take her son to the dentist, so it’s my job to lock up today. I poke my head into the backroom to turn the lights off when I notice a hastily scribbled note on the prep table.
Thanks for locking up! You’re a doll. These are for you. I think they will look wonderful in your garden.
See you on Monday.
Lydia xoxo
I lift the note, smiling when I see several packets of flower seeds hiding beneath it. Lydia is always giving me freebies, letting me take my pick of damaged stock. It’s one of the many perks of working in a flower shop. I’m going to miss this place when I take maternity leave in a couple of months, but I’ll be back eventually. Lydia is an amazing employer, and I know she’ll be flexible with my shifts when the baby arrives. She knows all about being a working mom.
I pocket the seeds, sending Lydia a “thank you” text before turning off all the lights in the shop. Then I head outside, locking the door behind me. It’s a crisp September evening in Cherry Hollow, and the quaint small-town streets are quiet. I pull my coat tighter around me, feeling the material strain against my belly. I’m nearly seven months pregnant, and my bump is growing every day, along with my excitement. Our little girl, Rose, is due in mid-November, and I can’t wait to finally hold her in my arms. It feels like we’ve been waiting forever.
Adjusting my coat, I cross the road toward my husband’s auto shop with a spring in my step. As much as I love my job, my favorite time of day is getting to see Holden after work. His garage is pretty much opposite the flower shop, so I often catch sight of him through the window, working on cars or trucks. The proximity means we get to eat lunch together every day, and he’s often popping into the flower shop to see me when things are quiet.
The garage is a huge success. Right after Holden and I got together, the owner of the old warehouse accepted his offer for the property, and we immediately set to work converting it. Now it’s the biggest auto shop for miles around, and the only one in Cherry Hollow. Business is thriving, and Holden has taken on several employees to help him run the place. He says it’s earning twice as much as the shop he was running in the suburbs, and I’m so proud of all the hard work he’s put in.
As I head through the open garage door, I see Isabelle’s desk is empty. She must have already left for the evening. Holden’s daughter works here most days, accounting and setting up appointments. The two of us clicked immediately when we met. She’s just as kind and caring as her father, and after being abandoned as a baby, she understands how it feels to be cut off from your parents. It’s something she’s helped me a lot with. Sheknows the importance of making your own family, and I’m so glad she’s part of mine.
