Page 72 of Sean

“You pushed me away because you…love me?” Her head was tilted to the side as she studied him. She looked cautiously hopeful. He couldn’t blame her for that.

“I was stupid enough to believe that would somehow be better. But I do love you, Julia, more than anything in the world, and I promise you that I’m not going to run from it anymore.” He needed to get every word right because this was his opportunity to have the life he wanted with her. “I hope you can forgive me. I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with my emotions and letting love in. I’m willing to try, though. Willing to be here for you in every way. I’m asking for a second chance to show you how deep my love is.” He stopped then, not knowing where to go next. Everything depended on her. The moment’s hesitation before she spoke nearly killed him.

“I come as a package deal, you know,” she said. “The kids are mine to raise.”

“We can make them ours,” he said, feeling a small wave of relief. “You know I love them, and I’ll do anything I can for them.”

“You’ve proven that.” She smiled at him, and joy wasn’t a strong enough word for what went through him. “I have a lot of things I need to figure out yet. I’m not sure I can balance my career with being a parent. I know I can’t travel like I have, and I may even have to switch jobs entirely. So much of my life is up in the air. I—”

“What if the ranch became your home base?” he suggested. “Tara’s offered me a job here, so you’ll still be able to travel for your work, and the kids and I’ll be here when you come home.”

“You’d take on raising the kids, so I could go on assignments?” She was staring at him, a shocked expression on her face.

“It’s not like I’d be doing it alone. My parents and sisters will help. And Lucy and Amos will have Tara’s girls to grow up with. They’re basically part of the family already. And so are you. I don’t want you to give up something you love, and I can’t give you or the kids up. Not if there’s a chance we can be together.”

There was a pause where every sound—the wind in the trees, the buzz of an insect—became magnified. Sean had no idea what she was thinking of his grand plan for their lives.

“I’m not…” she began as tears ran down her face. Dropping his hand, she flicked the tears from her cheeks but more came. “I’m not usually a crier.”

His stomach twisted with a new, horrible certainty that he’d screwed up, misjudged, misunderstood her feelings for him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He stood, not knowing what to do. “We can walk back.”

“No, no.” She rose and put her arms around his waist. “I’m just…so happy. I’ve been living in fear for so long that I’d become convinced that happy endings weren’t possible.” She tilted her face up to his as he held her close.

“Happy beginnings,” he said, touching her cheek. “Let’s say this is a happy beginning, not an ending.”

“I like that.” She was smiling through her tears. “And I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he said. “I always will.”

Sean pulled her closer and kissed her, overcome by the feeling that they were adding yet another beautiful memory to a special place already filled with them.

And even better, there were so many more to create together, as a family.

EPILOGUE

Julia keyed in her code and watched the ranch’s gate slide open. Nothing had ever looked better. She was home. Finally. Her flight had been late taking off from Montego Bay, where she’d been shooting photographs for a high-end fashion magazine. Then she’d missed her connection in Miami. She’d rebooked but had had to kill four hours in the airport.

She’d told Sean and the kids that she’d be home for dinner, but she’d be lucky to give Amos and Lucy a goodnight kiss at this rate. As she drove up to the house, she could see many lights on—more than usual. What was going on?

Extra cars were in the driveway, too. She glanced at the models and saw her mom’s small SUV, Owen and Sophie’s truck, and the minivan Helen and Ethan had bought just before the baby was born. Strange for them to be on the ranch, especially in the evening. Their baby girl was six months old now, and they tended to keep close to home.

As a matter of fact, she was surprised that Owen and Sophie were there, too. Their wedding had been just two weeks earlier and they’d been on a honeymoon in Belize. They’d initially planned to only stay one week, but Quinn, the nemesis they’d taken down, had gifted them with an additional week and unlimited scuba diving. When she’d been after them while Sophie had been pulling her story together, she’d been a ruthless adversary—but once she’d been caught, fair and square, she’d shrugged off all animosity, making it clear that it had been purely business on her end and that she had nothing against them, personally. In fact, she seemed to enjoy surprising them with lavish gifts—the honeymoon extension was the most expensive, but she’d sent them a nice Christmas basket, too—maybe just because she thought it was funny to rattle Owen’s cage. Sophie had been beyond delighted with the travel package. Owen had been…less enthusiastic, but he’d given in to Sophie’s begging.

Julia parked and got out, looking around. Deflated balloons drooped from the front porch rail and streamers hung low. Okay, now she really was curious. Had she missed someone’s birthday or anniversary? She was still getting used to keeping track of important dates for a family that was so much bigger than she was used to, but she didn’t think anyone had anything around this time.

Maybe it was a party to celebrate Wilson’s recent sentencing. It had been a long year while the investigation and trial dragged on, but it had finally ended a month earlier. Wilson would be in prison for the rest of his life with no parole due to murder and drug smuggling convictions along with a list of other crimes. Julia had full and legal custody of Lucy and Amos, and she hadn’t ended up facing any charges at all for kidnapping—not even a slap on the wrist. It was over, which had been an enormous relief.

But if everyone had gathered to celebrate that, wouldn’t someone have told her?

She was just getting out of her car when the front door flew open, and her niece and nephew barreled out. She knelt, opened her arms wide, and hugged them both to her. How she missed them when she was away. The only reason she could be gone was that she knew Sean and his family were taking great care of them. They were happy, well-adjusted kids with a passion for horses, the night sky, and the outdoors. That worked for her.

“You’re so late,” Amos said.

“I know. My flight got delayed.” She gave him a grin. “I’m home for three full weeks now. What’s going on here?” The kids looked at each other, both of them with huge smiles on their faces. “What?”

“It’s so sparkly,” Lucy said before dashing away.

“What’s sparkly?” Julia asked Amos.

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