Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
After dinner, we settle on the couch, her head tucked under my chin. My phone buzzes intermittently with mission updates, but the situation seems under control. Garrett’s last text said they spotted movement, but they’re waiting for the kidnappers to make a move. In a few hours, they’ll probably move in for the rescue. And I’ll be guiding them from afar, confident they can handle the ground operation.
In this moment, though, I choose to soak up the peace—Aubree’s soft breathing against my chest, the crackle of the fireplace, the security of a home that’s truly ours. She shifts, curling her arms around my torso, and I stroke her hair, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.
“Boone,” she whispers, her lips curving into a satisfied smile. “Thank you for… everything.”
I smile into her hair. “You never have to thank me.”
She tilts her head up, touching her mouth to mine again. The kiss starts slow, building in warmth, her hands sliding over my chest. I lose myself in it, the rush of desire mingling with a profound tenderness. When she finally pulls back, breathless, her eyes shine with love and contentment.
And in that instant, I know: this is it—my happily ever after. We’ve survived threats, kidnappings, family betrayals. And we’ve come out stronger, bound by a bond forged in danger and sealed with devotion. From now on, we face the world together—a dynamic duo, always ready to lean on each other no matter what chaos unfolds outside these cabin walls.
I cradle her face, letting my thumb brush her cheek. “I love you,” I say simply, feeling the weight of the words sink in.
Her smile is radiant. “I love you too.”
Outside, the night settles deeper, and in the hush of our sanctuary, we share another tender kiss. The future beckons—filled with missions, pizzas, laughter, maybe even more than that somewhere down the line. But for now, we’re just here, in this perfect, ordinary-extraordinary moment. And we wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Bonus Epilogue
Aubree
It’s nearly ten o’clock at night, and I’m still at Slice Slice Baby. I don’t usually linger this long, but we had a huge catering order for a graduation party this afternoon, and the kitchen is a disaster—flour footprints from the prep station to the walk-in, half-empty cans of tomatoes stacked by the sink, sauce splattered on the steel counters. My staff all went home hours ago. I insisted, actually; they worked hard, and I felt like I had enough energy to tidy up alone. Of course, that was before I realized how late it would be when I finished.
The overhead lights are on half-power, casting a warm glow across the empty dining area. I take a moment to enjoy the hush. During the day, this place bustles with customers—teens after school, families grabbing a quick bite, even the occasional traveling musician. It’s my pride and joy, my life’s work. But right now, it’s a quiet sanctuary where I can count the squeaks of my sneakers on tile.
I mop the last sticky patch near the counter, leaning on the handle and blowing a stray curl from my forehead. “Done,” I announce to the empty shop. My voice echoes off the walls. I smile wryly—Boone would tease me for talking to myself again.
Boone. Just thinking his name warms my chest. It’s been a while since he joined me in Nashville with Maddox Security’s new branch, but sometimes I still can’t believe we share a life here—no more living in fear, no more kidnappings or dangerous secrets. We’re truly free to be together, and it feels surreal.
I shake my head, swallowing a grin as I roll the mop bucket toward the kitchen. The big overhead clock reads 10:08. He usually checks in if I’m staying late to make sure I’m safe or he begs me to lock up early. But he hasn’t called tonight, which is odd. Maybe he’s tied up with a mission briefing or coordinating something for Dean. He’s got a million responsibilities as the head of the new Nashville office. Still, the silence makes me a little uneasy.
As if on cue, a sudden noise rattles from the back hallway—like a metal pan crashing to the floor. My heart leaps. I freeze, gripping the mop handle tight enough to whiten my knuckles. It’s probably just something shifting on a shelf… But the memory of being ambushed, months ago, still lingers in my bones.
I set the mop down, forcing calm. “It’s nothing,” I murmur, though my pulse hammers. Another faint sound—like shuffling footsteps—sends a chill through me. Immediately, I pull out my phone.
Scrolling to Boone’s number, I think, Better safe than sorry.
“Aubree? Pull yourself together,” I whisper to myself. Even though I’m armed with new self-defense moves Boone taught me, my heart still spikes with adrenaline whenever I’m startled like this. Just check it out, or call him.