She props herself up on one elbow to look at me. “You’d leave your mountain?”

  “Romy, you are my mountain now. Everything else is just geography.”

  Her eyes fill with tears, and she kisses me hard. “Yes. Yes, I’ll have you. Forever, if you’re offering.”

  “I’m offering.” I pull her back down against my chest, feeling more at peace than I have in years. “I’m offering everything.”

  “Then it’s yours. All of it. I’m yours.”

  And for the first time since I left civilization three years ago, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

  With Romy. The love of my life.

  Epilogue

  Romy

  Six months later

  I wake up with Weston’s arm heavy around my waist and let out a contented sigh.

  Six months ago, I was doing everything alone. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly wondering if I’d ever have time for anything beyond work.

  Now, I wake up every morning next to my husband. Husband. The word still makes me smile.

  We got married two months ago in a small ceremony here at the vineyard. Just close friends and family, including my best friend Winnie, who drove all the way from White Pine Falls with her husband Slate and cried through the entire ceremony. Weston’s friend from Timber Peak Outfitters officiated, and we said our vows under the oak tree overlooking the valley.

  It was perfect.

  “You’re thinking too loud,” Weston mumbles against my neck, his voice rough with sleep.

  “Sorry. Just thinking about how happy I am.”

  He tightens his arm around me and presses a kiss to my shoulder. “I am too.”

  We lie there for a few more minutes, and I marvel at how different my life is now. The vineyard is thriving, and it’s fun again instead of overwhelming. Weston handles all the heavy lifting and maintenance, freeing me up to focus on winemaking and customer relations. We work side by side every day, and somehow we haven’t gotten sick of each other yet. If anything, I love him more with each passing day.

  “We need to get up. Micah is coming by this morning to finalize everything.”

  “Right, I almost forgot.”

  After Weston moved in with me, we decided to sell his place on the mountain. It took a few months to find a buyer since not many people wanted to live that far from civilization. Then Micah showed up with cash and barely any questions.

  “What do we know about him again?” I ask, getting out of bed and pulling on jeans.

  “Not much. He’s from out of state. Paid in full. Wanted to move in immediately.” Weston sits up, running a hand through his hair. “Reminds me of myself, honestly.”

  “That grumpy, huh?”

  “Worse,” he says with a grin.

  I laugh and head to the kitchen to make coffee. By the time Weston joins me, showered and dressed, I’ve got breakfast started.

  We’re just finishing when I hear a truck pull up outside.

  “That’s probably him,” Weston says, standing.

  We head out to the driveway, and I get my first look at Micah. He’s tall and muscled. He’s wearing jeans and a worn jacket, and his expression is closed off. Guarded. Like he’s already regretting having to interact with people. Yeah. Definitely worse than Weston was.

  “Micah, good to see you again,” Weston says.

  Micah nods. “Thanks for meeting me. I have some questions about the well system.”

  “Sure. Happy to help.”

  “Hi! Have you settled in okay?” I ask him.

  “I’m fine,” he says curtly.

  Weston returns with a folder of documents, and I watch the two of them discuss water pressure and septic systems. Micah asks short questions and gives clipped answers. He doesn’t smile once.

  When they finish, Micah nods at Weston. “Appreciate it.”

  “No problem. You know where to find me if you need anything else.”

  Micah’s gaze shifts to me for a brief second. “Ma’am.”

  Then he’s back in his truck and driving away before I can say goodbye.

  I turn to Weston with raised eyebrows. “Ma’am? Really?”

  He’s grinning. “Told you. Worse than I was. I at least opened the door when you knocked. I’m not sure Micah would’ve done even that.”

  I lean into him, watching the dust settle on the driveway where Micah’s truck disappeared. “Do you think he’ll be okay up there? All alone?”

  “He chose it for a reason. Same as I did.”

  “But you’re not alone anymore.”

  He kisses the top of my head. “I’m not. Best decision I ever made was coming down that mountain for you.”

  I hope Micah finds what Weston and I found. I hope someone shows up at his door one day and changes everything, because everyone deserves that kind of happiness. Even grumpy mountain men who hardly say a word.

  “Come on,” Weston says, turning us back toward the house. “We’ve got work to do.”

  “Yep, let’s go,” I say.

  I don’t mind having to work so hard. I have someone who’d burn down the world for me, who fixes things before I even notice they’re broken, who loves me with an intensity that still takes my breath away. I have everything I ever wanted, and I didn’t even know I was looking for it. Funny how life works out sometimes.

  We head inside together, hand in hand, ready to face another day at my vineyard. Our vineyard. Our life.

  Our happily ever after.

  Read how Micah finds his own HEA in Mountain Man’s Curvy Virgin, book two in the series Rugged Loners of Timber Peak Valley.

  For Winnie’s story (Romy’s best friend), read Deeply Desired by the Mountain Man, part of the series White Pine Falls.

 

 

  Hazel J. North, Mountain Man's Wild Obsession

 

 

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