Page 89 of Kian

“Mr. Casteel… I mean, Hugh, I just want you to know that I love your daughter. I want her to move in with me and then eventually marry me. I haven’t asked her yet, but I wanted to talk to you first,” Kian admitted nervously.

“I would never do anything to make my daughter unhappy, so if she wants to do that, then you have my blessing. Her mother would give hers too,” Hugh reassured him.

“Thank you. I plan on asking her soon, I just need to gather the courage first,” Kian said with a sigh.

“I’ve been there before. Most men reach that point eventually.” Hugh laughed understandingly.

Kian nodded in agreement. “I’m sure about that too.”

“How about we watch some TV and then eat? Clara made pot roast tonight,” Hugh suggested.

“That sounds great. I’m starving and I love pot roast,” Kian said gratefully.

“You tell Clara that and you’ll win her over for sure,” Hugh joked.

Kian chuckled, feeling more at ease with Gretchen’s parents. They were both wonderful people who loved their daughter just as much as he did. Now he just needed to gather the courage to ask Gretchen to take the next step in their relationship. He knew that if she said yes to moving in with him, then he would soon be asking her to marry him.

Epilogue

Gretchen gazed at the blank canvas, unsure of where to begin. She always found herself in the barn, with its perfect lighting and abundance of art supplies. It was a rare occasion for her to make it back to the cabin.

When the door creaked open, she turned to see Kian standing in the doorway. He leaned against the frame, his arms crossed.

“You seem really focused. What are you painting?” he asked.

She turned the blank white canvas toward him. “A polar bear in a snowstorm.”

Kian chuckled. “Looks good.”

“I actually have something for you,” Gretchen said.

“Oh, baby, I have something for you too.”

She snorted and laughed. “Yeah, I can get that anytime.”

Kian joined in her laughter. “I wasn’t talking aboutthat.”

“Oh, well what were you talking about?”

“You go first,” he said.

Gretchen walked over to a stack of paintings leaning against the wall and moved a few aside before pulling one out. She approached Kian and handed it to him.

He took the painting and studied it before looking up at her. “It’s your cabin.”

“You mentioned liking my previous painting of it, so I decided to paint this one for you.”

“You did? I love it. I’ll hang it up in my office.”

She went back to the pile and retrieved another painting.

“And I want you to have this one too,” she said as she handed it to Kian.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I love this one too.”

It was the painting of him on the ATV with Lobo chasing after him.

“I painted it after you left. I was going to keep it, but I think you should have it now.”

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