Page 85 of The Huckleberry Bookshop

“Were the other guys drinking whiskey?”

“Not sure.”

She sighed. “You’re a bad role model.”

“I’m trying to do better.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry, Athena.”

“I know.” She wrapped her arms around him again and kissed him slowly, showing him that he was forgiven.

She broke off the kiss. “Give me that pen.”

Epilogue

Mullens hadn’t quite convinced Athena to draw her name on his chest and add herself to his family tree. He understood her hesitation. It was a pretty bold statement.

She had, however, drawn a heart on the trunk, scrawling their initials inside. He might need to have that permanently inked in place, as he was serious about her being a part of his future. Right now, though, he needed to exercise patience.

While he waited, he would wine and dine her whenever he could, help out with her family and the store, as well as continue to publicly set the record straight about himself, his dietary habits and Athena’s upcoming cookbook.

But there was one more little thing he could do for the woman he loved.

“Is everyone ready?” he asked.

“She’s coming!” Meddy called from the doorway, quickly unlocking it, then scurrying back to her spot at a table shared with her parents.

Mullens had considered holding this party in Sweetheart Creek, but he worried that the secret would get out like a toddler trying to hold a wet frog. So instead, he’d rented the Gingerbread Café, which was owned by Dak Morisette, the team’s charity manager. He’d reserved the entire place and had instructed Dak to put everything on his tab, from the beautifully decorated gingerbread men the café baked year-round, to the lattes and cocktails, since the cafe was licensed. Not that he was going to drink.

Not unless he somehow ended up engaged to Athena tonight.

He shook his head. He needed to cool his jets. She’d been hurt in the past, not only by Lonnie, but by himself as well. He needed to strengthen her trust in him, and that required time. Lots of time to overwrite all the crappy stuff he’d laid down over the past several months that made him seem untrustworthy.

He hadn’t been open about who he really was when they’d first met, because he hadn’t been honest about it to himself. But he was working on that, thanks to her. All he could do was continue to work on himself, on them, and hope she understood that the man she knew in her heart was the real Chad Mullens.

But tonight wasn’t about him. It was all about her. Meddy had convinced Jenny to take Athena out for a late afternoon snack, pretending she couldn’t make it to Athena’s birthday supper on the weekend.

There was no birthday supper on the weekend.

Well, maybe there would be, but not the one everyone told her they were holding. Because Mullens had planned a surprise party instead.

Athena’s family and friends sat with their backs to the entry, their chatter lulling as Meddy shushed the group.

Mullens took his spot at the counter, facing away from the doorway as well, a giant Happy Birthday banner hanging above him. When the bell on the door jingled, he spun to face his girlfriend.

“Surprise!” he called, sliding off the stool and making his way to Athena.

The room echoed with the greeting, people turning to reveal who they were.

Athena’s jaw dropped as she recognized her parents, her sister, her cousin Hannah, Daisy-Mae, Cass and Violet, along with their hockey boyfriends, and many more friends from Sweetheart Creek.

“Happy birthday.” Mullens pressed a kiss onto her cheek.

“You.” She shook her head and poked him in the shoulder, biting her bottom lip as she smiled at the crowded room. “You planned all of this?”

He nodded.

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