Page 74 of Finding Romance
I chuckle. “Kasen Ian Saddler. What’s yours?”
She blushes. “Octavia.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“It’s after an author my mom liked,” she explains and then curls back up against me.
“You know what?” she asks.
“What?” I run my hand over her soft hair, wishing we could lie here all day.
“I’m glad Aunt Cornelia sent me to find her necklace. Because it made me find you,” she says as she gives me a squeeze.
“I’m glad you found me too. And now that you found me, there’s no letting go,” I state.
“Never,” she agrees. And we lie there for another hour, just holding each other. I’m not entirely sure why the universe saw fit to have me find this perfect woman, but I’m awfully glad it did.
EPILOGUE
Piper
Two months later…
“Cam, make it a double shot,” I say as Kasen and I stand in Cam’s café waiting on our drinks and muffins.
“Sure thing,” she says. She doesn’t seem like her normal self today.
“What’s wrong?” Kasen asks, clearly picking up on the off vibes as well.
She sighs as she hands us our drinks and muffins. Then she points to a building across the street and several doors down from our apartment building.
“I’ve heard a rumor that a corporate coffee place is going in there. How am I supposed to compete with that? I haven’t even signed all the papers yet on this place and I may already have impossible competition,” she says with a huff.
“Maybe it’s just a rumor,” I point out.
“Maybe everyone will love your place so much it won’t even matter,” Kasen offers.
“What’s wrong?” Hutch asks as he walks in wearing full camo gear.
“Please tell us you are not still trying to find the Guardian of Hearts Lane Park?” Cam says to him.
He waves her off. “Yes, I am, but what’s wrong?”
I point to the building across the way. “Cam thinks a corporate coffee place is moving in there.”
“Oh…huh. That sucks. Maybe it won’t,” Hutch says.
“Where are you two off to?” Cam asks us.
“Going to check out the gallery for the exhibit,” I say. Everyone knows my big art exhibit is this coming weekend.
“Can’t wait to see the new stuff,” Hutch says with a grin as Cam hands him his drink.
Al walks in and we all turn and wave at him.
“Good morning, everyone,” Al says.
“Morning,” we say in unison.
