Page 120 of Make Mine Sweet
I run my fingers along his hairline and down across his jaw. I can’t stop touching his face. “Are you sure about all this?”
“I don’t know how everything will shake out with work. But angel, I am in this. With you and August. You’re all I want, and I’m going to prove that to you every day.”
I can’t help it. I tear up. “You already do.”
He kisses me so tenderly, a few more tears fall. I don’t want this moment to end.
Which is exactly when August runs up onto the patio to get in on the action. He throws his arms around both of our waists in a double hug. “You guys kiss?”
“We do.” I expect more questions. And I’ll answer them…within reason.
“Can Ian stay for dinner?”
I laugh, standing here in the arms of the two guys I love more than anything. “He can stay for dinner.”
He can stay forever.
EPILOGUE
TESS
All of thesemountain men were definitely a mistake. First Hope, then Lila, then me, and even, reluctantly, Wren fell to the charms of an outdoorsy man. But none of us are complaining.
Except maybe me, right this minute.
Ian’s leading me on a short hike. Short is relative, I’ve found. Thankfully, he knows my limits and doesn’t try to push me to walk too far or too fast. But the spring air is crisp today, and the sky is a stunning blue. I can appreciate the beauty, even if I’d rather be cuddled up with him on my couch watchingConan the Barbarian.
What can I say? Ian got me hooked on Arnold’s movies.
“Are we pretty close?” I try to sound eager and not like I’m counting every step until I can sit down somewhere.
He takes my hand. “Very close.”
He grins at me, and—okay. Yeah. The hike is worth it to see him glowing like this.
His love for the mountains is undeniable. He’s climbed practically everything he can get a permit for around here in the last ten months. Some of that’s been through his job as a wilderness EMT, and some he’s explored with his new friends.
I’ve gone on a few of the shorter hikes with him, and it’s always the same. He’s brilliant out here. I love that he doesn’t deny himself what he enjoys anymore.
I don’t, either. Especially when it comes to him.
But if I start thinking about that I’ll want to stop for entirely new, inappropriate reasons. I turn my thoughts to the work ahead on my calendar. Two wedding cakes this weekend, three the next, with a dozen or more custom cakes in between.
Charlie’s modest hopes for Moonlight Lodge’s wedding bookings were totally blown out of the water. Not every couple orders a cake from me, but the numbers who do increases every month. And now that my cakes are up on Blackbird’s menu, it seems like everyone in town has a birthday or an anniversary to celebrate each week.
I love making every one. Most special of all was the wedding cake I made for Mom and Daniel a month ago. They opted for a courthouse wedding, and a casual reception at the lodge. Seeing her so happy in all ways just reminds me to grab my happiness when it comes around, too.
Which I will. Just as soon as I catch my breath.
We round a bend, and Ian squeezes my hand. I glance up to find a small lake spread out in front of us. Surrounded by pine trees, its gorgeous dark green waters seem like they were dropped here just for us.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe. More of a wheeze, really, but it’s still a pretty sight.
“Griffin told me about it a few months ago.” Ian draws me closer. “I had to bring you to your lake.”
“My lake?”
He gestures toward the water. A rough-hewn forest service sign declares itAngel Lake.
