Page 28 of The Miner's Miracle
The warmth of the fire wraps around us like a cocoon. Finn’s hand rests on my stomach, his touch protective and reverent. “You know,” he says, his voice low, “I always thought I’d end up alone. That I wasn’t meant for... this.”
I trace circles on his chest, marveling at how open he’s become. “What changed?”
“You did.” His eyes meet mine, and the vulnerability there takes my breath away. “You reminded me that it’s okay to hope. To want more.”
I smile, resting my forehead against his. The fire crackles, filling the silence with its steady rhythm. Shep snores softly at our feet, oblivious to the weight of the moment.
Finn shifts, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I’m taking tomorrow off.”
I blink, surprised. “You? Taking a day off? That’s the second time this month–gettin’ lazy on me, huh?”
He chuckles, the sound low and rich. “It’s time I start putting my energy where it really matters.”
“And where’s that?”
He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his gaze unwavering. “Right here. With you. And our family.”
My heart swells, and I curl into him, letting his warmth and love envelop me. For the first time in years, I feel truly at home—not in a place, but in a person.
With Finn. My sexy, grumpy, all-wrong-but-somehow-right-for me, neighbor-from-hell.
Epilogue
Finn
The Phantom River sparkles under the noon sun, its ripples catching the light like a thousand tiny diamonds. The air smells of wildflowers and pine, fresh and heady, as if the mountains themselves are celebrating today. My cabin—ourcabin now—stands proud and welcoming in the distance, surrounded by Tessa’s vibrant plants that seem to bloom brighter since she moved in.
I tug at the collar of my shirt, unused to the feel of stiff fabric against my neck. A tie? Hell, no. Tessa might’ve softened me, but not that much.
“Relax,” Ridge mutters, smirking as he hands me a flask. “You look like you’re walking into a firing squad, not marrying the love of your life.”
I grunt, taking a sip of the whiskey. “Not used to this kind of attention.”
“Attention’s all on her,” Liam adds, leaning against a tree with a lazy grin. “No one’s here to see your grumpy ass.”
“Except Shep,” Fox chimes in, nodding toward the dog, who’s lounging under a nearby tree. “He’s the only one who actually likes you.”
“Jealous?” I shoot back, earning a laugh from the group. My friends—the brothers I chose—have stood by me through everything. It feels fitting they’re here now, witnessing this moment that still feels surreal.
Grady claps a hand on my shoulder, his smile genuine. “She’s good for you, Finn. Don’t screw it up.”
I snort, but the weight of his words sinks in. Tessa isn’t just good for me. She’s everything.
The crowd gathers as the ceremony begins, a mix of our friends, neighbors, and a few faces I don’t recognize but know must be from Tessa’s world. Zane Warner officiates, because he insisted. His voice is steady as he starts, but his smirk grows wider when Shep trots forward, the rings tied to a ribbon on his collar.
“Shep, bring them here, boy,” I call, holding out my hand. But the dog pauses, his tail wagging as he sniffs at the crowd, clearly enjoying his moment in the spotlight.
“Guess he’s not in a rush,” Tessa teases, her voice carrying across the clearing. My eyes snap to her, and for a moment, the world fades away. She’s a vision in white, her dress simple but perfect, her hair cascading in soft waves. She’s barefoot, of course—she always says she feels closer to the earth that way.
When she finally stands before me, her hand sliding into mine, I swear I feel the ground shift beneath my feet.
“Thought you’d run,” I murmur, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.
“Not a chance,” she whispers back, her smile teasing but her eyes brimming with emotion. “Even if you are Mr. Wrong–I promise to love you everyday anyway.”
I laugh, loving her even more with every passing moment.
The vows are short, heartfelt, and just us. No fluff, no pretenses. Just promises to love, to fight, to grow together. When Zane declares us husband and wife, I waste no timepulling Tessa into a kiss that earns cheers and wolf whistles from the crowd. She laughs against my lips, her hands clutching the front of my shirt as if she can’t bear to let go.
