Page 30 of The Mechanic's Match
Her laughter is soft, genuine, and it makes something in my chest loosen.
“Come on,” I say, opening the truck door for her. “Let’s go home.”
She hesitates for a moment, her eyes searching mine. Then she climbs in, her movements graceful and sure.
Home. It’s a word that’s starting to feel right—because with Amelia, that’s exactly what it is.
Epilogue
Amelia–one week later
The Phantom River flows in the distance, its gentle rush blending with the murmur of laughter and conversation. The old barn has been transformed, strung with fairy lights that cast a golden glow over the weathered wood. The scent of wildflowers fills the air, mingling with the crisp bite of Devil’s Peak in early autumn.
I smooth the front of my dress for the hundredth time, staring at my reflection in the antique mirror that Ridge’s wife, Quinn, lent me. The dress is simple but beautiful—ivory lace with a high neckline and a soft, flowing skirt that feels like a dream against my skin.
“Stop fidgeting,” Indie, King Steele’s wife, teases from where she’s perched on the old loveseat. “You look perfect, Amelia. If Fox doesn’t drop to his knees when he sees you, he’s an idiot.”
I laugh, but my hands keep smoothing. “Thanks, Indie. But Fox isn’t exactly the drop-to-his-knees type.”
Emma, Slate Warner’s wife, pokes her head into the room, her blue eyes sparkling. “You’d be surprised. He’s been pacing like a caged animal out there, muttering about how he doesn’t deserve you.”
My heart skips. Fox, pacing? That’s new.
“He’s got it bad,” Emma adds with a grin. “Now hurry up. The man looks like he’s about to tear down the barn if we don’t start soon.”
I glance at the mirror one last time and take a steadying breath. This isn’t just a wedding. It’s a new beginning. A home.
The barn doors creak open, and the chatter hushes. My heels click against the wooden floor as I step out, and the world seems to pause. Fox stands at the end of the aisle, looking every bit the rugged, grumpy mountain man who stole my heart.
His black suit is tailored but understated, his tie slightly askew like he couldn’t be bothered to fix it. His dark hair is combed back, but the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw softens the edges. And those eyes—stormy, intense, locked on me like I’m the only person in the world.
My heart pounds as I walk toward him. Every step feels like closing a chapter of uncertainty and opening one filled with promise. My dad sits in the first row, wiping tears from his eyes. We’ve had a few conversations in the days since Fox spoke to him, and while our relationship is far from healed, it’s on the path to it.
When I reach Fox, he takes my hand, his grip firm but trembling slightly. His voice is a low rumble. “You look like a damn angel.”
“And you look like you were dragged here against your will,” I tease, my voice soft but playful.
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Only because I don’t deserve this. You. Any of it.”
Before I can respond, the officiant clears his throat, and the ceremony begins.
Later, under the glow of the fairy lights, Fox pulls me aside, away from the laughter and clinking glasses. The riversparkles in the moonlight, and the barn’s music fades into the background.
“You’re quiet,” I say, tilting my head to study him.
He leans against an old wooden fence, his hands stuffed into his pockets. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“About how I got here.” His gaze drops to the ground, his voice low. “About how much of a bastard I was before you came along. And how much better you make me.”
I step closer, placing a hand on his chest. His heart beats steadily under my palm. “You weren’t a bastard, Fox. You were just... guarded. I get it. I’ve been there too.”
He lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “You make it sound so simple. But it’s not. I’ve been carrying this weight for so long, Amelia. Regrets, mistakes... I didn’t think I deserved to feel happy again. But then you show up, messy and chaotic, turning my life upside down.”
“I prefer adventurous,” I correct, a small smile tugging at my lips.
His eyes meet mine, soft and unguarded in a way that takes my breath away. “You’re everything I didn’t know I needed.”
