Both dogs followed her, making him shake his head. “Traitors,” he called after them as he pulled himself off the ground.
He watched her from the window as she fed the dogs and took the buns from the oven. Cole glanced around him, scanning the mountain that drew him here. At first, he thought he needed the change of scenery to heal from losing his best friend. Maybe John played a part in getting him here to the team who vowed to help him find the person responsible for his death.
It didn’t matter. Everything fell into place. Cole didn’t feel restless or lost anymore, thanks to his four-legged friend. Hannah thought he gave her the stars and the moon. Little did she know, he’d give her whatever her heart desired. He anticipated introducing her to his parents. They’d love her instantly.
Brody barked, gaining his attention. Cole walked toward him. The dog’s tongue lolled to the side, and he smiled as if he knew his antics of taking a pinecone to a stranger ended up binding them together.
Cole proudly watched the woman he loved as she spoke animatedly on the phone. The mountain brought him here, and Brody gave him Hannah. He knew her trauma didn’t end with one night, but he vowed to stay by her side because healing Hannah meant he found a lifetime of love. Who wouldn’t trade the moon and stars for that?
EPILOGUE
Cole droveHannah and her parents to the facility. The team took the day before Christmas Eve to spend with the kids, giving the women a break after the blizzard.
“Who will stay with you when Cole spins up?” her dad asked.
“I’m staying at the cabin. Brody and Brownie will keep me company. During the day, I’ll take them to the training center for Archer to work with them and get some energy out.”
“I don’t like the idea of you staying there all by yourself,” Conrad grumbled.
“I’m not by myself. Gabby and Claire plan to come over and play cards one night and then we’re having a movie marathon at Kassie’s the following week. Samantha invited us all for a spa day when the team spins up,” she explained.
“You don’t know how long they’ll be gone with these things,” her dad worried.
“Then, why don’t you stay here until I return?” Cole asked her dad as he turned into the parking lot. Leo permitted her to bring her parents to meet everyone, hoping to allay his concerns.
“We can’t stay in a hotel forever and we’re not encroaching on Hannah’s privacy,” her mom exclaimed. “I will miss you terribly when we leave.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” Hannah said sadly. Her dad spent the last week spending time with her and she didn’t want it to end. Plus, she wanted to stay near her mom if her health changed.
“Why don’t you move here? My parents moved to Phoenix when my sister gave birth to their first grandchild,” Cole suggested. “Then you and Hannah can catch up, you won’t worry about her, and it’ll save a ton of money on flights.”
“We can’t up and move here,” her mother said, laughing.
Her dad stroked his chin. “Why not? You said you enjoyed the community center and got along with all those women. Cole’s right. Hannah’s our only child. She’s settled here. I, for one, don’t want to miss out on spending time with my grandchildren.”
“You mean, you’d consider it?” her mom said, surprised.
“Yes, as long as Hannah feels comfortable with it,” he added.
“I’d be thrilled if you moved here. Then, we can spend more time together,” Hannah replied as she squeezed her mom’s hand.
Cole helped her down from the van and Hannah released Brody and Brownie. They entered the facility and Cole pointed things out to her father. With the two men occupied with military talk, Hannah showed her mom her office and introduced her to the team.
Patch entered the kitchen, sporting a splint on his nose. He held his hands up in surrender at seeing her. Hannah approached him and made a face. “Does it hurt a lot? I’m truly sorry.”
“It doesn’t hurt as much as listening to Knight tell everyone I got beaten up by a girl,” he grumbled. “It’s all right, Stormy. Everyone made it out and that’s what matters.”
“Wait until you have kids,” Leo warned him. “Melody didn’t understand why Hannah hit me. Kit Kat explained the accidentto her and reiterated that violence is never the answer. My kid has become a terror lately, bossing her baby sister around.”
Patch chuckled. “I guess I lost the bet. We assumed Grace would act as the enforcer.”
“You might still win that bet. She’s a redhead and has her mother’s temper,” Leo admitted. “Grace will grow up and make me proud like Sparky and Stormy. Melody, on the other hand, plans to follow in her mother’s and grandmother’s footsteps into nursing.”
“What about Derrick?” Shadow asked as he set some snacks on the table.
“He’s still clinging to his mother’s breast too much for me to know,” Leo said glumly. “I finally get a son and he turned into a mama’s boy.”
“Take it from my experience, boy or girl, they’ll steal your heart and you’ll worry about them even when they’re adults. Enjoy every minute and have no regrets,” Hannah’s dad told the group as his eyes glistened with pride for her.
