“With everything happening, we never got a chance to really talk.”
He smiled. “We have time now.”
“I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you.” She shifted to face him better.
“You don’t know what a relief that is.” He arched a brow. “But?”
“But I see now I should have come to you in the first place. We could have fought this together like we did everything else, but—” Her words evaporated as he cupped her face and moved in for a passionate, over-the-moon kiss.
He kissed her with all the feelings he had been trying to stuff down for a year, and they broke through like the dawn after a long darkness. “Cassie,” he breathed, resting his forehead against hers.
Tears continued to roll down her face, but a smile graced her lips.
“Is this okay?” he asked, tracing his lips across her soft, tender ones.
“It’s a yearlong dream come true. I love you with all my heart, but I understand if you need more time, or if you don’t—”
“How can I kiss you like that and you not know how much I still love you?”
“You do? Even after everything?”
“Would I be here cuddling you, kissing you, if I didn’t?”
“No. I just... I don’t know how you could love me after what I did.”
He caressed her face. “You did it to protect me. And, regardless, my love never faltered.”
She smiled up at him. “Neither did mine.”
“I can’t tell you how amazing that is to hear. I never thought ... I mean, I feared.. .” He swallowed.
She caressed his scruffy cheek.
“I can say it again.” She whispered it in his ear, then kissed his cheek, then whispered in his other ear and kissed that cheek, and then pressed her lips fully to his.
Epilogue
Two weeks later
JOEL APPROACHEDCassie’s red door, joy bubbling inside. Their first date. Well, their second first date, but what it officially was he didn’t care. As long as he was with her, he was happy. Not to mention the fact that Devon would never bother Cassie again.
Reeling from the loss of close friends and Talbot’s cousin, Izzy and Talbot cancelled their large wedding at the resort and instead had a small candlelit ceremony at their local church.
Now, having had more than enough mountains and snow, it was time for him and Cassie. They were planning a trip to the Florida Keys for some tropical time, with Jayce and Mia tagging along. He hadn’t seen that coming, but apparently, they’d been spending time together outside of the group. Regardless, it was a new adventure—one that would be spent with long walks on the beach, soaking up the sun and watching beautiful sunsets next to the woman he still loved and who still loved him.
Joel knocked, and Cassie answered in a cheerful yellow sundress.
“Wow!”
She smiled. “I figured I could dress for the islands and bring this”—she grabbed her navy overcoat—“so I don’t freeze.”
“This is for you.” He handed her a canvas bag.
“What is it?”
“Just a little care package for our trip.”
She fingered the drawstring. “Can I open it?”
