Life was perfect.
Riversong was packed.
String lights crisscrossed overhead, turning the outdoor patio into something out of a fairy tale. Brianna Taylor—April's cousin and a rising star in the bluegrass world—had her fiddle out and was leading an impromptu jam session with a few local musicians. The music floated over the sound of the St. Vrain River flowing twenty feet below, mixing with laughter and conversation.
The party was officially to celebrate paying off the predatory loan, and the Taylors finally being free of Daniel Foti's shadow, but really it was about community. About family.
Shane stood near the railing, watching April move through the crowd. She was glowing—there was no other word for it. Relaxed in a way he'd never seen her before. Happy. Free.
"So." Elias appeared at his elbow, followed by the rest of Mountain Division. "You and April."
Shane didn't take his eyes off her. "Yeah."
"Took you long enough," Elias said, dropping into a chair at the outdoor table where they'd congregated.
"Shut up." But Shane was grinning.
They settled around the table—Shane, Gabe, Elias, Waylon, Bear, and Ben. Waylon pulled a flask from his jacket pocket and set it in the center of the table.
"Since Riversong doesn't have a liquor license," he said with a smirk.
Gabe grabbed it first, took a swig, and passed it to Shane. "You happy?"
Shane looked through the window at April, who was laughing with Hannah about something, her whole face lit up. "Yeah. Really happy."
The flask made its way around the table. Waylon took his turn and pointed it at Shane. "Good. Because if you screw this up, we're all required to kick your ass."
"Noted."
"You thinking long-term?" Ben asked, his voice quieter than usual.
Shane met his eyes—his best friend since they were kids, the one who'd seen him at his absolute worst, now seeing him at his best. "I'm thinking forever."
Silence fell over the table. Even the music seemed to fade for a moment.
Gabe leaned forward to hear Shane’s answer. "You gonna propose?"
"When the time's right."
"The time's been right since high school, man," Elias said.
Shane's grin widened. "Yeah. Maybe it has."
"You got a ring yet?" Waylon asked. He winked at Ben.
"Not yet. You know anybody who’s good at jewelry?"
Elias held up his left hand and showed off the wedding ring Ben had made for him. “Nope, not a clue.”
The other guys all held up their hands, showing off their equally exquisite wedding rings while they chorused, “Nope.” “No idea.” “Haven’t a clue.”
“All of you suck,” Ben said as he raised the flask to his lips—which, it so happened, he’d made for Waylon.
Bear clapped Shane on the shoulder, damn near causing it to bruise. "About damn time, brother."
They sat there for a while, passing the flask and talking shit the way they always did. Shane felt it settle into his bones—this rightness. These men were his brothers in every way thatmattered. And now he had April and Kevin, too. A family he'd built himself.
The front door opened. Charlie King emerged from inside carrying an empty tray which she began filling with empty glasses and coffee mugs. She was out of her usual bodyguard uniform—no dark suit, no sunglasses—just jeans and a casual top with her hair down. Shane had known Charlie for years of course. Served with her in the Navy, worked with her on a dozen jobs at Watchdog. She’d always been one of the guys to him—she could tell dirty jokes and drink any one of her crewmates under the table. She’d also saved their damn lives on more than one mission. But seeing her like this, relaxed, almost unrecognizable, he understood why Ben kept sneaking glances her way.
