At her door, she turns to face me. "So. Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," I confirm. "I'll pick you up around noon? We can grab lunch, maybe drive out to the ranch so you can see it. No pressure to meet everyone yet, just you and me."
"That sounds perfect."
She kisses me one more time, and then she's gone, disappearing into her room. I stand there for a minute, grinning like an idiot, before pulling out my phone.
*Me: I think I'm in trouble.*
*Boone: Good trouble or bad trouble?*
*Me: The kind where I can't stop thinking about her. The kind where I already know once isn't going to be enough.*
*Boone: Told you love was worth trying, little brother.*
*Me: Shut up. Not sure if it’s love. She just makes me want things I never wanted before.*
*Boone: Yeah. That's called love, dumbass.*
*Me: Whatever. I'll see you tomorrow.*
*Boone: Can't wait to meet her.*
*Me: Not yet. We're taking it slow.*
*Boone: Sure you are. Night, Colt.*
I pocket my phone and start the walk back to the ranch. The night air is cool, the stars are bright, and for the first time in my life, I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow. Not because of what I might do or who I might meet, but because I get to see Harper again.
And that's enough. More than enough.
Back at my cottage, I strip off my clothes and fall into bed, but sleep doesn't come easily. My mind keeps replaying every moment of tonight. The way she looked at me over burgers, the way she felt wrapped around me, the way she laughed at my stupid jokes.
The way she said she wanted to stay in Blackwater Falls. For this. For us.
I've spent years avoiding anything serious, keeping everything casual and easy. But Harper doesn't feel casual. She feels important. Like something I don't want to fuck up.
And maybe that's terrifying. Maybe I have no idea what I'm doing. But for once in my life, I'm willing to figure it out. Because Harper is worth it. Worth the risk, worth the fear, worth whatever comes next. I finally drift off to sleep with a smile on my face, already counting down the hours until noon tomorrow.
Until I get to see her again.
Until I get to continue whatever this is we're building together.
Epilogue - Harper
I'm on all fours, gripping the sheets, moaning as Colt pounds into me from behind. We fuck almost every single day, have been for the past year since we met. We can't get enough of each other. Can't keep our hands off each other for more than a few hours before we're tearing each other's clothes off again.
His hand fists in my hair, pulling just hard enough to make me gasp, and he thrusts deeper, hitting that perfect spot that makes my toes curl.
"Fuck, yes," I moan, pushing back against him. "Right there, don't stop—"
"Not planning on it," he growls, his other hand gripping my hip hard enough to leave marks. I love it when he leaves marks. Love seeing the evidence of what we do together.
I'm so close, right on the edge, when the doorbell rings.
"Fuck," Colt mutters, but he doesn't stop. Keeps thrusting, keeps pulling my hair, like whoever's at the door can just wait.
The doorbell rings again.
