“I guess you’d be an expert on it now,” she teased.
Aware of all the eyes on us, we glanced at the table where everyone watched us, and we both raised our thumbs up.
“Promise me one thing,” I said, keeping a firm smile on my face.
“Anything.”
“If you need help, you’ll come to me right away. I cannot bear anything happening to you.”
“Of course. Gosh, I love you,” she exclaimed and pulled me into a big hug. “And thank you.”
I pulled her toward our family, happier and more at ease than I’d been in a long time because I knew Kian would help me keep my word while at the same time keeping the Baldwin clan safe.
Epilogue
Sophie
Three Months Later
Meet me at 9 p.m. at the Valbona River Hotel. A snake-free environment ensured. Love you. K.C.
When I got Kian’s note, I thought we might be headed for a romantic weekend away, but now as I stared at the empty parking lot, I was confused. Maybe I misunderstood his note.
I pushed open the heavy timber door of the Valbona River Hotel and stepped inside. The massive stone fireplace was dark, the long wooden desk empty, the chandeliers dimmed to a soft, golden glow that kissed the polished floors.
The lobby was silent and empty. No doorman. No guests. Just the distant rush of the river outside and the steady beat of my heart.
I paused just inside the doorway, breathing inpine, wood, and memory. Months ago, I’d left this place somewhat lost. I’d run into the man who would change my life—and me—so I’d never be alone.
Now, I was back as a new woman. I was loved, cherished, and protected.
“Kian?” I called softly, my voice echoing down deserted hallways.
“In here,” came his reply. “Dining room.”
My heartbeat sped up in excitement and I wound around the corner to where the dining room was.
My steps were slow, almost as if moving too quickly might shatter the moment. The hotel felt suspended in time, preserved exactly as it had been the day I’d left. Except this time, the weight in my chest wasn’t fear, but love.
I loved the man more than life itself.
The doors to the dining room stood open, moonlight pouring through the tall windows and spilling across a single table set for two. Candles flickered gently, their reflections dancing against crystal glasses and white linen. Beyond the glass, the Albanian Alps loomed tall and mighty.
And there he was.
Kian stood near the windows, hands clasped behind his back. He wore his usual tailored suit, the silver threaded through his dark hair visible in the candlelight. He looked impossibly handsome, and I felt a thrill that this was my man.
When he turned and saw me, something softened in his eyes. “There she is.”
“Hello, babe,” I murmured, closing the distance between us. “I missed you today.”
My breath caught as he stopped in front of me, close enough that I could feel the warmth of him, the grounding presence that had once steadied me in a moment of panic.
“Ditto.” He pressed his lips on mine and kissed me deeply. It wasn’t until I was out of breath that he pulled away and said, “I’ve waited my whole life for you.”
“I’m glad you did, because I can’t imagine this life without you.” I smiled, hooking my arms around his neck while glancing around us. “Funny, I came here trying to disappear,” I said, “and somehow I found my way back to myself. I found you—the love of my life.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” he replied, pulling me even closer to him. “This place,” he continued quietly, gesturing around us, “was where everything shifted. You didn’t see me at first, but I saw you. And when you jumped into my arms in the parking lot, deep down, I already knew you were mine.”
