Epilogue
The May sun was warm as it beat through the car window on Amberly’s body. She looked ridiculous, sitting in the driver’s seat of her car in full bridal regalia.
Standing on the shores of Mystic Lake were Cole and Max and Lexie Walker and her husband, Nick, and the preacher who would make things official between Amberly and Cole.
After eight months of dating, they had decided to marry on the banks of the lake, despite the fact that Cole no longer worked as sheriff in the small town. A month earlier he had become an official member of the Kansas City police force.
She knew they were all just waiting for her to leave her car so they could get on with the ceremony, but at the moment she just wanted to gaze at the man and the child who she loved.
Both were dressed in black tuxedos. Cole had insisted they also wear red bow ties and cummerbunds for the candy that Amberly loved.
In the past eight months, her passion for Cole had never waned, her desire to talk with him and laugh with him had only grown stronger with each passing day. He’d been right. All she’d had to do was believe in them.
As she watched, Max moved closer to Cole and motioned him down to his level. Her heart constricted as Max carefully straightened Cole’s bow tie.
The two had bonded, a bond that hadn’t taken anything away from John but had rather given a gift to both Cole and Max. John had moved on and was dating a blonde named Susan, who loved Max and loved to cook, and Amberly had a feeling, in another six months or so, Max would be attending another wedding.
Her work kept her busy, but she was always eager to head home to her men. Speaking of eagerness, she laughed as Max waved a hand to her in obvious impatience.
Suddenly, she didn’t want to sit in the car anymore. She wanted to be standing on the bank of Mystic Lake with her friends and the two men she loved more than anyone else in the world.
She got out of the car, carefully lifting the hem of the long, simple white dress. As she started toward them, Cole met her halfway, the smile on his face warming her more than a July sun could ever do.
“You ready for this?” he asked.
“Definitely,” she replied. “What about you?”
“I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this moment.” He leaned in and captured her lips with his. Love filled the kiss, along with a dangerous passion that had her half-giddy as the kiss continued.
“Duh…you guys,” Max yelled. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re all waiting.”
Cole broke the kiss with a burst of laughter. He grabbed Amberly’s hand, and they ran toward the others, toward their bright and wonderful future together.
* * * * *