Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)(98)

His arms were around her and there was only one more thing that could make this perfect, that could bring them closer. “Tell me what’s going through your head right now, Remy.”

“Here,” he said, whispering the words in her ear because they were meant for her alone. She’d figured that out. Those glorious poems that ran through his head were for the two of them. “It is here we rise. Here on this spongy earth, where water and land mingle. Here, where the trees rise from the bayou and not flat dirt. Here we are born. Oh, our story might begin somewhere else, the once upon a time happening in a kingdom of concrete and neon. But happily ever after starts here. This is where two decide to become one. Where that odd one will multiply to three and four. Where the whisper of soulmates starts a new generation. Here on this soil, this soul we share, here where the butterflies live—we begin.”

Tears blurred her vision, but she didn’t need sight. She rested her head against his chest and let those words of his fill her soul as the butterflies danced around her. She could feel their beauty as they welcomed her home.

Butterfly Bayou was a magical place.





Epilogue


Broken Bend, TX

18 months later



Remy looked around the full barn at the Rockin’ R Ranch. The entire barn had been remade into a shabby chic space, a gorgeous wedding and reception venue. Twinkle lights brought intimacy to the dance floor and candles lit each table. A cool breeze swept through the place.

“I can’t believe it. We’re all married. I would have told you that would never happen.” Shane was sitting across from him, his pregnant wife, Talia, standing a few feet away talking with Lisa, Suzanne Burke, and Natasha Blade.

The women were all looking stunning and he had to admit, his old team had done a damn fine job. Each had married far above himself.

Riley sat back, his lips curling up in a smirk. “I would have totally bet against Dec.”

Declan gave Riley his happy middle finger, but he was smiling while he did it. “Fuck you, Blade. Do you have any idea the things I could show you if I wanted to? I know some crazy shit now.”

Riley frowned. “Hey, what could you possibly know that I don’t? I get that your girl is in the business. We all love her show. But I’ve got Hollywood connections, too.”

Declan had married a TV chef. Suzanne had a popular show called Angel in the Kitchen. Lisa enjoyed it and had made many a delicious meal from Suzanne’s repertoire.

“Uh, Suzanne’s connections are way deeper than Hollywood,” Dec replied. “And Shane, I met a doctor who thinks Talia is the bomb. Name’s Eidolon and he’s such a fan. Says he rarely sees humans as brave as Talia.”

“Humans?” Shane asked.

“I mean researchers. You know, doctors who could make a shit ton of money off their work, but they give it up to the betterment of mankind.” Declan had gone a little pink. “You know, humans. You have another word for it?”

Riley shook his head. “Dude, you have gotten even weirder since you left.”

Declan’s mouth went wide with a smile of pure joy. “Brother, you have no idea.”

“Hey, I’ve seen some weird stuff in my day,” Remy said. “Did you know that Lisa and I met this crazy assassin guy who thinks he’s the descendant of a vampire?”

Riley and Shane chuckled.

“Which one?” Declan asked, his eyes perfectly serious.

He really had gotten weirder and he’d actually developed a sense of humor. “He didn’t say.”

“Probably for the best,” Declan replied. He pushed his chair back and stood up. Wade Rycroft had just walked up, looking good in his tux. But then they were all wearing them since they were Wade’s groomsmen. “Hey, there’s the man of the hour. I see your old friend is here. Not many people get to say Emily Young was their wedding singer.”

Sure enough, up on the small stage at the head of the barn, a band was getting ready to play and the famous country singer was smiling and preparing for a set. Wade had once been her bodyguard and was close friends with her husband, Cooper Townsend.

Wade joined them, a wide smile on his face. “Ah, you know I’m sure she does that for all her friends. She told me she misses playing small venues now that she does her own stadium tours. I say, hey, Em, gotta barn for you right here.” He chuckled. “I’m happy she and Coop could make it. Did you get to see Sadie and Chase?”

“Yeah, she looks great,” Shane said. “I did not tell her that we’ve gone through three receptionists in the year and a half since she left. No one can handle the big guy’s bad temper.”

“He does not handle transition well,” Declan said.

“He doesn’t handle transition at all,” Wade agreed. “Shane and I have been trying to get him to refill the spots. He always finds something wrong with the candidate. Sometimes the candidate walks out in the middle of the interview. One of them actually ran. It’s crazy.”

“The big guy will come around.” At least Remy hoped he would.

“Do you think so?” Riley asked. “After what happened with Ezra and his group? I don’t know. He hasn’t been the same since.”

Remy didn’t like to think about what had happened to that group of men they called the Lost Boys, but it hadn’t been Big Tag’s fault. “He can’t blame himself. No one saw that coming.”