Epilogue

Two months later

“War and Peace and Fifty Shades of Grey.” Mel glanced up at crusty old Gus MacMillan. Up until today, he hadn’t set foot in her library, even with Mel pestering him for months about using his library card. She hadn’t expected miracles. Perhaps she should start. After all, look how her hard work had paid off where Adam was concerned. “Both interesting choices.”

Since the party, things had finally settled into a wonderful routine again—work, home, sleep, repeat—all with Adam by her side. He’d moved into her bungalow about a week after he’d given her the necklace, and they’d put his house on the market. It seemed silly to maintain two residences when they were spending every spare moment they could together, and neither of them wanted to go home at night.

Her new style had settled, too, sort of a blend of old and new. She wore pants now, instead of her skirts, especially on days like today when things were hectic and she’d be up and down the shelves all day. Plus, with the mayor’s new Point Beacon Improvement Project, one never knew when Lilly would be buzzing around with her camera, shooting pictures for the big campaign she was working on. Today, Mel had worn a form-fitting scoop-neck white top and a cute three-quarter-length-sleeved black cardigan with little red embroidered hearts. Beneath it all, next to her skin, was Adam’s heart necklace.

She doubted she’d ever take it off.

After scanning the bar codes on the books, Mel handed them back to Gus along with his slip. “Happy reading, Mr. MacMillan.”

He grunted and tucked the books under his arm, frowning down at his scuffed Red Wing boots. “Nice party your family threw for your birthday. Good to see everyone happy again.” He cleared his throat. “Glad to see you brought that hellion Adam Foster to heel, too.”

Mel winced slightly at the thought of roping in Adam’s wild spirit. It was one of the things she loved most about him. Still, Gus was being nice instead of his usual cantankerous self, so she let it go. “Uh, thanks. I’ll tell him you said hello.”

Gus grunted and turned toward the automatic doors at the exit just as Lilly walked in with her camera in hand and a tote bag full of gear over her shoulder. She was coming by to shoot some photos of the library today for the mayor’s campaign.

“Hey, girl,” Lilly said, putting her stuff down on the circulation desk. “Where should I set up?”

“Um, I’m thinking over there,” Mel said, pointing toward the brightly colored children’s section. “The guest readers should be here shortly, and the kids will start arriving soon. I’ll try to keep James out of your way.”

“What?” Lilly swiveled back to face Mel, her expression stony. “You didn’t tell me he was going to be here, too.”

Since her brother had returned to town, things had been volatile, as usual, between him and Lilly. Mel still hadn’t quite figured out what happened between them all those years ago, but she would, given time. She was nothing if not persistent.

“Um, well, yeah. He and some of the guys from Victory Vets are working on some new plans for the business, and they’re going to use one of the conference rooms in the back for their meeting. Don’t worry. You probably won’t even see him. You’ll be busy doing other stuff anyway. Besides, it is a public library. It’s not like I can keep him out.”

Lilly gave her a look. “Fine. But I don’t appreciate the sneakiness, okay? Next time give a girl a heads-up, yeah?” She walked off to scope out the children’s area for her photo shoot.

Mel exhaled slowly, feeling like she’d dodged a bullet. She had no doubt her best friend would eventually meet someone who’d knock her socks off, if she’d just stay still long enough for it to happen.

The library doors swished open again, and Adam stepped inside.

The cool morning breeze drifted over Mel as he stood silhouetted by sunlight. People were milling about outside, the fall decorations and colors now in full effect. He walked over to Mel, all lithe male grace and masculine perfection in his faded jeans and black T-shirt. His polarized sunglasses hung from the neck of his shirt, and through the glass doors she could see his Harley parked at the curb.

“Hi,” Mel said, giving him a quick peck for discretion’s sake, what with all her senior volunteers watching. “What are you doing here? The meeting’s not for another twenty minutes.”

He gave a nonchalant shrug. “I know. I had a couple things to take care of first.”

“Hmm.” Mel eyed him suspiciously. “What kinds of things?”

Adam came around the desk and slid his arms around her, turning her to face him. He leaned in close, lowering his voice. “Well, I’d say you, but seeing as how we’ve got an audience, I’ll skip the innuendo.” He kissed her nose.

She snuggled into his embrace despite the heat prickling her cheeks. “Thanks.”

The kids for the reading sessions Lilly would be photographing began to wander in, along with their parents, and Adam loosened his embrace to watch them. “I want one of those.”

Mel’s mouth gaped open before she closed it. “What?”

He shrugged and looked back at her. “I want one. A kid. With you. What do you think?”

She was too stunned to speak. Yes, she wanted children. Three, to be exact, but they’d never talked about it before.

“We’d have to get married first,” Adam said, continuing to shock her. “Of course.”

“Uh,” Mel said, at a loss for words. “Do you realize what you’re saying?”

“I do.” He nuzzled her ear and kissed her neck. “Don’t you want to marry me?”

“I…” Mel’s eyes widened at she leaned back to meet his gaze. “Is this a proposal?”

Adam kissed along her jaw to her mouth, then pressed his lips to hers for a long moment.

“Maybe,” he whispered when he eventually pulled back. “Considering what we’ve been through, I don’t think we should rush into anything, but yeah. I’ll do it again properly when you’re ready. A ring, down on one knee, the whole works. Promise.” He kissed her again. “I love you, Mel. We can take our time, because we have the rest of our lives together.”

She blinked away tears to avoid bawling in front of her elderly volunteers, who were still watching them like hawks. “I love you, too.”

“When I do ask you to marry me, what’s your answer going to be?”

She gave him a wobbly smile. “I can’t believe you even have to ask me that.”

His lips curved up. “I’m crazy about you, Melody Bryant.”

“And I’m crazy about you, too, Adam Foster,” she whispered back.

“Dude!” It was James, who’d wandered in for their meeting. “Quit manhandling my sister and get your butt back to the conference room.” He disappeared toward the back of the library, but not before he’d taken a good long look over to where Lilly was working.

Yep. Definitely something going on there.

Adam laughed. “Fine.” He kissed Mel once more before letting her go. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

She watched him head for the conference room, admiring the view of his taut butt in those tight jeans and feeling like the luckiest woman alive.

“You did good, sweetie.” It was Lilly, who’d sidled up to the circulation desk again. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I did, didn’t I? Gotta love a reformed bad boy.” Mel grinned. “What about you, Lils? You never have told me what happened that night before James left.”

Lilly stared at her, her face going a tad pale beneath her perfect makeup. “Nothing happened. Besides, I’ve known him like a billion years. He’s almost my brother, too.”

“But he’s not, though. And don’t think I haven’t noticed the sparks flying between you two whenever you’re around.”

Her best friend scoffed, giving a dismissive wave. “Sparks? Trust me. You do not want to put your brother and me in the same room together. We’d end up killing each other before the night was through.”

“Uh-huh,” Mel said, smiling as she sipped her coffee. “We’ll see.”

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