EPILOGUE

Stone

“Do you, Boone, take Sarah to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, forsaking all others, until death do you part?”

“I do.” My little brother’s voice shook and I wondered if it was from nerves or tears.

Damned if there wasn’t something making my eyes a little blurry as I watched him take his vows.

Standing next to Harper in the small clearing between the trees, I watched the ceremony proceed beneath the twig arbor I’d built and had strung with white lights.

With barely a week left until Christmas, there were fewer cut trees in the lot, which turned out to be a good thing since we needed the extra room for all the guests. It seemed half the town had turned out. 

There was no guest list for Boone and Sarah’s wedding. Just an open invitation to anyone who wanted to come. That was my little brother. He didn’t follow the rules.

Just like how he and Sarah didn’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen. I signed their marriage certificate, along with Sarah’s sister, so I guess technically we were the best man and maid of honor, but that was where our official duties ended.

No one had to worry about renting tuxedos or buying overpriced bridesmaid dresses.

Although Cash and I did stick with tradition and take Boone out for one final blast last weekend for his bachelor party.

We’d hit up every bar in the area. All three of them, ending with the one at Mudville House where we’d crashed in one of the guest rooms, courtesy of Brandon who’d joined us and comped not just the room but also our drinks and breakfast in the morning.

I was happy to be able to stand with Harper and the rest of my family and the other guests rather than up at the altar with Boone. 

In fact, except for the extra work of getting the farm spruced up and decorated, which we had to do anyway for the Winter Wonderland and Christmas tree lot, this had all been easier than I’d anticipated.

With Boone setting the precedent, I could only hope Harper would choose to do something similarly simple for our wedding.

I glanced down at her now and caught her wiping away tears. I took that as a sign she approved of Boone and Sarah’s choices for the ceremony, which was now ending with the traditional kiss.

Squeezing Harper closer to my side, I leaned down and said, “We’re next.”

She glanced up at me with eyes glistening and a red nose from the cold. “Yeah.”

“Come on. Let’s get you inside. It’s freezing out here.”

Since we were outdoors, even with the heaters around us and the shortened ceremony the paster had kept brief in deference to the weather, it was too chilly to stay outside any longer than we had to. 

We followed the group as we all moved into the barn where more heaters were running and there was a table set up with mulled wine, and hot cider for the non-drinkers and kids.

Tables laid with charcuterie boards laden with locally sourced cheese, meat and fruit dotted the space.

The centerpiece of the room was the multi-tiered cupcake tower which soared high above the table. Apparently Boone and Sarah couldn’t decide on one flavor for their wedding cake, so they went with an assortment of cupcakes.

I wasn’t complaining. Bethany’s cupcakes were the best.

The biggest surprise of the night was that the former mayor’s daughter, Emily Pickett, was the musical entertainment until the band arrived.

Harper had told me Emily had been the one to steal the campaign signs and then she proceeded to convince Boone to hire her anyway, proving life with Harper was bound to keep me on my toes.

Emily’s guitar playing had accompanied Sarah up the aisle, but now she sat next to a Christmas tree, strumming and singing along to a familiar carol I recognized but couldn’t name.

“This is so perfect.” Harper sighed. “I’m glad Boone and Sarah hired her instead of using a sound system.”

I glanced down and saw her smiling as she watched Emily play. “Uh. Yeah.”

I had to guess Harper didn’t know the rest of the reason why I was so surprised she’d convinced Boone to hire this particular musician.

Emily and I had a history. Way, way back in high school. So long ago it was barely a distant memory. But I had a feeling Harper might not feel the same. Although, who knew? My woman never failed to surprise me.

What was a shock was that no one had told her about Emily and me. That was both a miracle and a problem because that meant, in the interest of full disclosure, I would have to. And with all these people around who could spill the bean, I’d better do it now.

This should be fun.

“So, there’s something you should know,” I began.

“Yeah?” She continued to watch Emily, not even looking at me as I spoke.

“I, uh, lost my virginity to Emily Pickett when we were both seventeen.”

She slowly pivoted to stare at me. “The guitarist?”

“Yes.”

“The mayor’s daughter?”

“Yes.”

"Did you date her?"

"Nope."

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it?” I was afraid to be relieved.

“Yeah. It makes even more sense that she’d steal my signs. Maybe she was jealous of you and me.”

I truly doubted that. I was just a blip in the timeline of her life, but if that theory made Harper happy, I was willing to go with it.

“I guess.” This had gone well, which was probably why I still had the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“But just so you know,” Harper began. “when we go to my next high school reunion together, I’m so gonna introduce you to the guy I lost my virginity to.”

And there it was. That shoe hitting the floor.

I smiled and pulled Harper closer. “I would expect nothing less.”

I’d just gotten my lips near Harper’s when Red and Cash rushed over.

“Oh my God. Isn’t this beautiful?” Red asked, clutching a cup of mulled wine with one hand and my brother with the other.

Cash shook his head. “I have to admit, I thought Boone was nuts when he told us he wanted to have the wedding in the barn. But as it turns out, it works.”

“It does,” Harper agreed, her eyes now on Boone and Sarah as they slow danced and looked so happy that even I was in danger of getting a little choked up. 

I wrapped my arms around Harper from behind and watched them as Cash said, “Next year, that’ll be you two.”

“Have you decided when yet?” Red asked. 

“No. I love this idea, but I don’t want to copy Boone and Sarah and have a Christmas wedding too.”

“They won’t mind.” Cash blew out breath. “Hell. We could make it a Morgan tradition. A wedding every Christmas.”

“And who would be next after us?” I asked. “You and Red?”

Both Red and Cash froze like a deer in headlights.

“I’m not sure they’re up for that,” Harper said, watching them react just as I had.

“Come on, you two. Jump in. The water’s fine.” I grinned, enjoying teasing my brother, especially now I could see how uncomfortable it made him.

“You would say that.” Cash scowled at me. “Misery loves company, you know.”

“Hey.” Harper glanced up at me. “I think I’ve just been insulted.”

Red backhanded Cash. “Don’t be rude.”

As Cash and Red debated his behavior, I leaned close to Harper’s ear. “Honestly, I’d be happy if we didn’t have a Christmas wedding.”

“Why?” she asked, twisting to face me.

“I’m not sure I want to wait a whole year to marry you.”

She smiled. “Aww. You’re so sweet.”

“So what month should we do it?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist.

Now that I’d committed to her, I wanted to get the plans started. 

She narrowed her eyes, contemplating. “Maybe spring when the apple blossoms are blooming? That would be a pretty time of year. Or, no. Maybe fall when the leaves are changing and the pumpkins are ripe. But are you too busy then, harvesting or something?”

I laughed, shaking my head at her.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“I think my city girl has turned country. You’re planning our wedding around the harvest. And no, I’d never be too busy to marry you. No matter what time of year it is. So choose whatever month you want.”

She bit her lip. “I’ll think about it and get back to you.”

“While you’re thinking, I have some good news for you.” I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten to tell her. Although it had been hectic getting all the last-minute things done for the wedding. “Your little library can stay at Agnes’s house.”

“What?” Her eyes grew wide.

“Yup.” I nodded. “So you—or more likely I—can paint over your little message about it being private.

“But how? Why?”

I lifted a shoulder. “I was at the library board meeting during the week and heard some smug comments. Enough that I deduced it was the library board behind the complaint that led to the violation.”

“You deduced?” she asked, with a smile.

“Yes, I deduced. You’re not the only one who can use fancy words, you know.” I cocked up a brow in challenge.

She wobbled her head back and forth. “Well, to be fair, it’s not that fancy of a word.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Do you want to hear this or not?”

“Yes, of course I want to hear it.” She slapped at my arm playfully.

I contemplated making her wait but then gave in. “So they admitted they made the complaint to the zoning board.”

“But why?” 

“Apparently, so many people use your book box that they think it’s taking business away from the public library.”

“What business? It’s not a store. They don’t sell books. They are on loan for free. And they’re only open like three days a week for a couple of hours and they don’t shelve any romance novels and—"

I held up one hand to stop her rant. “I know. I know. That’s all true.”

“Did you tell them all that?” she demanded.

“Yes. And I also told them, in my new official capacity as mayor, that they had a choice. If you had to remove your little library, then the town library would have to step up to fill the need that yours serves. So they would have to add romance books to the collection and they’d have to expand their hours drastically.”

She widened her eyes. “What did they say to that?”

“That they would withdraw the complaint and wouldn’t pursue the technical violation on your little library.”

“Technical violation, my ass—"

“Hey. Relax. You won.”

“I still want that stupid ordinance about no structures for public use being on private property overturned.”

“Working on it, baby. There are a lot of archaic local codes that need looking at in this town. I can’t guarantee anything, but give me time.”

As it turned out, I kind of enjoyed pawing through the code book. It was a nice change from scrolling through the posts on the Mudville forum. 

“I’ll give you all the time you want. A lifetime, in fact.” Harper tugged me closer by the lapels of my wool sports jacket.

I tightened my arms around her. “One lifetime might not be enough.”

A crease formed between her brows as she thrust out her lower lip and said, “Aww. So sweet.” 

She’d liked that, just as I hoped she would. I was getting good at this romance stuff.

I leaned low and finally got the kiss I’d been denied before when Red and Cash had interrupted us.

“Aw, jeez. Get a room, you two.” Cash, of course, couldn’t let me enjoy it.

“What do you expect from Mister and Ms. Naughty?” Red said.

I drew in a breath and leaned my forehead against Harper’s. “I knew we should have remained anonymous for that damn column.”

She frowned. “No way. It’s good publicity. It’ll bolster my romance author branding.”

“So now I’m part of your branding?” I rolled my eyes, playing with her. “And I thought it was bad when you kept writing sexy farmers into your books.”

“Don’t worry. Now I’m writing a sexy deputy.”

I frowned and glanced across the room at Carson Bekker. “I’m not sure I like that.”

“You’ll get used to it. Just like you’ll get used to me using details of our sex life in my books.”

“Doubtful on both counts.”

Was that really a concern? Did she write our sex into her books?

I didn’t have time to ask as Bethany came skidding to a stop in front of us.

“Oh my God. You guys have to come over quick. Alice had a bit too much of the spiced wine and now she’s spilling all sorts of tales. She just told me she lived in France during World War II.”

Harper’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “Oh my God. Do you think she could have worked with the French Resistance?”

“Maybe!” Bethany nodded.

Red turned to Harper. “We’ve got to get over there.” 

Harper glanced back at me, a question in her eyes.

I smiled. “Go.”

“Thank you.” She and the girls were off in a flash, leaving Cash and I behind, forgotten.

I watched the women bob and weave through the guests to get to the table where Alice sat with Brandon.

“You got your hands full with that one,” Cash said.

“And you don’t with yours?” I snorted.

“Yeah, I do.” Cash glanced sideways at me. “I guess we both got lucky, huh?”

“We sure as hell did.”

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed catching up with Stone and Harper and all the folks of Mudville.

If you missed it, you can read how Stone and Harper met and fell in love in the bestselling romantic comedy KISSING BOOKS.

Red and Cash, Bethany and Brandon, Boone and Sarah, and Carson all have books too, so be sure to check those out. 

And for more small-town holiday fun in Mudville, don’t miss UNDERCOVER SANTA, a standalone, second chances, reunion romance two decades in the making.

Happy reading!

Cat

DON’T MISS ANY OF THE MUDVILLE CRAZY!

KISSING BOOKS (Stone/Harper)

RED HOT (Cash/Red)

HONEY BUNS (Bethany/Brandon)

ZERO FORKS (Boone/Sarah)

UNDERCOVER SANTA * (Elizabeth/Christopher)

MISTER NAUGHTY (Stone/Harper)

DOG DAYS * (Stephanie/Michael)

BAD DECISIONS (Carson)

Note: All titles listed above are full-length novels except the two marked with an * that are novelettes.