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KATE TIPPED HER HEAD BACK and let the warm California sun beat down on her skin, burning away the sorrow of the last few days.
The situation with Sebastian could have been prevented, had she just trusted her instincts. She may have screwed up, but something good came from it.
She could let William go.
She pushed herself up, picked up the urn, and headed for the water. A light breeze blew, making what she was about to do a whole lot easier.
“I can let you go now. I’m strong enough. I’m ready to move on. I’m sorry I made you wait so long.” She slid the lid off the urn and found it full to the brim. She glanced away fast, not wanting to have the last memory of William be the dust he’d been reduced to. “I’m glad I waited. I got to turn forty with you after all.”
She waited for a gust to sail through, then tipped the container into the sea. “Be well.”
The urn emptied, and she tucked it back under her arm as the current sucked what was left of William into the wild sea.
Laughter bubbled up inside her at what seemed like lead weights heaped on her shoulders. Despite the sorrow of the past few days, she smiled with the freedom of it.
She dropped to the damp sand and watched the waves carry William away, to where his dreams could finally come true.
“Is this seat taken?”
Kate jumped at the sound of Sebastian’s voice behind her. “What the hell do you want?” she said, craning her neck and scrambling to her feet to find not only Sebastian, but Abby, Ben, their kids, her parents, and five players from the Cobras. “What’s going on?”
“You stood me up,” he said, handing her his Tallulah Brew cup.
“I gave up coffee,” she said, raising her chin in defiance.
He grinned. “Liar.”
“Whore,” she spat the word at him, so he would know just what she thought of his womanizing ways.
He winced, and pink tinged his cheeks. “Ouch.”
God, she hated that she even cared that the words had hit him hard. “Truth hurt?”
“Nah, you just made a fool of yourself in front of all these people” he said, gesturing to the group standing with him.
A buzzing started in her ears as the audience stared at her.
Ben and Abby with smiles. Her parents with shock. And the players...just quiet amusement and smirks.
“Explain.”
He took a sip of the coffee. “You were misinformed. You know those fetuses I warned you about? Seems as though you had a run-in with one who happened to follow my guys into town. They overheard a conversation, and understood maybe half of it before relaying it to you. I have witnesses,” he said, glancing back at the group he’d brought with him.
The ease with which he stood there drinking from the cup made her want to pinch him. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“Do you see me laughing?” he asked.
She squared her shoulders. She had her pride, and she wouldn’t be some cheap piece of ass. “I’m not interested in being your ‘for right now.’”
He tilted his head and squinted in the sun. “Funny, I recall the first day we sat on the beach together, that’s all you were interested in.”
She set her hands on her hips. “You know what I mean.”
“I would never use you for sex,” he said quietly.
She caught sight of her father, flushing with embarrassment, and her mother, taking it all in with a warped fascination that made Kate wonder if she were planning for more grandchildren...other than the ones Abby and Ben were producing at breakneck speed.
“Is it true?” she asked the group. “I’m not just some conquest?”
The player in the front stepped forward and cleared his throat. “No, ma’am.”
She lifted her eyebrow and regarded him. “Ma’am?”
“Uh, sorry. I’m a Southern boy,” he said with the kind of accent that made women want to dance on tailgates in cowboy boots by a roaring bonfire with a good beer in their hand, “and we’re not supposed to address a lady by her first name until we’re formally introduced, but since my mama’s not here to box my ears, no, Kate. You’re not just a conquest.”
“Oh, God,” she muttered, rubbing her forehead. “I just made a huge ass of myself.”
Sebastian slid his arm around her waist and smiled down at her. “Maybe a little, but my friends won’t hold it against you.” He kissed the corner of her mouth, his lips sliding along her cheek to her ear. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart.”
He pulled a box from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said with a wary glance at the box. “It’s only been a few days, and we just had a colossal misunderstanding. I’m pretty sure neither of us is grown up enough to get married.”
“Open the box, Kate.”
She flinched as she opened the lid, and let one eye crack open.
A platinum necklace with a convertible car charm dangling from the chain winked up at her in the brilliant sunshine.
She threw back her head and laughed. “Our first date.”
“First of many. Happy birthday,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. He glanced down at the urn in the sand. “You think William will approve?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her clean off her feet.
The wind kicked up and washed over her. For just a split second, it was as if William were there, running his hand over her hair again, just like he used to.
“I think he already does,” she murmured.
Dropping her to her feet, he cupped her face and brushed his lips over hers. “I love you,” he murmured against her lips.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
“For now?” he asked.
She shook her head as tears welled up in her eyes. “Forever.”
TALLULAH NIGHTS 
EPILOGUE
