Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
This is our life now—simple, peaceful, and full of love. No more chaos, no more danger. Just us.
“Smells good,” I call out, leaning back with a contented sigh.
Ranger glances over his shoulder, flashing me one of those rare, crooked smiles that always makes my heart skip. “Better taste good too,” he says, flipping a burger with practiced ease.
“It will,” I reply, grinning. “You’re practically a pro at this now.”
“Only because you keep coming over,” he teases, his voice warm.
I take a sip of my tea, watching the way the sun catches the edges of his dark hair. He invited me over tonight, like he does most nights now, and it feels more like home here than anywhere else ever has.
The days of constantly worrying about my father’s work or being dragged from one corner of the globe to another feel like a lifetime ago.
This is where I belong. With Ranger.
He walks over, and I stand up.
I wrap my arms around his neck, leaning into him as the swing sways gently behind us. “You’re lucky everything worked out,” I say, my voice soft but teasing.
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” he murmurs, his hands settling on my waist. “I’m really good at what I do.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You really are.” I think about how close we came to never seeing each other ever again. How the Earth’s Bounty Group almost got away with kidnapping my father and me.
We stand there for a moment, the world around us fading into the background. His arms are my safe place, his steady heartbeat the rhythm that keeps me grounded.
“Ranger,” I say softly, tilting my head to look up at him.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
His smile is small but full of meaning, and he presses his forehead against mine. “I love you too, Tory Ann. Always.”
The grill sizzles in the background, the ocean waves providing a soothing soundtrack to our quiet moment. I never imagined my life would lead me here—to this man, to this love—but now I can’t imagine it any other way.
It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
I couldn’t be happier if I tried.
The smell of sizzling burgers and grilled veggies fills the air as Dean and his wife, Sophia, step onto the porch, carrying a bottle of wine and a plate of homemade brownies. After Ranger introduces us, Sophia hands me the plate of brownies.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” she says.
“You too. I’ve heard so much about you.” I beam, and motion for her to take a seat on the porch swing. “And these look amazing. I’ll never say no to chocolate.”
Dean follows Ranger to the grill, his casual stance betrayed by the constant scan of his surroundings. I guess it’s second nature to him, just like it is to Ranger.
“How’re the other guys holding up?” Ranger asks as he flips the last burger and sets the spatula down.
Dean rubs the back of his neck, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Few hiccups here and there. Asher’s in over his head pretending to be some heiress’ fiancé. Boone’s babysitting some pizzeria owner who’s apparently feistier than she looks.”
“And Orion?” Ranger asks, handing Dean a beer. “What’s his situation?”
At that, Dean laughs, shaking his head. “Orion’s got his hands full with not just his asset but her damn bird, too. He called me last week, sounding completely defeated.”
Sophia chimes in from her seat, laughing. “A bird? What kind of bird?”
“A big one,” Dean says, chuckling. “He said it’s some exotic thing with an attitude. Jeb, I think it’s called. Woke him up at five in the morning by landing on his head and squawking that it was hungry.”
Ranger nearly chokes on his drink, and I double over laughing.
Sophia wipes a tear from her eye. “I can’t imagine him dealing with that.”
“Oh, he’s dealing with it, all right,” Dean says with a smirk. “Said the bird’s more demanding than his client.”
The laughter carries through the evening, lightening the mood and reminding me of how far we’ve all come. It feels good to be surrounded by people who understand what we’ve been through and still manage to find joy in the little things.
As the sun dips lower, casting the porch in a warm golden glow, Ranger wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me closer. His touch is comforting, grounding me in the moment.
Dean raises his beer in a mock toast. “Here’s to new beginnings, happy endings, and no more birds waking us up at ungodly hours.”
We all laugh, clinking glasses, and for a moment, everything feels perfect.
Later, as the stars begin to dot the night sky, Ranger and I sit side by side on the porch swing, my head resting against his shoulder. The soft murmur of conversation and the distant sound of waves create a peaceful backdrop, and I can’t help but smile.