Epilogue

“Your husband’s blocking the entrance to the parking lot.”

That announcement came from Mrs. Bracegirdle, the town busybody. She’d long been one of Turn the Page’s most loyal customers.

I smiled at her. “I may just have to go have a talk with him about that.”

I leaned over, grabbed a bag from under the counter, and slid her stack of books inside. Mrs. Bracegirdle had a steamy romance addiction she didn’t want anyone in town to know about. Her secret was safe with me.

She nodded toward the woman with a baby in a stroller and a toddler running around her feet. “Well, it looks like it’s not hurting business much.”

My store was bustling with activity. I’d prepared for the usual Biker Blast slowdown—normally it lasted until the bikers headed back up the mountain. Today, though, I’d seen a steady stream of customers. I had a feeling my husband was out there making sure people knew about the special I was having in honor of Biker Blast.

“I’ll go with you,” Mrs Bracegirdle said. “We can give him a piece of our mind together.”

I smiled at her. “Thank you, but I think he might be a little too intimidated by you. Your opinion means a lot to him.”

That wasn’t entirely true, but if there was one thing I knew about Mrs. Bracegirdle, it was that she liked to feel wanted. Important.

She nodded goodbye and headed out of the store. I grabbed the keys to the cabinet that secured my purse and headed out to the street.

Sure enough, Nate stood at the entrance. He wasn’t really blocking it for smaller cars. But what was most notable was he was holding up a sign while talking to an older couple, who were standing in front of his motorbike. The woman was staring at the entrance to my store.

Suddenly, it clicked into place. The stream of women and kids coming in and out. We were doing a story time at noon, but that was a good hour and a half away. People wouldn’t be showing up for that just yet.

Mrs. Bracegirdle’s SUV squeezed through the exit and out onto the main road as I started toward my husband. I was trying not to waddle, but I was six months along with our first baby. We’d been so busy that morning, I hadn’t had time to sit on the stool Nate insisted on me having behind the cash register.

“I hear you’re blocking my entrance!” I called out as I approached. The older couple drifted down to the next bike in line as Nate turned to face me.

“Hey!” he said. “I’m rounding up business.”

Once he was fully facing me, I saw why bookstore business had been booming since we opened. His sign read Twenty percent off all books in large, bold print.

“I know we put the deal on social media and on the Biker Blast website,” Nate said. “But it can’t hurt to remind people.”

I beamed at him. “You’re the best husband ever.”

Life had been amazing since meeting Nate four years ago. He’d started his own business selling motorcycle parts online, and the money was so good, he was able to quit his day job—working construction—a couple of years ago. Between that and my thriving bookstore, money worries were behind us.

“You need to get back inside,” he said, looking down at my belly.

“You’re right.” I turned and looked at the bookstore entrance, only to see the older couple crossing the parking lot toward my bookstore. That reminded me. “I have customers.”

“I’ll move the bike if you want,” Nate said.

“No way.” I smiled at my husband. “You’re the best advertisement a girl could ask for. A gorgeous guy standing in front of my store, directing people this way. I may have you stand out here every day.”

He smiled down at me. “You know I’d do it for you.”

As his arms went around me, the sign lightly smacking my ass, I knew he meant it. He was my hero—the guy who looked out for me no matter what. And soon he’d been looking out for our child too.

It was the security I’d searched for my entire life, and I had it with him and everyone else in this small town. I could travel the world, but why would I do that? I’d never find a better place than Rosewood Ridge.

Who wasthe attractive blonde sitting with Nate’s friend Colin? Find out in distress in Saved by the Mountain Man, Book 3 in the Rosewood Ridge Mavericks series. Get it here.