Epilogue

EPILOGUE

WES

Four months later

T onight was the celebration of the Rosesmith Estate being named an historical site. Sutton was ecstatic because it meant the house could never be torn down to make way for something else.

The party served the dual purpose of raising money to restore the house to its original condition, including paint colors, trim, and even the purpose for each room.

Sutton had been researching these details and sharing what she discovered on her social media accounts. Then her followers started sending money, and it prompted her to create a nonprofit that would help fund the restorations and the museum.

The work would be completed slowly so she could ensure that everything was done right, and she wasn’t disturbing Mrs. Rosesmith’s house while she still lived there.

Apparently, Sutton’s grandmother got a kick out of me— her words, not mine— and we were frequently invited to breakfast .

Sutton and Mrs. Rosesmith convinced Evelyn and Deacon to live in Sutton’s old house. It gave them privacy and allowed Sutton more room to work on the big house and leading guided tours.

The next step was offering weddings and other events in the room on the back of the house and in the gardens. Her ideas would bring in more money, but Sutton’s inspiration was to share the property with more people.

She didn’t want to keep Rosesmith for herself. I loved her huge heart.

Tonight, if everything went according to plan, we’d be renewing our vows in the gardens in front of all our family and friends. But Sutton had no idea.

It was hard to keep a secret from her, especially since it involved her family. But I knew she wouldn’t want to do this anywhere else. It was the natural point in our relationship for me to propose, but we were already married. Since that wasn’t an option, I wanted to give her the next best thing.

Sutton walked out of the closet in a blush-colored dress, her hair in some complicated updo, and her feet bare. She’d never been more beautiful.

She might have been my wife, but tonight I’d make her mine again. My heart swelled with love for her.

She stood in front of me and said, “Do you need help with your bow tie?”

When she reached for the ends, I snagged her wrist and pushed her hand down so that it was pressed against my dick. “I need your assistance a little lower.”

Her eyelashes fell to half-mast. “Do you?”

“I’m aching for your mouth.”

She palmed my cock through the material of my dress pants. “We can’t have that now, can we?” She slowly lowered my zipper, shoving down my pants and then my briefs. Then she fell to her knees.

The site of my wife on her knees in front of me had me harder than I’d ever been.

Sutton leaned forward, her hand surrounding the base while she licked the precum from the tip. “I’ll take care of this for you.”

When her painted red lips widened, taking in my dick, I groaned. She was gorgeous, and this entire scenario was too much for me. I wasn’t going to last.

She bobbed up and down on my dick, her hands working me until the telltale tingle started at the base of my spine.

My hand drifted to her hair, and she looked up at me, innocent and sweet and so very naughty. I let it rest in the strands, not guiding her but to stay connected.

She redoubled her efforts, sucking harder and squeezing me tight when the orgasm barreled through me, and I came in her mouth. She swallowed me down, then licked her lips while I tugged her to her feet.

“I want to spread you out on the bed, but I don’t want to mess up your hair.”

Sutton’s lips parted.

I sank to the carpet, lifting her skirt to her hips, then slid her panties down her legs and off.

She looked down at me, swaying slightly on her feet.

Then I touched her slit, never taking my eyes off her. “You’re so wet from sucking my cock.”

Sutton nodded.

“I’m going to take care of you.” In the same way she took care of me, and not just today but every day of our lives.

I eased her feet farther apart and sucked and licked, easing a finger inside her until she gripped my shoulder for balance.

When I eased a second finger inside, I sucked hard on her clit, and she spasmed around me. I eased her through her release, slowly pulled away, making sure she was steady on her feet, then stood.

“Let’s get cleaned up. We have a party to attend.”

“Why can’t you ever wait until after the party to get down and dirty?” Sutton asked as I led her into the bathroom.

“You like it that I can’t control myself around you.” I winked at her over my shoulder.

Her lips curled. “Maybe.”

In the bathroom, I wet a washcloth with warm water and cleaned Sutton, loving when she let me take care of her.

Then she fixed her dress and reapplied that red lipstick I loved so much.

“I want to mess that up again at the end of the night.” She didn’t know it, but we’d be spending our night in the same room we’d stayed in on our wedding night.

When we were dressed and my bow tie straight, I waited for her to slip on her shoes and grab her clutch.

Sutton licked her lips. “I’m nervous about tonight.”

“I’m excited for you to be recognized for all your hard work. You deserve it.”

Sutton took my offered elbow, and we headed outside to my truck. “You know my grandmother loves any excuse to throw a party.”

Mrs. Rosesmith agreed to come for a short time, then to go to her room and take it easy. She had a live-in nurse, Betty, who was capable and friendly but never failed to remind her when she needed to take a break. She was invaluable .

“Hopefully, tonight is less eventful than her birthday party.” I helped her into the cab, then climbed in to turn on the engine.

“It had better be. My heart can’t take any more emergencies.”

Hopefully, that same thought didn’t extend to surprise vowel renewals. Tonight was about the historical plaque that was added to the front of the house, but it was also about us. How far we’d come and the future we had in front of us.

I saw our kids running through the big house and on the grounds, creating the same memories as Sutton, except with a lot more love and affection.

At the house, we made our way to the gardens in the back where the wedding was to be held. The idea was to showcase the new garden that Sutton gifted her grandmother. It included all her favorite flowers and plants, and tonight it would be the location of our vowel-renewal ceremony, where everyone was in on the surprise.

When we reached the stone path, our guests were waiting for us in chairs that were decorated with purple and white flowers.

When the music started, everyone rose and faced us. This time, I was walking Sutton down the aisle because no one was giving her away.

“What’s this?” Sutton asked, her forehead wrinkled as she took in the setup, including the minister waiting at the end of the aisle.

I turned to face her, holding both of her hands in mine. “It’s our vow-renewal ceremony.”

Her nose scrunched. “I don’t understand. Isn’t that something couples do at ten years or more?”

“When we got married the first time, it was out of necessity, but I always hoped it would bring us here to the moment when we were in love and ready to pledge our lives to each other.”

Sutton’s eyes were shiny.

I dropped to one knee. “Sutton Eleanor Rosesmith, will you marry me again? This time, knowing we love each other more than anything.”

“Yes, I will.” She tugged me up, and I kissed her. When I pulled back, she said, “I can’t believe you planned this without me knowing.”

My lips quirked. “It wasn’t easy.”

The music started again, and this time she curled her hand around my elbow, and we walked toward our family and friends.

When we reached the front, we turned to face each other.

Sutton asked softly, “Did you see that Axel’s here?”

I looked over at where he stood next to my family, looking stoic in his military uniform. “It worked out with his leave.”

“Thank you for organizing this.” Her eyes were shiny again, and although I didn’t want to upset her, I think she was happy.

The minister’s voice rang out with his opening remarks about love, but I was lost in Sutton’s eyes. We repeated the vows, and when it was time for rings, I slid a second band onto her ring finger to represent this wedding. I was always committed to Sutton, but our second wedding made everything official.

I hope you loved Sutton and Wes’s story! Read more about their happily ever after in their bonus epilogue !

Violet and Ryder’s second chance at love is next in Follow My Heart ! These two planned pretend wedding ceremonies for themselves in second grade. Now they’re both living in their hometown again, looking for a fresh start. Will they get a second chance at love?