Epilogue

EPILOGUE

NIKKI

* A Year and a Half Later *

I t's awkward walking down the stairs while holding my hands over Carson's eyes, but the one thing in this world I don't trust him about is peeking when he's not supposed to, dammit .

I spin him toward his worktable, then drop my hands. "Surprise – happy anniversary!"

His jaw drops and he clutches my arm as he stares at the two photography light boxes on stands, one at either end of his workspace. "Damn. They're perfect."

"You can adjust the brightness, and you'll probably have to drag them around a bit to find the right angles. If you're going to be down here painting at night, I don't want you to hurt your eyes."

I'm swept into an enormous bear hug as he swings me around. "You're not just gorgeous. You're clever and thoughtful. But you know you don't have to spoil me, right? We already did that wedding thing. I'm yours."

What do I even say to that. Carson has already done so much for me. From hardly letting me lift a finger when I moved into his beautiful house, to the way he encouraged me to redecorate the bedroom according to my tastes, not to mention his insistence that I turn one of the two guest rooms into a home office when I landed a beautifully mellow fact checking job for an important psychology journal.

Before I can make another joke, his mouth presses to mine and we are consumed in a fiery kiss. I didn't think it would be possible for us to get hotter every single day, but at this rate, we might burn out before he turns forty.

Kidding.

Carson pushes me away, placing a hand over my heart. "Before you get too frisky, my hot little kitten, I'd like to give you your present."

"Oh hell no." I stamp my foot. "I told you: absolutely not. You already gave me a beautiful wedding and a house. No anniversary gift."

He holds up his hands and pouts. "What if it's really tiny and I did most of the work myself?"

My eyes narrow. "All right. Let's see what you've got, Dirty boy."

He reaches into one of the giant tool chests that he's repurposed to hold his paints and pulls out a small black box tied with a cherry red ribbon. I open it to reveal a tiny Jeep Wrangler, much smaller than his usual work. Naturally, it's my favorite color. Bright red.

I squeal with joy, hugging him. "It's adorable! Is it something I should keep on my desk, or can I use it as a keychain?"

"That's what it's for." He pulls it out of the box, where a key was hiding under a layer of silk padding. "It's just a spare key for the front door, but I…" His face falls. "Damn. I actually didn't test it. I always test keys when I have them cut."

He takes my hand and marches me, still in my nightshirt, to the front door. He flings it open, and my hand claps over my mouth to stifle my shriek when I see the flash of red parked out front.

I've always wanted a Jeep Wrangler. Even before I lived on a mountain, where they really are necessary, not just stylish. When I was little, I thought it was the coolest, boxiest, most fun car ever because you could drive it on the beach, on the highway, in the woods…anywhere.

Carson stands behind me, his hands wrapping around my waist as he takes the key from my shaking hands. "Breathe. And don't be mad, okay? Please?"

My elbow jerks back and digs into his ribs just enough to make a point.

"Because this isn't actually a gift for you at all," he murmurs in my ear. "It's for me. This way I won't have to worry about you on the roads in my rickety smaller truck. And with that bright, happy color, you'll be in a good mood all the time, which will make my life much easier."

I giggle and elbow him again. I've never been as happy and comfortable as I've been since I met this amazing man. "Well, you did everything right except for following the no gift rule." I spin in his arms. "And the no dating rule right off the bat. I might forgive you."

"How about you drive your new Jeep to Jim's for brunch so we don't have to bother making breakfast?"

"Cute and smart. I think I'll keep you." Reaching out, I pinch both of his cheeks, then sneak around him to dash into the house. "First dibs on the shower!"

"No way!" He charges up the stairs right behind me.

I'm not sure if we'll make it to Jim's for brunch, since I know my husband will join me in the shower until the water runs cold.

That's fine. My hot-blooded Dirty boy will warm me right up.

Dirty Secrets is up next!

And for more sexy mountain hunks, check out Wolfe Mountain Men and Winter at Wolfe Mountain Chalet .