Epilogue

EPILOGUE

C olton stood at the front of the church with Father Ben and his groomsmen. His whole world stopped as Cady stepped out in the gown Sydney had designed for her. Cady was on the arm of Uncle Ollie, who beamed with pride and love for his best friend's daughter.

Colton had gotten to know Ollie very well during the five weeks since their engagement. He was a great guy and had been hanging around Keeneston more and more. Colton would like to think it was because of him and Cady, but it was really because Annie had introduced him to the AP history teacher at the high school. The two had hit it off and were not so secretly dating.

Colton took Cady's hand in his as Father Ben began the ceremony. Colton would like to think he heard every word, but he didn't. All he could think about was how much he loved Cady.

Before he realized it, he was speaking his vows, sliding the ring on her finger, and finally, kissing his wife.

Cady laughed as their friend and country superstar singer Holt Everett, very dramatically announced them as husband and wife. With their hands held tightly, Colton kissed her at the entrance to the distillery before they walked into their reception.

Holt shifted gears and began to sing the song for their first dance. Colton swung her around on the dance floor and paused. He pulled her close and held her tight. "I guess the sight of me in a tuxedo has your panties falling off."

Cady laughed. "Melted off more like it," she whispered as everyone began whispering around them and pointing.

"No, angel. I mean literally falling off. Your panties are caught on your heel."

Cady gasped and looked down. Sure enough, a thong was hooked onto her heel and every now and then poked out from under her wedding dress as they danced.

Cady stopped dancing and kicked her foot out, sending the thong flying. It arched through the air and smacked Ahmed in the face before dropping to the ground. "That's not mine! I'm still wearing my panties," she called out, causing Holt to crack up in the middle of their romantic song.

She was met with disbelieving looks.

"I swear, I'm not the panty dropper!"

"That's true," Sydney called out. "I helped her into her wedding dress and those are not her panties."

The murmurs rose as bets were being placed and as women were swearing they still had panties on. Holt cleared his throat to get their attention and his band began to play again. Colton took her in his arms and they restarted their first dance. "Well, that was memorable," Colton said with a huge smile. "I'm kind of disappointed they weren't your panties. I liked thinking of you naked under that dress."

"That could easily be arranged." Cady tipped her lips toward her husband and that was all it took for Colton to kiss her in the middle of their dance. Their friends and family cheered and Cady had never been happier.

"Ladies!" Annie said, raising her champagne glass triumphantly. "We did it. My last child is married. I am out. Now I can focus solely on grandbabies."

Kenna Ashton, one of her best friends, cheered as she brought out a pen and handed it to Dani Ali-Rahman, who pulled out the old notebook the Rose sisters had passed down to them. Inside the notebook were the names, notes, and ideas for making the best matches for the people of Keeneston. So far, Kenna, Dani, Bridget, Annie, and the rest of her sisters-in-law had been very successful in matchmaking for their children. Bless their hearts, if their kids only knew the lengths they went to help them find their true love.

"I must say, this was rather easy," Paige said.

"Colton was finally ready. We hardly had to do a thing," Gemma agreed.

"I would say put down Andy and Tandy," Kenna said as they all turned to look at the happy couple dancing. "But, we missed out on that one. They're already in love and I'm sure an engagement will come any day now."

"I can't believe we missed that one. It was right there in front of us all along," Paige said with a shake of her head.

"Don't feel bad, even Chrystal missed it," Annie told them about her cousin who was also Andy's mom. Annie smiled as Andy bent down and kissed Tandy in the middle of the dance floor. While they weren't engaged yet, after his injury and Tandy's obvious concern, they'd stopped hiding their romance and were full steam ahead. Apparently, many times when Andy had to scoop up a fart-tased Nikki, it was Tandy who had helped him get her home. Then they'd spend hours talking in his squad car and love had bloomed.

"Now, that only leaves one more..." Dani said, writing Cassidy on the top of the next page. "Well, for now. I think those firefighters, the Everett brothers, and the team that makes up the President's Guard could use our help too."

Tammy, her mother, groaned. "I can't wait for Cassidy to find love, but this one is not going to be easy. She's hardly ever home. She's here and then she's not. She has a better disappearing act than Houdini."

"I think that new soldier, Kori, would be good for her," Bridget said as the discussion turned from Colton and Cady to their next match.

"Bless their hearts, they thought they did this." Cade shook his head and held up his bourbon to his brothers, his brother-in-law, and their best friends, Mo and Ahmed. "To Colton and Cady!"

The men toasted and Miles held his glass back up. "To matchmaking, using the latest in psychological warfare."

"And our wives said it was hard," Marshall said with a chuckle.

"To Ahmed for letting us use his drone," Pierce said as they toasted once again.

"And for Cole for teaching us what not to do," Cy teased as they all slapped Cole on the back.

"He did have a good engagement plan," Mo pointed out. "I feel left out. I was out of the country a lot and missed so much."

"Well," Pierce said, glancing at his daughter, Cassidy. "I have a feeling you're going to be a lot more involved with this next one. You too, Ahmed."

"We're going to need the whole town for Cassidy," Cy warned them before turning to his brother, Pierce. "You had so many kids. It was bound to happen. Dylan took after Miles and Cassidy took after me. And you know how hard it was for me to settle down."

Cade glanced to the side when movement caught his eye. DeAndre and John Wolf were rushing toward them. John was shuffling, but he was using his cane to slow DeAndre down.

"What is that about?" Cade asked.

"They must have news."

The whole group turned to see Cade's father standing there. "Hey, Dad. Didn't hear you join us."

Jake smiled. "I know. And most people don't see me either. Where do you think Cy and Cassidy got it from? Always in the background but never the focus of attention. You know, your wives all think they're responsible for that little matchup, but it has you boys written all over it. Despite your mother's best efforts to manipulate things."

"You knew?" Miles asked, shocked.

"Son, I know everything."

"I have news," DeAndre said at the same time as John Wolf.

"It's about Cassidy," John told them.

"And we want in," DeAndre said.

"In on what?" Cade asked.

DeAndre rolled his eyes and looked at John who was shaking his head. "Amateurs," John muttered.

"I may be sleep deprived, but even I know you all played matchmaker here. We want in on Cassidy. We know she's next. Plus, you need a lot of help with that one."

John nodded. "The women want Kori for Cassidy, but he's meant for someone else."

"And you know who the perfect person is?" Pierce asked.

"We know Mo will suggest Deming Nikan," DeAndre said.

"And we know Pierce will suggest Drake and Elle Charles's son out of Atlanta," John added.

"And that Cade will suggest one of the Everett boys," DeAndre said, ticking off his fingers. "And Marshall will suggest the retiring quarterback of the Lexington Thoroughbreds."

"And we know Miles will suggest one of the soldiers being trained for the President's Guard," John told them.

"But none of us are right?" Pierce guessed.

Cy shook his head and Cade saw John and DeAndre smile at him. "He knows," DeAndre said.

"I mean, I don't know. I thought I saw someone the other night outside the café and it got me thinking," Cy answered.

"And during Kale and Delaney's fight," Jake pointed out.

Pierce held up his hands. "What are you talking about?"

"Like I told you boys, I see everything. Including the man who stayed in the shadows and watched Cassidy's back," Jake said with a smug grin.

DeAndre and John both nodded and smiled.

"What man in the shadows? Who is he?" Pierce asked them.

Cy shrugged. "That's the six million dollar question."

"He's a myth," Ahmed told them.

"Not a myth. Just a man." Jake seemed so sure about this.

"You two don't know him either?" Pierce asked Cy and Ahmed.

"He's more than a myth. He's a legend. He's the boogeyman. They whisper about him all over the world. He swoops in, completes a mission, and is out before anyone sees anything more than a shadow," Cy whispered to them as if this mystery man would just appear. "He's, well, he's the new Ahmed."

"There can never be another me." Ahmed raised an eyebrow, challenging.

"Wait," Pierce said, "that would mean I would indisputably win biggest badass in-laws award. Ha! And you all made fun of my geekiness. Guess I have badass genes."

Miles rolled his eyes at his brother. "Yeah, ours."

"Is that the news? That's who we have to track down and get to fall in love with Cassidy?" Cade asked.

"No, the news is in five minutes Cassidy is about to be called to Crusina on a mission that will change her life forever. And if we don't play our cards right, could end disastrously wrong," John answered.

"Like dead or like married to the wrong man?" Pierce asked.

"Both," John and DeAndre said at the same time.

"What do we need to do?" Pierce asked, suddenly more serious than Cade had ever seen him.

"We need to find the man in the shadows," Jake answered. "And I have an idea of how to do it."

"Bless their hearts," Miss Lily said to her sisters and Marcy Davies. "At least John will be off my back about spending all this time matchmaking. Ironic that he's trying to do it now."

"It's good to see them have a hobby," Miss Violet said. "I'm sure Anton and Charlie will get dragged in somehow."

"I'll make sure to accidentally leave my phone with all my contacts open for Jake to use," Marcy said with a shake of her head. "At least I won't have to bake a thousand apple pies. He thinks he can bribe world leaders with homemade jerky."

"Bless his heart," the Rose sisters all said together.

Miss Lily leaned forward. "So, how do we find out who this man in the shadows is? I've heard he's the new Ahmed."

Miss Violet tsked as if scolding her sister. "There can never be another Ahmed. He's one in a million. I should know. I've had his head in my bosom."

"Do we even know what country he's from?" Miss Daisy asked.

Marcy shook her head.

"All I know is I can't wait to give him a hug. He might have been in all black at the farm, but when he was lit up by the glow of Pam's flame thrower, I can tell you that is one handsome man. I mean, look at this photo of him." Miss Violet scrolled through her phone and showed them a picture.

"My, oh, my," Miss Daisy waved her hand in front of her face. "Marcy, you sure will have beautiful great-grandchildren."

"You have a picture?" Marcy asked and then laughed. "Give me five minutes and one apple pie. I'll tell you who he is."

"And we're sure he's the one? What about Deming?" Miss Lily asked.

"Even Jake saw that this mystery man was the one for Cassidy. That says it all. Deming thinks he loves Cassidy, but he doesn't. He's never met someone like her before and is fascinated. However, his time will come. Now, will Mystery Man be smart enough to know Cassidy is his perfect match or will I need to start baking?"

"Marcy, I might make an extra pie or two and put them in the freezer just in case," Miss Daisy said, "Because, well, he's a man, after all."

"Bless his heart," they all said together.

Cassidy Davies thought she was losing her mind. The latest CIA psych exam said she wasn't. However, she couldn't stop looking in the shadows even as she danced with Cody Grey, one of the sheriff's deputies.

"Are you expecting someone?" Cody asked.

Cody was a player and that was okay with her. They played once, knowing it was never going to go beyond that. Then they entered the strange land of friends who had seen each other naked at one point. "No. It's just that I think I keep seeing someone."

"Like a stalker?" Cody wasn't his playful flirty self now. Now he was in law enforcement mode. For being a player, he was a nice one. None of the women he'd been with ever had anything but nice things to say about him.

Cassidy frowned. "I don't think so. It's only when I'm working. I sense someone. When I look closer, I don't see anyone. I thought I saw a person outside the café the night I got called away for my last work assignment. Yet, when I went to look, there was no one."

"Could the CIA be sending you some backup?" Cody asked.

"I mean, maybe? But why wouldn't they tell me about it?"

"It's the CIA. Do they really tell anyone anything?"

Cassidy laughed because that was closer to the truth than he knew. Cassidy felt her wrist vibrate. Her smart watch indicated an incoming call. "Speak of the devil. I have to take this. Thanks for listening."

"Next time we can talk while we're both naked."

Cassidy grinned and shook her head. "Nice try. Been there, done that."

"And I'm worth doing again." Cody winked as she pressed answer on her watch and walked off the dance floor telling the CIA to wait a moment.

Cassidy took her phone from her small clutch and slipped outside. She closed the door on the music and stepped away from the reception. "Davies."

"Pack your bags, agent," the deep voice of her CIA boss said. "There's a plot to assassinate President Deming Nikan. We uncovered it and he's asked for our assistance in finding out who is behind it."

"When do I leave?" Cassidy asked, trying not to let her nerves show. Deming was a friend. He wanted to be more and she couldn't decide if she wanted that or not.

"Thirty minutes. Time to leave the party."

"Hey," she asked her boss. "Do you ever send me backup and not tell me?"

"No. Why wouldn't I tell you?"

"I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any surprise appearances from other agents. You know I don't like surprises."

"No, this is solo unless you tell Warrick you need backup," her boss said about her handler and tech guru within the CIA. "Warrick will send you all the information on the case. Let him know if you need anything. And be safe, agent. President Nikan has had his hands full of threats since turning his country into a democracy. The men who prospered under his father's dictatorship haven't been happy with what Nikan has accomplished."

"I will. I'm heading out now."

Cassidy looked down at her phone. The encrypted app they used for communication designed by Kale Mueez showed an email had arrived. She knew it would be from Warrick. He was based in Washington, D.C. and she'd meet with him every time she was in town. He was the one who helped her run her operations. He was the tech guy who got her all the equipment and intelligence she needed. He was also in her ear for every mission either from D.C. or from the back of a van in some foreign country. There was no one she trusted more.

Cassidy didn't bother trying to hunt people down to say goodbye as she walked through the reception to get her things. Everyone knew if she disappeared it meant she was on an op. She had a president, an American ally, and a friend to save.

Colton wrapped his wife in his arms as they swayed to the music. They'd cut the cake. They'd had their dance. They'd mingled with every guest. And now, they were simply lost in the moment.

"I remember dancing with you like this two months ago," Cady said, looking up at him.

Colton dropped his hand a little lower and pulled her a little closer. "The day my life changed forever. Love hit me like a fire truck and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Come on, Mr. December. Let's throw the bouquet and begin our happily ever after."

"Anything for my angel." Colton leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. One that spoke to the reverence of the day but the anticipation for their future.

Colton took her hand and they walked onto the stage at the end of the song. He watched as Cady announced the bouquet toss and how the Belles flocked forward along with some of their friends.

"One, two, three!" Cady called out as she tossed the bouquet over her shoulder.

Colton watched as it arched high and far into the air. The Belles jumped, but it was too high in the air and sailed right over the group hoping to catch it.

Cady gasped as the bouquet hit the person not even looking. Colton laughed as the flowers smacked Cassidy in the face and fell right into her hands. His cousin didn't even react. She just stood staring at it for a second before looking up with wild eyes.

"Time to go. We have our honeymoon to begin."

Cady giggled as Cassidy narrowed her eyes at them. "I think that's a wise decision, husband."

As Tammy and her sisters-in-law converged on Cassidy, along with Grandma Marcy and the Rose sisters, Colton took his wife by the hand, twirled her to him, and scooped her up into his arms.

"Colton! Cady!" Cassidy yelled, but Colton was already running with his wife in his arms.

"See you at the wedding, cuz!" Colton shouted as Cady giggled.

He didn't know what or who was in store for Cassidy. Right now, it didn't matter. He was too lost in the feel of his wife in his arms and the smile on her face to care. "I love you, angel."

"I love you too, husband."

THE END