EPILOGUE ONE

TRAVIS

" I have roots when I doubted it would ever happen for me. "

"I have a favor to ask." Brooke slides in next to me on the sofa and stares up at me with doe eyes. As if I could ever deny her anything.

"Consider it done."

She giggles and pokes my chest. "You don't even know what it is yet."

"Doesn't matter. If it's within my power to do so, then it'll get done." Brooke is my life. I love her with all my heart and soul, so whatever she needs, she'll get it.

It's that simple.

"It's Hope. She doesn't feel comfortable meeting everyone at the ranch yet, so I was wondering if she could stay here instead. Especially since the house will be empty with us gone."

The international side of my company needs attention, so Brooke is accompanying me on an eight-week business trip/vacation. We've spent most of our time in Guardian Valley—I work remotely from my office while she writes in the sunroom, soaking in the beautiful scenery for inspiration. There's been the occasional trip back to New York, but Montana is our home now.

The year stipulated in Foster's will doesn't factor into our decision much, since we already decided to stay full-time in Guardian Valley. It's the perfect town to raise a family once we make that leap, and we've become close friends with the other Foster heirs.

I have roots when I doubted it would ever happen to me. Sure, I had friends in New York, but they were mostly business connections. Here, Derek, Heath, and even Winters don't give a damn about my clubs or my pedigree.

I don't have to smooth over the fact that I grew up in a trailer park with barely any money. Superficial things like that don't matter to them.

"Of course she can stay here, although you don't need my permission. This is your home, too. I'll let Braden know someone will be on the property," I say, although he's supposed to be handling a new club opening in Los Angeles this month and shouldn't be in Guardian Valley.

He's keeping his distance anyway after I told him to lay off Winters. Braden said he would, but he can be a bulldog when he wants something, and apparently, Harper's Landing is something he wants.

Which really fucks up any potential friendship with Winters. The man still pins me with suspicious glares during shared Sunday dinners at Serenity Ranch.

Braden needs to stop being a persistent ass.

"Thank you! I'll call Hope to let her know it's okay." Brooke kisses me then hops off the couch. "Then I've got to finish packing. I can't believe we leave for London in two days!"

Her excitement is catching. It'll be fun showing her around Europe and then Asia, sharing her joy in places my jaded heart had long ago deemed old hat.

"Don't forget to pack my favorite dress. You know the one." It's the dress she wore when we first met, the slinky number that first caught my eye and drew me to the love of my life.

She rolls her eyes. "Have I ever forgotten it during one of our trips?"

No, she hasn't.

Other couples may have songs or movies, but we have that dress. No matter how often she wears it, it's special.

I'll probably be eighty years old and seeing her wear that sexy number will get a rise out of my cock. Smiling at the thought, I watch her saunter upstairs.

Can't wait.