Epilogue

EPILOGUE

I vy slipped the pages of her planner open to where the silk red ribbon marked the day. Three days ago she was New York bound. Now she was simply snowbound and engaged.

And so well sated she could barely walk. Her body hummed with pleasure and she couldn’t wait to get back upstairs and have Aspen ravish her all over again.

She looked around her and marveled at having a hunky fireman and a wonderful B&B filled with happy memories and ready to make many more. Somehow she saw this all going a bit differently when she boarded the plane to Dixen.

Mr. Langley had taken the news of her change of plans with ease and wished her well. Now she was free to do what she wanted.

A small growl came near her feet and she bent to scoop up the vicious creature trying to make the hem of her pajama bottoms his latest conquest.

“You, my dear, need a break from your destructive streak.”

Max lifted his head as if to agree before slipping back into his morning nap.

Ivy planted a kiss on the top of the pup’s head and placed him in his makeshift kennel Aspen had rigged out of boxes. The man was more than handy with a roll of duct tape and a pair of scissors. Back at the counter she focused on her to-do list which actually consisted of things to get done rather than life goals. Learning the difference between the two had been a painful learning curve, but it all turned out okay.

She ran a pencil down the list.

Make vet appointment

Replace Rudolph slippers puppy ate for breakfast

Pick up new collar puppy also ate for breakfast

Go grocery shopping, so they could have breakfast

Below that in a familiar black scrawl another note read:

Have dinner with Aspen and puppy, he promises to behave, puppy too

Where: Your bedroom by the fireplace

Dress code: Naked.

On the menu: your pussy

Time: 7 p.m.

Signed: Your big Dix man

Ivy laughed as she tapped a finger against her mug. This was going to be the best New Year’s ever!

“I see you got my own list.” Aspen leaned against the doorframe, the sexiest grin playing on his lips and his arms crossed. This morning he opted for a simple white t-shirt and a pair of bare-thread jeans that had seen better days but he made look sexy. Her gaze traveled up from his boots, drinking in her hunky hero, his big dix pressing a nice bulge against the crotch of his jeans and caught the way the shirt stretched across his taut chest.

Damn, she was one lucky chick to have all that on top of her, behind her, under her any time she wanted and she wanted it now.

She placed the mug on the counter and bound across the kitchen. Aspen caught her in his arms and held her as she wrapped her legs around him.

With their arms around one another, she tilted her head back. “I was thinking. After we ring in the New Year maybe we could take a look at the barn at the tree farm. I think it would make a wonderful home. It just needs a little love and some attention. I think Kade said something about needing a place, and between you and me, I saw him eyeing the tree farm with appreciation when he came to visit last night.”

He didn’t answer for a few seconds and she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Uh-oh. Did she move too fast?

Then he smiled and she wanted to equally hit him and kiss him.

“Nothing would make me happier, Ivy Sunday. Nothing in the world except you naked and under me. How about we get to work on getting you round with my baby?”

“Wow, aren’t you the bad boy firefighter!”

“Come up stairs with me and find out!”

She did and damn did he prove her right!