Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
I look back at Dakota just as her eyes open.
She tries to sit up. “Where am I?”
I halt her progress. “Everything’s fine. Just lie down until the ambulance gets here.”
Her eyes focus on me first, then her father. “What happened?”
“You were taken by Warner and ended up in a car accident.” I cup her face in my palm and explain we’re going to say her father was driving, and I was following behind on my bike.
She tries to sit up again. “I’m ok.”
“We’ll let the doctors determine that,” her father says, kissing the crown of her head.
The ambulance arrives, and by the time they finish checking out Dakota, it’s determined she’s fine. She’s up and walking around before they finally leave.
The cops ask a few questions, and satisfied with the answers, they drive her father home.
Dakota and I hop on my bike and head to the ranch.
It feels freeing to have this whole mess behind us now.
After I put Dakota to bed, making sure everything’s ok with her, I head to the clubhouse to check in with the guys.
“What did you do with the body?” I ask Felix.
“Same thing we do with any other body we want to keep hidden.”
I nod, knowing his meaning. For the first time in a really long time I feel a sense of closure. “I’ll be outside.” I step out into the cool night air, thinking about my life.
Thinking about the life I’ll make with Dakota. I’ve never met anyone quite like her, and I’m happy for this next chapter of our lives. The one where I get to spend every day making her happy.
The moon hangs low in the sky, shining its light over the ranch fields. I have everything I’ve ever needed now. A good woman at my side. A club who always has my back. A brotherhood.
I can’t wait to introduce Dakota to the guys back home. I want her to feel as at peace as I do right now.
“What are you doing out here all by yourself,” her sweet voice says from behind me.
“Thinking. What are you doing awake?” I turn to face her and smile when I see her walking with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
My brow furrows. “Why? Are you feeling ok? Should we have you checked out again?”
She moves into my arms. “No, I missed you. I’m happy here in your arms.”
I squeeze my arms tighter around her. “I love you, Dakota. It might be too soon to say those words to you, but I feel them. I feel them deep in my bones.”
She hugs me tighter, lifting her chin. “I love you too.”
Epilogue
Dakota
Six Months Later
* * *
You know what’s even greater than being Ruin’s woman? Ghost tours at my new hotel. Yes, my new hotel. After Daddy won the election, I moved to Diamond with Ruin. And he stuck to his word about getting me a job at the Diamond Bed and Breakfast. It’s now owned by me. All me. And business has never been better.
“Hey there, baby girl,” Ruin says, walking into the front lobby of my new place. “The hotel looks great.”
I hold out my arms to give him a giant bear hug. “It should. We’ve spent a fortune on renovations. The first ghost tour starts in a little bit. Is that why you’re here?”
He pecks the tip of my nose. “Can’t I just stop by to say I love you?”
I raise a brow. “Is that what you’re doing?”
“Maybe.” He kisses me, fully and deeply, like he was made to kiss me and only me for the rest of his life.
Before I sneak away with him to a vacant room, I drag my lips away from his luscious mouth. “Well, since you’re here do you want to join our very first ghost tour? The guests who signed up should start coming down any minute.”
“I wouldn't miss it.”
“This will be amazing. Oh! And I’ve hired a paranormal expert who’ll guide us.”
“And where did you find a paranormal expert?”
“You can find anything on the internet.” I lead Ruin over to the lounge area. “This is Ollie, the ghost hunter.”
They shake hands, and Ollie shows Ruin his equipment. “This is an electromagnetic field meter, just in case the old ghosts in this joint want to appear today.”
I fake shiver. “Oh, scary.” I have no idea what to expect on this tour, but anything is possible considering the location. The Bed & Breakfast is nestled in the heart of downtown, and in the back is a shared courtyard with the local church and City Hall. There’s a cemetery behind the church where a portion of the tour will be taken. It was hard to get the church on board at first, but as soon as I mentioned offering donations from the profits, Father Pat was happy to strike a deal.