Rural Romance by Alexa Riley
Epilogue
Juno
“Ithink I need this one too.” Lux points to one of my paintings on the wall of my studio.
“You don’t have any more wall space,” I laugh.
Lux might be my biggest customer. She’s a dork. She must generally enjoy my work. I wasn't in need of help. I was actually doing very well. A lot of stuff is done online, but some customers still come in. Plus, everyone in town loves the classes. A few people have even rented out the space for a party because it’s so beautiful in here.
“Bastian got a place up north. I have room.” She rolls her eyes as she says it. “The kids love the snow, though. You guys should come out there sometime.”
“I’m sure we will.” I shake my head. “How many houses does that make for you?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Between Bastian and Selma, I can’t keep up on the real estate, but I do love some of those places.”
“Did you ever think this would be our lives?” We’ve done so much growing up over the last five years. How can all my dreams have already come true? I suppose I’d gotten a shitty hand early in life. Now the universe is making it up to me.
“Not a chance in hell.” I start to shut stuff down, powering off my computer. “What’s the plan here? We sneak out or play it cool?”
“Play it cool. Pretty sure he’s at the station doing paperwork.” It’s not far to where we’re going. He shouldn’t even know I slipped out, and this shouldn’t take too long. What I’m getting is pretty small.
“If you say so,” Lux laughs. I grab my keys before arming the alarm. We exit out the front of the building. This is the best time for me to get this done. Bastian has all the kids with him at the moment. I’m sure they are wreaking havoc on our house as we speak.
I love how close all the cousins are. When Cooper made me his, I got a whole family. For so long, it was only Grams and me. Now every holiday our home is filled with people. It’s everything I’ve always wanted.
We make our way down the side toward Wes’s place. It takes us a few minutes to get there as people stop us every block to talk. Everyone was happy about Cooper and me getting married. They even surprised us with a party since we eloped.
We push in the front of Wes’s shop, the bell dinging overhead.
“You sure your man is going to be okay with this? It took two years before he stopped growling at me.” Wes gives me a skeptical look.
“I mean, I’m sure he’d rather a woman do it, but you’re the best, and this is a forever kind of thing.” He nods in understanding.
“I’ve been trying to get ink on you since we met. I can’t say no, but I do have an idea. Come on back.” He motions for us to follow him. He opens a door to one of the rooms. “You make any changes to the design you sent me?”
“Nope.” I hop up into the chair in the center of the room. “What’s your idea?”
“I’ll be right ba—” Wes is cut off when we hear what sounds like a bull entering the shop. Lux is already in a fit of laughter.
“Juno!” I jump down, poking my head out the door. Wes stands in the hallway with his hands up like he’s trying to prove he’s not doing shit.
“Will you calm down?” I roll my eyes at my husband, who is on me in a second flat.
“No.” He glares at Wes. “Why are you here? You didn’t say you were coming here.”
“I’ve been here for two minutes. How often do you check that dang tracker app?” I try to pretend I’m angry, but I’m not. Not even for a second. I adore Cooper’s possessive ways. I wouldn’t change them for anything. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him he was everything I’d ever want in a man. Family always comes first to him.
“It alerts me when you move.” He’s still glaring at Wes.
“I thought we were cool now. I was over last month for a barbeque,” Wes reminds him.
“Probably because he had his eyes on you and you weren't alone with his wife.” Lux points two fingers at herself and then to Wes. Of course Lux is on Cooper’s side. Poor Wes. “I think I’ll leave you all to it. Bastian and I will handle dinner.” She hugs both Cooper and me before she heads out.
“Why are you here? If you say something about piercing your—”
“Tattoo!” I shout before he can finish.
“Whoa. I don’t have a death wish.” Wes takes two steps back.
“I thought I was getting a tattoo,” he says. I shrug.
“We’ve talked about it, but you’ve never done it. I thought I’d do it.” I bite my lip, looking down at the floor.
“Baby. I’ve only been waiting for you to draw something up.” He steps into me, his finger coming to my chin to make me look up at him.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” He brushes a strand of my hair out of my face.
“I’ve drawn something up. With our little ones’ names on it too. It will go right here.” I put my hand on his chest.
“Then let's do it.” He puts his hand over mine.
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” he responds with a warm smile.
“I’m still getting mine. Your name here.” I point to my hip. His nose flares, and I don’t know if he’s turned on or mad.
“Before anyone dies, can I show you my idea?” Wes cuts in. We both swing our gaze to him. “Shelly!” he shouts.
“Yo.” My mouth drops when Shelly O’Neal comes walking down the hallway. She slides up next to Wes. He wraps an arm around her.
“Holy shit,” I say.
“About time he got his own woman,” Cooper mumbles under his breath. I elbow him in the side.
“I thought Shelly here could do your tattoo and I’ll do Cooper’s.”
“Really!?” Shelly O’Neal isn’t just a tattoo artist, she’s an incredible artist too. Her work is pretty famous.
“For sure. I actually have one of your paintings at my condo back home. Now I get to give you one of mine.” This is beyond cool.
They set us up and start inking us together and I hold Cooper's hand. I’m already getting turned on thinking about his name being branded into my skin and my name marking him too.
“Fuck me,” Cooper growls when he sees my tattoo. I know from the look in his eyes he’s turned on. I lick my lips.
“Maybe we should stay at the studio,” I suggest as we head out of the tattoo shop. I kept the apartment upstairs. We’ve used it a few times for guests, and I keep things up there for the kiddos too. Then there are times like this.
I let out a squeal as he lifts me off my feet and carries me down the street. We hear a few laughs and cheers, making me blush. I don’t care, though. Cooper is mine, and I want everyone to know it.
THE END
