Epilogue
One Month Later
Daisy
“Is everyone here a billionaire?” I ask Lily, glancing around at the wedding guests. We’re sitting at one of the tables in the hotel function room where they’re holding the small reception.
Lily chuckles. “Not everyone, no. Apart from Callum, there’s only Jensen, who owns The Lockhart Club in Houston. He and Callum grew up together, along with Jared and Dexter,” she says, glancing across at the three men as they stand by the punch bowl talking with Drayton. “Jared and Dexter are firefighters, so definitely not billionaires.”
I follow Lily’s gaze to the four men by the buffet table. Callum and Jared are both tall, but Dexter and Dray are both a good head taller. Dexter is a beast of a man who looks like he could crush a small car in one hand, but it’s Dray who holds my attention, looking edible in a dark gray suit and tie that emphasizes his broad shoulders and muscular thighs.
“What about Ashton Stanbrook? Pretty sure he’s a billionaire,” I point out.
“And then some,” Lily confirms, glancing across at him and his wife, Ivy, as they stand talking to Lily’s new husband.
Callum is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met, and I can totally see how Lily has fallen head-over-heels for him. It’s clear he’s absolutely besotted with his wife, supporting and standing by her while she dealt with a challenging situation with her ex-boss.
My best friend looks stunning in her simple ivory wedding dress, her dark hair swept up into a stylish updo, her hazel-green eyes sparkling with happiness.
Today has been wonderful—and emotional—watching Lily and Callum get married. Lily called me three weeks ago to say they were tying the knot – they both knew it was right and didn’t want to wait. Dray and I traveled here from Garland yesterday morning so I could be her maid of honor, and I feel like a million bucks in my gold bridesmaid dress.
Despite the amount of money in the room, the wedding has been an understated affair. Lily and Callum wanted it to be intimate, so the ceremony itself was at a registry office in San Antonio with just family and close friends in attendance. Now it’s early evening, and everyone is back at the five-star hotel for the reception. Callum has also been kind enough to pay for everyone’s hotel rooms for the duration of their stay.
“I can’t believe you’re a married woman,” I murmur, shaking my head in disbelief as my gaze returns to my friend.
“Ha! Said the woman who got engaged in the space of two days,” Lily snorts.
I grin, my eyes falling to the simple solitaire Dray placed on my ring finger a few weeks ago. “Like you said, when you know, you know.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” she smirks. “I think Dray is perfect for you. The man can’t keep his eyes off you.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” I murmur, proving the point as my eyes are drawn back to him. My stomach jolts with excitement when I find his gaze already on me. Judging by the heat of that look, he’s already thinking about how he’s going to be peeling this dress off me in our hotel room later.
“I guess I’ve lost you to Colorado permanently, huh?” Lily asks with a knowing smile.
“Dray offered to transfer to a precinct here in Houston, but I’m happy in Garland. I never thought I would be, what with all the memories there, but I’m making brand new ones now. Happy ones,” I reply.
“And I guess you’ll be close by if anything happens with your mom?” Lily points out. “Have you heard anything from her?”
I shake my head sadly. “I haven’t seen or spoken to her for a month. Last I heard, her ex-boyfriend was living there again. I keep expecting Dray to get that phone call, you know? He hasn’t said anything, but I think he’s been keeping an eye on her from a distance.”
“You mean through his job?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I know she doesn’t want anything to do with me, but Dray takes his responsibilities towards the residents seriously. And, whatever else, she’s still a resident of Garland.’
“I’m so sorry about how things worked out, honey,” Lily says, reaching for my hand and squeezing it. “I still can’t believe the things she said to you. I hope you know how much you’re loved despite what she told you.”
I squeeze her hand in return. “I do. Thank God for you and Danny and Dray. My sheriff came into my life at the perfect time.”
“Some things are fated, I guess,” she says, looking dreamily at her husband.
I smile as I think about the news I have for Dray later. “Yeah, I guess they are.”
“How does this damned thing come off?” Dray growls two hours later as he wrestles with my dress.
I giggle, helping with zips and buttons until my dress pools at my feet, leaving me in just my black silk teddy and stockings.
“Holy fucking shit!” Dray grunts, his eyes running all over me.