Page 52 of Protecting What's Mine

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she says.

“You too. I’ve heard so much about you.” I beam, and motion for her to take a seat on the porch swing. “And these look amazing. I’ll never say no to chocolate.”

Dean follows Ranger to the grill, his casual stance betrayed by the constant scan of his surroundings. I guess it’s second nature to him, just like it is to Ranger.

“How’re the other guys holding up?” Ranger asks as he flips the last burger and sets the spatula down.

Dean rubs the back of his neck, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Few hiccups here and there. Asher’s in over his head pretending to be some heiress’ fiancé. Boone’s babysitting some pizzeria owner who’s apparently feistier than she looks.”

“And Orion?” Ranger asks, handing Dean a beer. “What’s his situation?”

At that, Dean laughs, shaking his head. “Orion’s got his hands full with not just his asset but her damn bird, too. He called me last week, sounding completely defeated.”

Sophia chimes in from her seat, laughing. “A bird? What kind of bird?”

“A big one,” Dean says, chuckling. “He said it’s some exotic thing with an attitude. Jeb, I think it’s called. Woke him up at five in the morning by landing on his head and squawking that it was hungry.”

Ranger nearly chokes on his drink, and I double over laughing.

Sophia wipes a tear from her eye. “I can’t imagine him dealing with that.”

“Oh, he’s dealing with it, all right,” Dean says with a smirk. “Said the bird’s more demanding than his client.”

The laughter carries through the evening, lightening the mood and reminding me of how far we’ve all come. It feels good to be surrounded by people who understand what we’ve been through and still manage to find joy in the little things.

As the sun dips lower, casting the porch in a warm golden glow, Ranger wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me closer. His touch is comforting, grounding me in the moment.

Dean raises his beer in a mock toast. “Here’s to new beginnings, happy endings, and no more birds waking us up at ungodly hours.”

We all laugh, clinking glasses, and for a moment, everything feels perfect.

Later, as the stars begin to dot the night sky, Ranger and I sit side by side on the porch swing, my head resting against his shoulder. The soft murmur of conversation and the distant sound of waves create a peaceful backdrop, and I can’t help but smile.

“You happy?” he asks, his voice low and warm.

I turn to look at him, my heart swelling with emotion. “More than I ever thought I could be.”

He presses a kiss to my forehead, his arms tightening around me. “Good. Because I plan on keeping you this happy for the rest of your life.”

I laugh softly, the sound mingling with the night air. “You’d better.”

“Scout’s honor,” he says, holding up three fingers in mock sincerity.

And as we sit there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I realize that this is it. My happily ever after. It’s not perfect, and it’s certainly not what I ever expected—but it’s ours. And that makes it better than anything I could’ve dreamed.