Dean thought of his own daughter. Maybe it was time to fix his own home...long past time to fix his relationships.

Epilogue.

Six Months Later "What shall we toast?"

Eliza stood beside Carter in their living room surrounded by family and friends. Everyone gathered in support of Carter's efforts. "The new governor?"

"I haven't won yet." He kissed her nose.

The election results would be announced within twenty-four hours. The polls had Carter winning by fifteen percent. "Formalities, formalities."

"How about to six months of wedded bliss?"

"Ahhh, that's sweet, Carter," Gwen cooed from the other side of the room.

Eliza winked at Dean who stood beside his daughter. They'd been estranged for some time, but Eliza pushed the man until he called her...and promised to work on his relationship. Life was too short and regrets cut it shorter.

"How about to family."

Cash and Abigail lifted their glasses together.

Max stood beside his wife. There was no way the man wasn't going to be a part of Carter's success.

Samantha's father survived his wounds and had been transferred to a penitentiary closer to L.A. She and Jordan visited him a few times and were working through their problems.

Sanchez was deep in solitary for the attempted murder of Harris and the hit he called out on Eliza. Because of the special circumstances regarding Eliza's case, his connections to the outside were limited to the guards handing him food through the steel door of his cell. Mrs. Sanchez had been relocated deep in Mexico...her testimony a final nail in his coffin.

Michelle Sedgwick's assault with a deadly weapon charge would be considered by a jury. No one believed she was capable of murder, but she would still do some jail time. Needless to say, Stanly cut her out of his will, and at last check, Aunt Edie scared half the family away. Some even took jobs.

The only unanswered questions were how Cash knew about the hit and how Harris learned about Sanchez's conversation with his wife.

Eliza had her suspicions about Max. He hadn't been surprised by anything that unfolded after the shooting and never offered a word of concern. It was as if he knew about Sanchez's actions before he took them.

"To family." Eliza lifted her glass and clicked it to Carter's. "To family."

She sipped her sparkling wine and kissed her husband. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Words didn't do the feeling justice. There were days Eliza wanted to pinch herself. Carter's support and love was a gift.

"Oh, by the way," Samantha announced after everyone had toasted. "Blake and I decided that this year we wanted to get married outside of the country. We're going to Aruba."

Eliza nearly groaned out loud. Her gaze shot to Gwen who happened to be staring at Neil. "I get to pick the bridesmaid dresses."

Carter burst out laughing, nearly spilling his wine.

Neil shook a finger in Gwen's direction. "No honky-tonk bars."

Gwen scowled. "Do not be absurd. Aruba doesn't have honky-tonks."

Blake scowled watching the interaction between his sister and Neil.

Eliza shook her head. Gwen and Neil fought nearly as much as she and Carter had before they married. "Hmmm?"

"What?" Carter asked close to her ear.

"I hear wedding bells."

"Sam and Blake are always getting married." He sat his glass down and put an arm over her shoulders.

Eliza peered at Neil over her glass. "I wasn't talking about Sam and Blake."

Carter honed his eyes in the direction of her gaze.

"Seriously?"

Oh, yeah...she knew what love was when she saw it. Eliza saw it every day in the eyes of her husband.

A word about the author....

New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Catherine Bybee has been addicted to romance since her teens. After spending a decade of her life working as an RN in urban emergency rooms, Catherine is now dedicated to writing happily-ever-afters for the world to love. Catherine is married and raising two sons in Southern California.

Books by Catherine Bybee.

Weekday Brides.

Wife by Wednesday.

Married by Monday MacCoinnich Time Travels.

Binding Vows.

Silent Vows Redeeming Vows.

Highland Shifter Ritter Werewolves.

Before the Moon Rises Embracing the Wolf.

Other Novellas Soul Mate.

Possessive.