HUCK:The Montana Brothers(22)

Hayes nodded. "I knew I would. And, truly …  thank you." His voice lowered  now so Huck couldn't hear him. "I can't thank you enough for making my  little brother so happy. You'll always be my sister now and I'll always  have your back."

Tears stung my eyes again. These damn Calloway brothers. They got me every time.

"Also," he said, setting the cake down on the bar. "Maybe one day a hot  friend of yours will come to town and you can set me up. I wouldn't mind  a chance at love."

As if someone like Hayes or Hunt would ever have a problem with finding a woman if she happened to show up here.

"I have a feeling it'll happen for you sooner than you think," I said, smiling. "And she'll be a lucky girl."

As I turned to see where my new fiancé was, I looked around at all the  smiling faces surrounding me. So many hugs, so many well wishes. I  thought the moment might inspire Albert to forsake his vow of silence,  but I had to be satisfied with a thumbs up and a hug. In a million years  I would never have guessed that when I pulled off the exit into Whitmer  over a year ago that this would be my destination. I'd only wanted a  place to hide. To escape from the pain of my mistakes.

I'd found so much more. Not just my love with Huck, something that only comes once in a lifetime. But something even better.

In Whitmer, I'd found a home.

And I'd never ever take for granted the beauty and significance of that.

Huck suddenly grabbed me around the waist. "What are you thinkin'  about?" He kissed me gently on my head. "Because I can't stop thinking  about you."

I kissed him back, long and hard on the mouth. "I'm just thinking about how much I love you. And how I always will."

With his arms wrapped around me and our family around us, I couldn't help but be grateful for second chances.

And for happily-ever-afters in Montana.



THE END

Thank you for reading HUCK, the first book in THE MONTANA BROTHERS  trilogy. Hope you loved Hayes Calloway because his book is next! If you  want to know about the release date for HAYES and other Alison Ryan  books, sign up for my newsletter! No spam, just fun.





Acknowledgments





This book would not exist without the help of so many amazing people. It takes a village, after all.

To Abby, Frankie, and Audrey. The three of you are my sister authors.  You've made my life better, just by being in it. Thank you for being the  best friends a neurotic author could ever hope for.

To Book Boyfriend Central. Every day on that silly Facebook group is a  great day. So many laughs and so much light. I'm so lucky to be part of  such a fantastic community. Thanks for being a supportive squad of  passionate women! God love the romance reader. You make my world go  round.

And last but never least: Greg. I don't know what I did in my past lives  to deserve you, but I must have been a damn saint. You are truly the  most beautiful human being I have ever known. Inside and out. I love you  so much …  No words exist. Thanks for being my first reader and my  biggest fan. God gave me you.