Wolfe looked her father in the eye. “Jim, I—”
“No.” Her father put out his hand. “I have something to say first. I was wrong.” They waited while he seemed to gather his thoughts. “I told you to stay away because you’d hurt her. I said you were just like me.” He shook his head. “I was only trying to protect her from something I have no right to keep her from. I may have made stupid mistakes, but if someone had taken Maria from me on that basis, I’d never have my family. I wouldn’t have something worth fighting for, worth living for. So I was wrong. We all deserve a chance, and I hope you forgive me.”
Wolfe reached out and shook his hand. “Already forgiven.”
Gen’s family drifted away, and it was just her and Wolfe. She couldn’t stop touching him, leaning against his strength, and realizing he finally belonged to her.
“What changed your mind?” she asked softly.
Wolfe smiled. “Some very smart people who love me.”
She laughed and kissed him. “I’m glad.”
He kissed her back and wrapped her in his arms. “So am I.”
epilogue
GEN LOOKED AROUND at the mess and sighed. She hated moving and packing, but it would be worth it. Haphazard piles of papers, boxes, and clothes lay everywhere. How did she have so much stuff in a bungalow?
“Gen? You here?”
“In the bedroom!” she shouted. Kate trudged through the door with a cup of coffee and Arilyn trailing behind. Gen jumped over the mattress and scrambled over. “Coffee! Oh, thank you, thank you!”
Kate laughed. Arilyn frowned. “I think you’re addicted to caffeine. Tea has antioxidants and numerous health benefits. Maybe you should switch.”
“I’ll start tomorrow,” she muttered, sinking her nose into the heavenly scent and breathing deep. “I need some sort of vice to get through packing.”
“Well, we’re here to help,” Arilyn said briskly. Already her ruthlessly organized brain took in the mess with a positive energy. “I hope you’re not rushing this on my account. Letting me rent your place is lifesaving. They actually found mold when they ripped out the pipes of my house.” She shuddered. “Imagine what I’ve been breathing in with my poor animals?”
Gen squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy you can move in. Wolfe and I need to be closer to the city for work, and this place is a bit tight, but I refuse to sell. It’s too special.”
Arilyn looked around and smiled. “Yes, it is. And you’re sure it’s okay to bring all the dogs?”
Gen laughed and scooped up a box. “Bring as many as you can fit. I lived with my sister Alexa, remember? She was always sneaking in hordes of animals from the shelter. According to Nick, she still does.”
“I love your sister,” Kate said. “Your whole family’s coming to the wedding. We’ll have a blast.” She began stripping sheets off the bed and throwing them into the box in messy Kate style, when she paused, pulling something from underneath the mattress. “Hey, what’s this?”
Gen turned. Kate held a piece of white ledger paper.
The love spell.
The memory of that night surged up. A little tipsy on margaritas, and feeling sad over her growing doubts about David, she’d urged Arilyn and Kennedy to complete a love spell from the little purple book Kate had given her. Where was that book? And what had she written?
“It’s the spell,” she whispered, snatching it from her friend’s fingers. “I can’t believe I forgot about this!”
“From the Book of Spells?” Kate screeched. “Arilyn, didn’t you do one, too?”
Arilyn flushed. “Yeah, but I was really tipsy that night. I don’t know where I put mine.”
“Read it, Gen! Do the traits you listed match Wolfe?”
“That would be impossible.” She skimmed the contents, remembering that the instructions clearly said to write a list of all the traits wanted in a man, make a copy, burn one in the fire, and put the other under the mattress. Mother Earth or the universe was supposed to bring you the man you requested. Kate had sworn it worked for her and Slade. Also with Kennedy and Nate. “I did the spell when I was engaged to David, so the qualities probably . . .” She trailed off.
A chill crept down her spine. How odd. None of the qualities listed were part of David’s makeup, yet she clearly remembered jotting down everything she dreamed of having in a soul mate.
She read the list aloud:
A deep friendship.
Respect.
A wicked sense of humor.
Mind-blowing sex.
A man with character.
A man who believes in me no matter what my choices are.