She slowly retreated from the warmth of his mouth and his touch to turn her face up to Noah. His lips came down in a heated rush to meet hers, and she sighed in contentment.
Noah pulled back, his hand going to her face in a gentle caress. “We’re taking you home . . . to stay.”
Hope soared through her chest, lighting up every part of her soul that was still steeped in darkness. But then just as quickly, reality crept in, her euphoria deteriorating.
“Baby, don’t look like that,” Liam said, his voice filled with tenderness.
“What will you and Noah do in Clyde?” she asked. “It’s not fair for you both to have to rearrange your entire lives . . . for me.”
Noah smiled and leaned his forehead in until it touched hers. “That’s what you do for the person you love. And it’ll be worth every single change if it means that you’ll be happy, feel safe, and that we’ll be with you every single day for the rest of our lives.”
Her eyes widened and Liam scowled. It was a gruff look of annoyance that made him look . . . adorable.
“Did you honestly think we weren’t in this for the long haul?” Liam demanded. “You’re it for us, Lauren, and I hope to hell we’re it for you because if not, you’re going to have two surly-ass, love-sick men following you around like damn puppies.”
She laughed softly, joy filling her heart.
“We want forever,” Noah said. “To be honest, I wanted our proposal to be romantic and in the perfect setting, but fuck it. I just want your promise. Marry us, Lauren. We’ll figure it out. The Colters can give us advice. They’ve made it work for over thirty years.”
“We’ll make it work too,” Liam said, his voice full of conviction.
There was no doubt in their expressions or their eyes. No hesitancy. They were offering her all she could ever hope for.
Love.
Forever.
Happily ever after.
All the things she thought she’d never have because she’d made all the wrong choices.
Laughter bubbled up through the tears burning her eyelids.
“What’s so funny?” Noah asked, his brows drawn together.
“I was just thinking about all the bad decisions I made, but then it occurred to me that if I hadn’t made those exact choices, I would have never found the two of you. I guess in a way I have to be grateful for Joel because he was what led me to you.”
“Fuck him,” Liam growled. “I like to think we would have found you anyway, and I’m damn sure not going to thank him for anything.”
“Do you have an answer for us?” Noah gently prompted.
It was then that she could see their nervousness. They were worried over her answer. Her heart melted and her chest ached from the overwhelming surge of love.
“Oh yes,” she breathed. “I’ll be with you, marry you, try my best to make you happy for the rest of our lives.”
Triumph flashed hot and vibrant in Liam’s eyes. Relief was stark in Noah’s gaze. They converged on her, surrounding her as they enfolded her in their embrace.
Their lips were on hers, taking turns at her mouth, sliding down her cheek. Kisses pressed to her forehead, her temple. Whispers of love in her ear.
She closed her eyes, savoring every moment. Forgotten was the past, and even the present to an extent. Before her lay the promise of tomorrow, precious and beautiful. Noah and Liam were her future and she was theirs.
As the plane descended over the Colorado mountains, she was gripped by the rightness of being back . . . home. In a place where she’d first learned the importance of family and unconditional support.
She was returning. Much stronger this time. Ready to reach forward instead of looking back.
The Colters were her family, and she very much belonged to them, but now she belonged to Noah and Liam as well. They belonged to her. All that she could ever want was right here in her hands and in her heart.
KEEP READING FOR MAYA BANKS’S NOVELLA
Colters’ Legacy
THE CONCLUSION TO THE COLTERS’ LEGACY SERIES
CHAPTER 1
THIS is killing me,” Noah said in a grim voice.
Liam sighed and rubbed a weary hand through his hair as he stared back at his friend. “It’s killing me too,” he admitted. “She’s not sleeping, and when she does, she has nightmares. I don’t know what to do. I feel so fucking helpless!”
Noah sipped at the steaming mug of coffee and stared out the glass patio doors leading onto the small deck of the cabin he, Liam and Lauren now shared. When they’d returned to Clyde six weeks ago, they’d known they had to address the issue of housing. There was no way they could continue to stay in Lauren’s tiny efficiency apartment above the clinic in town.
Adam had called in a favor from an old friend who had a cabin just out of town. It was halfway between Clyde and where the older Colters lived up the mountain. The man hadn’t lived in it for some time and only used it as a vacation home once or twice a year. He’d been happy for them to move into it. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do until they could figure out what they wanted as far as a permanent place to live.
There was no question that they’d remain here. Surrounded by Lauren’s family. People who loved her and were a constant source of comfort and solace. But they had a lot to work out. Mainly what the hell he and Liam were going to do in order to support the woman they both loved.
They had money saved. They could definitely make that money last for a long period of time, but it wasn’t infinite. And the last thing Noah wanted was for Lauren to ever want for anything. He’d give her the fucking moon if that’s what she wanted.
“We just have to give her time,” Noah said quietly. “She went through hell. I can still see the fucking shame in her eyes at times, and it pisses me off that we let that son of a bitch get to her. That she spent enough time with him that he abused her. Again.”
Liam nodded, but his eyes were stormy at the reminder of what Joel Knight had done to Lauren.
They hadn’t made love to Lauren since returning home six weeks ago. They hadn’t even made an attempt. With her sleep wracked by nightmares, and the shadows in her eyes present during the waking hours, they hadn’t wanted to push. They’d wait forever if that’s what it took. They weren’t going anywhere. Lauren was it for them.
“He died too quickly,” Liam said savagely.
Noah nodded in agreement.
Both men looked up and went quiet when Lauren walked into the living room. She was wearing a pair of faded flannel pajama bottoms and one of Noah’s T-shirts. He softened as he took in the fatigue in her eyes. He liked seeing his shirt on her. Like he was wrapped around her every minute.
“Morning,” she said in a low voice.
She even managed a smile, but Noah knew she had to be exhausted. She’d woken him and Liam up just after midnight with soft whimpering. She had been greatly distressed, and when they’d finally managed to wake her, she’d been shaky and distraught.
In a voice that still made Noah’s gut tighten, she’d lashed out, asking why? Why was she still plagued by Joel Knight? Why couldn’t she just forget and move on? He was dead. Could never hurt her again. She resented the hold he had on her even from the grave.
Liam rose and strode toward where Lauren stood. He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. Then he leaned down to brush a kiss across her mouth.
“Good morning, baby. How are you today?”
At least he hadn’t asked her a really dumbass question like, How did you sleep?