EPILOGUE
Sloane
The cool ocean breeze came through my parents’ overwater bungalow.
I was back in Maldives and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the happiest day of my life.
Miranda was curling my hair, her blue and green bridesmaid’s dress falling from the thin straps on her elegant shoulders. She smiled at me in the mirror. “Nervous?”
To my surprise, I wasn’t. I held out my hand to check for shaking fingers, but I was steady there too. “I’m actually surprised at how calm I am.”
She sprayed a curl, trying to force my normally straight hair into some semblance of beachy waves. “I’m not surprised. You’ve worked hard for today.”
I had worked hard.
Zane had moved into my little D.C. apartment until we found a house we both loved. It wasn’t a mansion, but it was spacious with large rooms and wide doorways that gave me plenty of space to wheel around. A heated pool in the backyard was a place Zane would often find me when I wasn’t in the FBI crime lab, where I’d begun to work three days a week.
He built a gym and hired a therapist as promised. Over the months, I grew stronger, and my legs slowly began to move at my command. I wasn’t ready for a marathon, or even a ten-yard dash, but I could do what I’d strove to do today. I would walk down the aisle to my man.
Mom came out of the bedroom, turning in a circle. “So, how do I look?”
A slenderizing column dress in the palest blue had Mom looking like a fashion model. “Hey, now. You aren’t supposed to outshine the bride.”
She swept her hand down the dress and fluttered her eyelashes at me. “This old thing?” Then she sighed and the tip of her nose turned pink. “Sweetheart, you look so beautiful.”
Looking back into the mirror, I felt beautiful too.
Miranda swiped at her eyes. “Okay you two. Knock it off. No ruining of makeup until the ceremony at least.”
Dad stepped into the room, looking dashing in super trendy khaki suit I’d chosen for the occasion. Mom and I had gone round and round about the dress code for the wedding. She “envisioned” formal while I wanted comfort and ease during my paradise bound nuptials.
I won, and Dad looked wonderful. I couldn’t wait to see Zane in his suit too.
Miranda made the last curl. “There you go. You look gorgeous.”
I looked closer, impressed with my friend’s many talents. She’d even done my makeup, and I was glowing. I almost didn’t recognize myself.
The past year hadn’t been all rainbows and butterflies. Zane and I fought. Not knockdown, drag out like at the beginning of our relationship, but we still snarled and spat at each other at times. Fighting then making up.
The fighting mainly revolved around my work, and how, now that I was benched in the crime lab, it was me who didn’t want him to join the bureau. I didn’t want him to be in danger.
He found that pretty ironic. I guessed I found it ironic too.
He’d finally relented, and we’d come to a mutual agreement. I would work in the crime lab a couple days a week, and he would continue to be my beck-and-call playboy. So far, it was working out great for me, for obvious reasons. For Zane, taking care of me tapped into his naturally protective nature.
I’d learned to not take his hovering as proof that he didn’t think I could do things on my own. It was just his way. And it was a good way once I got used to it. He didn’t clip my wings. He just provided me a safe place to land if I fell.
As he and I grew closer, Zane began to show more interest in his family’s business. He didn’t want to work in the company full time, but he joined the board of directors, pleasing his parents to no end.
And speaking of his parents. I loved them. Adored them. They adored me too.
I was happy.
And more than anything, I was content.
I’d made my peace with Sloane, my friend. The girl who had become my alter ego. The girl to whom I always had something to prove.
Sloane Anderson was dead. The YouTube video that went viral was proof.
Charles Smith and his buddies were still battling it out in court, and they probably would for years. That was okay. The judge refused to grant him bail, believing him to be a flight risk.
Through the power of social media, I learned that Grace had dumped his ass and was now arm candy for another sleazy-looking man. It was too bad. I’d genuinely liked her, but she made her own choices. I silently wished her well.
Miranda clapped her hands together loudly, snapping me out of my memories. “Game time, people.”
I smiled at my friend. “Thank you for everything.”
She kissed my cheek. “You’re welcome. Now go out there and get this done. My vacation clock is ticking and I want to spend all the time I can with my man.”
I laughed. Miranda and her tall, dark, and handsome were going strong. In fact, she and Gavin had a neighboring bungalow, completing our small, intimate group.
“Ready, honey?” Dad came to me, extending his arm as Mom and Miranda went on ahead. “Time to give my beautiful daughter away.” He kissed my cheek, and we left the bungalow.
I froze. “What is that?”
I eyed the brightly decorated golf cart sitting on the dock.
Dad winked at me. “Your chariot, darling. I knew you didn’t want to be in your wheelchair today so…” he extended his arm in Vanna White fashion, “viola.”
Tears pricked my eyes. He was right. I didn’t want to be in my wheelchair, and refused to go down the aisle in one. I’d known I wouldn’t have the strength to navigate the island on my own and had mentally submitted to the idea that I wouldn’t be able to completely abandon it.
“It’s perfect.” I wrinkled my nose at the balloons and streamers. “Gaudy, but absolutely perfect.”
Off we went toward the gorgeous secluded section of the beach where we would exchange our vows. As we approached, the sky changed colors above us as the sun began its evening decline.
Knowing I might have trouble navigating over the sand, the wedding planner had a specially made bamboo runner brought in. Dad parked and squeezed my hand. “Ready, sweetheart?”
I took in the scene before me. Flower encrusted arches ran down the petal covered bamboo runner, at the end of which the most important part was standing.
Zane.
His eyes didn’t leave me as I took Dad’s arm and walked toward him.
Walked.
It was slow, but I was in no hurry as the cello’s soothing notes ushered me on.
Walked.
As the sky all around us burned with color.
Walked.
To my future. My family. My everything.
Then I was there, and Dad was kissing my cheek, and Zane’s hands were in mine.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, tears shimmering in his eyes.
“So are you.”
My last identity change was taking place today. In a few moments, I would be Lilly Boyd, and I’d hold on to that name for the rest of my life.
“Dearly beloved…”
The pastor began the official ceremony. I heard the words as clearly as I heard the background music of the waves washing back and forth over the sand.
“Do you, Slilly Carlyle take Zane Boyd to be…”
Really?
Very slowly, I turned my head to look the pastor in the eye. He grinned and sliced his eyes toward Zane, who was grinning too.
Instead of poking him in the chest, I just shrugged. What the hell did it matter?
“I do. I absolutely, positively do.”
And I did.
And we did.
And the ceremony was over with Zane sweeping me into his arms.
He kissed my nose. “I thought you were going to punch me back there.”
I pressed my lips close to his ear. “Paybacks are hell. I brought my vibrator for later. Bzzzz.”
He laughed and kissed me hard. “You’re joking, right?” Was that fear I saw in his eyes?
I could use that.
“Maybe I was,” I teased, running my hand through his hair. “Maybe I wasn’t.”
The thing was… we had the rest of our lives to find out.
THE END
to download my bestselling novel My Stepbrother, My Lover for FREE! You’ll also join my VIP Readers’ Club and be the first to know about new releases, free book offers, sales, exclusive giveaways, early sneak peeks of new releases, cover reveals and more!
Continue on to read the first of two FREE BONUSES that are included in this copy!