Epilogue
Three months later
Josh leaned against the back door of Reese and Patty’s kitchen. The foot of snow that had fallen the evening before glistened under the sun.
“That’s not going to make her get here any faster,” Patty said.
“Come back to the party and have a beer.” Reese slapped him on the shoulder, shoving a cold one under his nose.
“She should be here by now.” He pulled a chair out, angling it so he could see the long, winding driveway as Patty set a plate of cheese and crackers on the kitchen table. “She was supposed to be out of work early today, but some meeting came up.”
Patty looped her arm around Reese. “How’s her job hunting?”
Josh rubbed his thigh, making sure the ring was still in his pocket. “Not good,” he admitted. “She hasn’t been able to find anything worth taking up here.”
“She’ll find something,” Reese said.
“I told her I’d move back to the city. Even asked Jared about a transfer.”
“That’s a big step.” Reese leaned into the table, resting both forearms on the wood. “Did you contact your old station sergeant?”
Josh nodded.
“You’re going to uproot a life you’ve worked hard to achieve up here for Delaney?” Reese’s voice took on an overprotective big-brother tone.
Patty smacked her husband’s arm. “She was willing to do it for him, so why wouldn’t he do it for her? Besides, they’re in love.”
“I do love her,” Josh said, still fingering the ring. “I don’t want to lose her.”
“I think she’s here.” Reese nodded toward the door.
Josh stood. He couldn’t think back to a time in his life where he’d been more nervous. He yanked open the door to let Delaney in, wondering why he’d brought the ring to a gathering that would include his best friends, half the station, and their spouses. “There’s my girl.” He quickly unzipped her parka, looping his hand around her waist and giving her short, passionate kiss.
“In the flesh.” She leaned in and brushed her plump, rosy lips against his one more time. “I missed you.”
“I missed you more.” He wanted to toss her over his shoulders and take her back to his place. Screw this party.
Screw his friends.
“Hold this for me, please.” She shoved a flower-patterned computer case at him.
“Let me take your coat,” Reese said, maneuvering around Josh. “Then we’ll give you two a little alone time.”
“Who else is here so far?” Delaney asked.
“Jake, Kenzie, Jared, Ryan, Stacey, and Doug. Frank and Lacy will be late. Tristan is working, as usual. We really need to find that kid a woman,” Patty said.
“Stop playing matchmaker.” Reese looped his arm over Patty’s shoulder. “Let’s get back to the party. See you two shortly.”
“You are all smiles,” Josh said, setting her case on the table and pulling her tight against his body.
“I have some exciting news.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to show you,” she said, pulling away from him. His skin chilled the moment she left his embrace.
“Once everyone knows you’re here, we won’t have a second alone until we go back to my place. Show me later, because I want to kiss you now.”
She shook her head as she dug into her case. “I’ll do more than kiss you tonight. This can’t wait.”
“When you put it that—”
“Read it.” She shoved an envelope against his chest.
“Tell me what it says. I’d rather listen to your voice.”
“Okay.” Her smile widened. “It’s a book contract.”
“You sold your book?”
“I sold the series! My agent pitched it that way and got two offers.”
“That’s great. I’m so proud of you.” He lifted her up and twirled her around. “What did you get for it?” He set her down, holding her as tight as he could. She fit perfectly against his frame.
“Enough that I feel comfortable quitting my job and taking the part-time job at the advertising agency up here. Things will be tight, but it’s manageable, as long as I have some money coming in outside of the advance.”
“What?” He blinked a few times, hoping, praying he’d heard her correctly. “You can move up here?”
She nodded like a little girl in a dress shop, her eyes wide and her smile as big as they came. “My lease is up in two months, and I plan on giving my notice on Monday. That is, if you’ll still have me.”
“Hell, yeah,” he said. “Let’s blow this party off.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It would be rude, and besides, in a couple of weeks, we can start moving my stuff up here. My landlord said she would let me break the lease without penalty if she found someone before it was up.”
He took a small step back. Proposing in Reese and Patty’s kitchen had not been on his list of places to pop the question, but why not? “I love you,” he said.
“I love you more.”
He stuffed his hand deep in his pocket then pulled out the ring as he knelt on bended knee.
“Oh, my God. What are you doing?” she whispered.
He had no fast retort. All he had was raw emotion. “I love you.” He slipped the ring on her finger, making sure the diamond sat perfectly in the center. “I wish I had one of those one-liners you love so much, but all I’ve got is the standard. Will you make me the happiest, proudest man on earth by letting me be your husband?”
“That is anything but standard,” she said softly. “I want you for my husband, but I have one condition.”
“What’s that?” He stood, kissing her ring finger, now sporting a diamond that didn’t sparkle anywhere near the way she did. Nothing could outshine her.
“You let everyone know I’m your girl.”
He smiled. “How about we go into that party and see who’s the first one to notice that ring on your finger?”
“Hell, yeah,” she said. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
“For letting me take the time I needed. For slowing things down.”
He took her hand, knowing for that the first time since his mother died, he had a safe place. “One day at a time, I will love you forever,” he whispered.
THE END