Epilogue
Xia
“That’s the last box. I’m officially moved in,” Shayne says.
I walk from the kitchen to the living room and wrap my arms around him.
“This beats living in that month to month unit you never really saw.”
“Yeah, it does.” He kisses my forehead. “I have something for you.”
“A housewarming present? I don’t think it works that way in this case. I should be getting you something. You’re the new roomie.”
“Okay, a ‘thank you for everything you do, you’re amazing, and I don’t deserve you’ gift.”
Laughing, I kiss his cheek. “Well, I’m not going to turn it down.”
“Come on, you go out on the balcony and wait for me,” he says.
I arch an eyebrow but nod. He’s settled into his new life here. As Magical Munchies is settling in, he’s coming up with a new concept for his truck and attending regular meetings with his club called church. I was stunned when he transferred for me. No fuss or debate, just a simple informing me that he’d transferred to L.A. and would be training his brothers to run one up north. Any doubts I might’ve had were tossed out the window.
As I settle on the patio where we’ve taken to spending our evenings, I sink into the cushioned chair and relax. I smile when he walks toward me with a bowl of chocolate-covered strawberries, a silver container with champagne, and two champagne glasses. He sets the tray on the table.
“You’re really excited about this moving in thing, huh?”
“It’s a first for me. I’ve had a lot of those with you.” He kisses me sweetly. “I’ll be right back.”
“This wasn’t the present?” I ask, stunned.
“Nope. Get the bubbly flowing.”
I laugh as I pop the bottle and take a bite of a strawberry. I’m not sure why he’s ramping up the romance, but I won’t be complaining. When he returns with a copy of The Half Blood Prince, I can’t help but giggle.
“You bought me a book! I love you.”
He smiles. “I’m glad to hear you say that. Flip through it, take it for a spin.”
Placing the top of my strawberry on the tray, I wipe my fingers on my pants before I open the hardback and gasp. It’s hollow and open to chapter fifteen, the unbreakable vow. A diamond ring hangs on a pink ribbon that rests in the rectangular cutout.
“Shayne?”
“I want to start this new life of ours together right. Will you make the unbreakable vow and marry me, Xia?”
“Oh my God. Yes!”
His hand trembles as he unties the rose gold cushion cut diamond—a large square rested in the center surrounded by an outer square of bordering diamonds. He slips it onto my ring finger and kisses it.
“I can’t believe you did this,” I whisper.
“I love you.” Leaning down, I kiss the lips of the man I’m going to marry. I bury my fingers in his hair and my nose in his neck. He smells like home.
“Thank you for giving me a future I could believe in,” he whispers huskily.
I pull back. “Don’t you know you did the same for me?”
“You did that all on your own.”
I trail my fingers down his face. “I think we were two people destined to meet. I never could’ve imagined a man more right for me, and despite everything we’ve been through, I wouldn’t change anything because then we might not have ended up here, and I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I know you’re still worried about your past. I’m never going to tell you it was all right because I’d be lying. I can tell you that time is over and the good you’ve done and will do from this point on will far outweigh any of that.”
He rests his head on my lap, and I kiss his crown. I know how rare this vulnerable state is for him. He places his hands on my knees and slides them up, taking my skirt with him.
“Shayne.”
“We have to celebrate, but only if you can keep quiet.”
He pushes my panties to the side, and his head disappears under my skirt. Gripping the arms of the chair, I bite my bottom lip as he licks, sucks, and nibbles. I rock my hips, gasping when he pushes his tongue inside of me. Being outside with nothing but the darkness to hide our forms is a turn on. His hands snake around my legs, pinning me into place, and I lift off the seat, rocking against him. Muffled whimpers escape as he takes me to the sky and scatters me like the stars.
My head is still swimming when he stands.
“Here, hold this.” He hands me the bottle of champagne and the chocolate-covered strawberries. “We’re going to need those while we consummate the engagement.”
“What did you call what we just did?”
“A warm up.”
My stomach flutters. You never know what road life is going to take you down. A year ago I was a miserable woman hiding behind the persona that didn’t fit her. Now I’m living my dreams in every way, and it all started with a twist of fate.
THE END