“I am?”

“Well, maybe just a big old goof.”

“I love you because you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“There are no other girls. For me, there is only you.”

“Unless we have a daughter,” I spoke softly and he looked at me with shocked eyes.

“I never thought about that. We may have a daughter. I may be a dad.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“I’ll be the happiest father in the world.” His words were light, but I could tell from the intensity of his eyes that he meant every word that he said. “I’d love to see a little Lucky with big curls and big brown eyes.”

“I’d like to call her Ruby Lane, if we have a girl.” I allowed him to run his fingers gently across my lips. “When I was young, my mother used to read me this book about a little girl, who was the luckiest girl in the world. She had the best mother and father in the world, and she was the happiest girl in the world, and her name was Ruby Lane. I always told myself that if I had a little girl, I would call her that.”

“Ruby Lane Beaumont,” Zane said the words aloud. “I like that, I like it a lot.”

“I love you, Zane Beaumont.” I sat up and studied his face. “I’m so thankful you chose my diner to come into that day.”

“It was fated, my love.” He reached into his back pocket and took out a ring. “I bought this for you before we went to France. But I wanted to wait to ask you. I didn’t want to ask you and have you say yes because you felt bad for me in Paris. I wanted to know that when you said yes, it was because it was something you wanted for you, and not because you felt bad for me.”

“Oh, Zane, I would never do that.” I stared at the large diamond as he slid the platinum band onto my finger. “I love it.” I smiled shyly at him. “And yes, a million times over.”

“Do you remember my song for you, my love?” He ran his hand along my cheek. “Today is our day, my love, today is our day.”

“Do you remember mine? You are me, I am you, and we are one.” I sang out in a reggae tone and we both laughed.

“That we are my dear, that we are.” And with that Zane and I fell back into the bed and he held me close in his arms. I pressed my face against his chest and allowed myself to breathe all of him in, this man was mine. This handsome, wounded, strong and spectacular man was going to be my husband and I knew that without a doubt he would be the only one I’d have for the rest of my life.

Chapter 13

Zane

“I’ll give you my watch,” he handed me his watch with sticky fingers and a reluctant look on his face.

“I don’t want your watch, Noah.” I hit his hand away. “Just get out of my way.”

“But I don’t want you to go out.” He pouted and his eyes bore into mine. “You said you’d stay home and hang out.”

“I’m going to a sleepover,” I looked at him with an annoyed expression. His whiney 10-year-old voice was irritating me and I just wanted him to leave me alone.

“I wanna come too.” He pleaded.

“You can’t come.” I grabbed my bag and headed to the door.

“I’ll give you my watch and all my coins.” He looked at me as if he was going to cry. “And three Twix bars I have in my room.”

“Noah, I don’t want any of those things.” I ran down the stairs and headed to the front door. My friend John and his mom were waiting in the driveway to take me to his house. I stopped at the front door and looked up the stairs. Noah was sitting there with a sad face, staring down at me. He looked so alone and tiny, and in that moment, I knew I couldn’t leave.

“Alright you win, I’ll stay.” I dropped my bag on the floor and shouted up at him. His face lit up and he came running down the stairs.

“Here’s my watch Zane. It’s yours now.” He reluctantly held it out to me and I shook my head. I felt guilty that he was willing to give me the watch he had begged to receive for the last six months.

“Thanks, Zane. You’re the best big brother ever.” He hugged me close to him and I patted him on the back awkwardly.

“Don’t ever forget it.” I grinned at me and we both walked outside to tell John that I would no longer be attending the sleepover.

“Oh, what a beautiful morning.” Lucky’s singing woke me up and I saw her pulling on a pair of shorts. Her face was vibrant and happy, and she looked like she was going to workout.

“Where are you going?” I yawned, still slightly tired. The events of the last week had been exhausting and I was emotionally spent.

“I thought I’d go downstairs and cook Noah breakfast.”

“Just Noah?” I pretended to pout, but I sat up and jumped out of bed eagerly. I had almost forgotten that Noah was here and back in my life. It had all seemed like a dream—the best dream of my life, but a dream all the same.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to help?” She looked astonished and walked over to give me a kiss. “Good morning sleepyhead.” She played with my hair and then stepped back and looked at my face.

“What’s so funny?” I grumbled, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her towards me.

“I think you need the chia now.” She mussed with my hair again and giggled.

“Are you telling me I look a mess?” I squeezed her ass and was about to lean down and kiss her when I heard someone clearing their throat.

“Sorry to interrupt you lovebirds, but I was wondering if one of you would let me know where the coffee is?” Noah grinned at us as he stood in the doorway and my heart thudded as I stared at my little brother. Though he wasn’t so little now, he was buffer than me.

“Always preventing me from doing something, aren’t you Noah?” I walked towards him and slapped him on the shoulder. “Next time knock, yeah?”

“I didn’t think I had anything to worry about.” He stared at Lucky. “She’s been singing for the last 30 minutes at least, and I know you may be good in bed bro, but you’re not that good.”

“Noah.” I chastised him and looked at Lucky. “You’re in the presence of a lady.”

“My bad, Lucky.” He grinned at her. “You look beautiful by the way, I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”

“Thank you, Noah.” She walked over to join us and I stared at her legs. She looked sexy as hell, but I hadn’t realized before just how short her shorts were. They seemed to be showing an awful lot of leg, more leg than I thought any other guy should be seeing, not even my own brother.

“Do you want to change, Lucky?” I looked at her pointedly and she stared at me with a blank expression.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Zane. You just watched me get dressed.” She shook her head and linked her arm through Noah’s. “Now let’s go and get you some breakfast.” She smiled up at him as they walked to the stairs.

“So what am I then?” I called out to them. “Chopped liver? Doesn’t anyone want to make sure I get some breakfast?”

“Stop being a crybaby.” They both uttered at the same time and then they started laughing. I stood in my doorway, watching them walk down the stairs arm in arm and I wondered at how lucky I was to be witnessing my brother bonding with my fiancé. It was a sight I’d never thought I would see happen. I had never planned on getting engaged. I hadn’t believed in love and I certainly hadn’t planned to give my heart to some lady to trample all over. But then Lucky had wormed her way in and drilled a hole so deep that even I couldn’t ignore the way she made me feel. I smiled to myself at the feeling of complete and utter joy that I was experiencing. I don’t think I could remember ever feeling this happy before in my life.

“Yo bro, you coming?” I heard Noah call up the stairs and I hurried down to join them before he ate all of Lucky’s special home fries.

***

“You still mad?” Noah’s voice was cautious as he helped me put away the dishes from the dishwasher.

“What do you think?” I shook my head and placed the last glasses in the cupboard before turning around to face him. “I thought you were dead, Noah, and you weren’t. You didn’t even call me.” I glared at him and kept my voice low. “The only reason I’m not shouting right now is because Lucky’s upstairs in bed and not feeling well. I don’t want her to see how mad I am at you, but trust me bro, I’m still really mad.”

“I know you don’t understand why I did what I did. And I’m sure you feel like—” he started and I held a hand up.

“You have no idea how I feel. I feel overwhelmed with happiness and love. I feel like I’ve been given my whole heart back. You’re my best friend, Noah. All our life, it’s just been you and me. I thought you respected and loved me enough to let me know what’s up.”

“I couldn’t tell you.” He looked into my eyes and I was reminded of the little boy who followed me around everywhere. “You know I would have told you man if I thought it would be okay.” His eyes pleaded for my understanding.

“I don’t understand why you told Sidney Johnson.” The words sounded childish coming out of my mouth and I glared at him for making me sound like a jealous pansy.

“Sidney was the only person I told.” Noah sighed. “I can’t tell you why, but I trusted him.”

“More secrets, Noah?” I shook my head. “Whatever.”

“Trust me, Zane.” He grabbed a hold of my arm. “Please just trust me.”

“I missed you, man.” I turned my face embarrassed at how my voice had broken. “You know I trust you, but I missed you.”

“I missed you too, bro. Every day.” He looked at me and made a face. “But I knew you’d get them, Zane. I knew it wouldn’t be forever. You’ve always been there for me. I didn’t doubt you’d come through for me this time as well.”

“I was f**king going to get Braydon if it cost me my life.” I croaked out a laugh. “I wasn’t going to stop until his sorry ass was in jail.”

“I knew you would do whatever it took. Even when we were children, you thought about me first.” He looked up at me with admiration. “You were like a mom, and a dad, and a big brother to me, dude. You were always the one I went to, the one I could rely on, the one I pestered when I was bored.”

“You were a pest all right.”

“I knew you’d come through for me, Zane. I knew that it wasn’t forever. I knew that I’d see you again.”

“Just don’t ever do that shit to me again.” My voice was gruff and I turned away from him quickly. “This last year has been hell for me.”

“But at least you got to meet Lucky.” Noah’s voice was soft. “If you hadn’t been working the case you never would have met her.”

“Yeah.” I nodded and thought about everything for a moment. “I love her you know.”

“She’s good for you.” There was a wistful look in his eyes. “You should be thanking me, man. If I hadn’t gone away, you never would have met her. And right now, it would just be you and me here. You wouldn’t have a beautiful girl upstairs in your bed, waiting for you.”

“She’s not exactly waiting for my loving, Noah, she’s taking a nap.” I laughed.

“Hey, she’s in your bed right? If I hadn’t gone away and if you didn’t think I was dead, you would never have met her. In fact, you should be thanking me.” Noah grinned at me.

“That’s some twisted thinking, bro, but thank you.” I laughed. “I’m thankful every day for meeting Lucky.”

“She loves you bad, man.” Noah laughed. “I’ve never seen a girl so kooky over you, not even those girls in high school. What did you do to her? Drug her?”

“Very funny.” I punched him in the shoulder, but I was pleased at his words. I knew that Lucky loved me, but it felt great to see that other people could tell as well. “I asked her to marry me.”

“Well, I should hope so.” Noah laughed.

“Oh?”

“She’s the love of your life. She’s gorgeous. She’s kind. She’s nice. She sings like an angel. You don’t let a girl like that go.” Noah smiled at me weakly. “When you meet a girl like that, you don’t let her go.”

“I won’t ever let her go.” I knew that I had never spoken any truer words. Lucky was my life, and as long as she was in it, I knew that everything was going to be okay. We may have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start, but I knew that I was going to be the best husband and father that I could be.

“I’m glad I’m home, bro.” Noah reached his hand out to me. “I missed you like hell.” I knew that was his way of apologizing to me. I knew that an awful lot must have gone on while he was away and I could tell that there were things he wasn’t telling me, but I was patient. When Noah was ready to talk, I’d be here for him. No matter what. Because that was what family was really about: being patient, being loving, and being understanding.

“Me too, bro.” I gave him a hug. “You, me, and Lucky. We’re one big family now. And I’m not going to let either of you go again.”

Epilogue

Lucky

“So I guess we’re going to be parents then?” I was dumbfounded as we walked out of the doctor’s office.