EPILOGUE
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
LOGAN
Another successful protective custody on the books, I thought to myself as I climbed into my car and tossed my bag in the passenger seat. I looked up at the big white house and smiled as I thought about Kailey and the amazing nights we had had together here. It was hard to eat my cereal at that kitchen table without blushing, and I definitely thought about her every night when I laid down in that bed, imagining her warm curvy body writhing in ecstasy next to me. I shook my head, feeling my pants get tight and I laughed to myself. Still, just the thought of her got me excited.
I pulled out of the drive and onto the road, watching the trees pass by as I made my way toward Detroit. It was nicer out here in the country with no loud cars, barely any crime, and actual foliage. Maybe one day I would buy a house over here. As I drove along, my stomach growled and I realized the day was so busy that I hadn’t had a chance to eat yet. I was pretty anxious to get home, so my stomach could wait.
I drove through the city, passing my old apartment building and driving into the suburbs. I stared at the cookie-cutter houses all lined up in a row, each with their own little charm. It wasn’t the country, but it was definitely better than the city.
As I pulled into the drive and parked, I smiled at the sight of the lights on in the house, giving me a warm welcome. I put my key in the lock and opened the door, pulling my boots off and setting them on the rug. I ran my fingers quickly through the pile of mail by the door before looking up, and taking in a deep breath. A strong scent told me something was cooking. Whatever was going on in that kitchen was magical and I needed some of it.
I pushed open the swinging door and looked over Kailey, still dressed in her scrubs, stirring a pot of Beef Stroganoff. She looked at me and smiled, putting the spoon down and skipping across the kitchen to fall into my arms.
“I missed you,” she whispered as I hugged her tightly. “Two weeks was too long. Tell the department to get off their butts.”
“I’ll make sure I pass that message along,” I laughed. “You smell so good. I missed you like crazy. I swear, every time I get assigned to that house it’s like torture. Being there without you just seems weird.”
“Well, as much as I loved that time with you, let’s hope I don’t end up back there anytime soon,” she said, smiling and kissing me hard on the lips.
I watched as she walked back over to the stove and continued to stir the food. I took in a deep breath and stretched, glad to finally be back home. I had moved out of my apartment and into her home in the suburbs not long after we got back from the safe house. It didn’t take me long to feel like I was finally home.
“I hope you like Beef Stroganoff,” Kailey said, looking down at the pot. “One of the girls at the office gave me the recipe and said you would like it. They let me off early so I could come home and have it ready for you when you got here. Honestly, I think they were just tired of hearing my countdown.”
“My witness and I didn’t swap any recipes, but I think he could tell I was glad to get out of there,” I chuckled.
“I’m sure you were,” she said, reaching for two bowls and putting them on the counter.
“So, I wanted to ask you something,” I said, reaching into my pocket.
“What’s that?”
“What do you think about marriage?” I asked and immediately fell silent, watching her reaction.
Kailey stood, pausing for a moment and then continued to stir the pot. I could tell she was thinking about what to say and I waited patiently. As she scooped the food into the bowls, she cleared her throat.
“I don’t know,” she said nervously. “I hadn’t given much thought to it. Why?”
As she put the spoon in the pot and began to turn around, I lowered myself to one knee and held out a small black box. She gasped, covering her mouth and backing into the stove. Tears filled her eyes as I looked up at her beautiful face.
“Because I was wondering if you might make me the happiest damn man on the planet and say yes?”
My hands were shaking and the several seconds it took her to answer felt like an eternity. She stepped forward and took the ring from the box, holding it up in front of her with a shocked look on her face. As she looked into my eyes, she nodded and yelled “yes.”
I jumped to my feet and lunged forward, grabbing her around the waist and picking her up into the air. She laughed loudly as I buried my face in her bosom, not ever wanting to let go. I set her gently back down on the ground and took the ring from her hand, sliding it onto her ring finger.
“You just made my day,” I said, grinning and leaning in to kiss her.
“You just made my life,” she whispered, closing her eyes as our lips touched.
It was a whirlwind, a crazy love story that I hadn’t seen coming. But, as I stood there feeling this woman’s soft lips on mine and tasting the familiar taste of her skin, I couldn’t help but feel that I had hit the jackpot.
The End