He came home with her, after a second unanimous vote to have council members wear powdered wigs. Beckett helped Evan with his homework and told Aurora a bedtime story about dragons and kittens. Gia watched as he gently kissed the forehead of her sleeping little girl and felt the tightness in her chest that had been there for perhaps years finally loosen.

They tiptoed back downstairs. Evan took one look at them and announced he was going to go watch a movie in his room.

“You’re sure I’m not grounded?” he asked Gia from the steps.

“I’m sure. But let’s not make this a habit,” she warned him.

Evan looked to Beckett. “Will you be here in the morning?”

Beckett looked at Gia. “Yeah, he’ll be here,” she told her son.

“Cool,” Evan nodded. “See you in the morning.”

“Night, Evan.”

Unsure of what to do now that they were alone, Gia wandered over to the couch. Beckett busied himself locking the front door and pouring two glasses of wine. He carried them over and settled himself on the couch next to her.

“Where would you like me to start explaining?” he asked.

She threw her head back and laughed. “Let’s start with how did you get these bruises?” She trailed a finger over his jaw, still sharp with stubble.

“Carter and Jax and I beat the shit out of each other in the ring to cheer me up.”

“Did it work?” Gia asked.

Beckett nodded. “I had some sense knocked into me.”

“I can’t believe Summer let you three do that.”

“She was not very happy,” he grinned.

“Okay, so that explains the bruises. Now how did you get the entire town in on this?”

Beckett chuckled. “I was late to the game. They were already in on it, by the time I wised up.” He quickly recounted what Ellery had told him.

“So the reason I couldn’t get into the Facebook group that day — not that I tried to see if there were any posts about you suffering horribly from our breakup,” she added. “Was because the Beautification Committee kicked us out to post a town-wide message about how to handle the situation?”

“Yep. They decided they were going to make sure I was convinced that Paul was the coolest thing since Bob Dylan so I’d feel jealous and insecure.”

“And they wanted to remind me of how great you were — are,” she corrected herself when Beckett pinched her.

“Once everyone had seen the message, they deleted it and let us back into the group. Business as usual.”

“But how about the town meeting?”

“I had accidentally stumbled upon the BC’s last meeting and when I walked in, it looked like they were trying to match you and Paul up. Total dumb luck on their part that I came in when I did. A minute later and I would have seen their whole plan on the slideshow. But when I barged in Ellery’s pointing at the screen and there’s you and there’s Paul, taunting me with his cool guy smile.”

“Ugh,” Gia groaned.

“My sentiments were a bit more gut-wrenching. I realized then that I didn’t want you to be with anyone else, even Bob Dylan 2.0. And after dinner with him and Aurora I realized I’d made an even bigger mistake by insinuating that you did the kids a disservice by divorcing him.”

“How exactly did you end up having dinner with him?”

“Aurora wandered off in the park while Paul was watching her and I found her.”

Gia smacked a hand to her forehead. “I knew he couldn’t be trusted with kids!”

“He also let her order a soda and chocolate milk for supper.”

“Ugh, he’s the worst!”

“No argument here. When he visits again, one of us needs to stay with him and the kids at all times to make sure he doesn’t talk them into quitting school and joining a band.”

Gia sipped and laughed.

Beckett continued. “So, after the beating and dinner, I decided I was going to win you back. But my slow, methodical approach to analyzing the situation and getting feedback from all the important players — you, your dad, Evan — was taking way too long. So after the wedding, I called in the big guns.”

“The Beautification Committee?”

Beckett nodded. “Evan was the one who came up with the general idea. He doesn’t put a lot of stock in your ability to reason out logical arguments. He was worried that you’d overthink us to death.”

“Uh-huh. So you both manipulated me with a scripted argument.”

Beckett pushed her hair back so he could lean in and nibble her neck. “A debate, Red. Totally different than an argument.”

“But you still manipulated me.”

She felt him smile against her neck. “I don’t know, Beckett. Yoga is really hard. I don’t think you can handle it because you’re not manly enough,” he said in a high-pitched voice.

She giggled and tried to push him away. “I do not sound like that.”

“You’re a conniving temptress,” Beckett said, taking her glass from her and gently pushing her back on the couch.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” she whispered, her voice breathy and low.

“Of the highest kind,” Beckett whispered back, his lips moving gently over hers.

He ranged himself over her and she threaded her fingers through his hair, tugging him down. She’d missed this, the weight of him on her, his scent on her, all of her senses on fire because of him.

Beckett teased the strap of her tank down, his fingers branding her as they went.

“I don’t know how to do this with kids in the house,” he whispered against the upper curve of her breast.

She sighed, her breath tickling his hair. “I’m not sure either. But let’s start by moving to the bedroom.”

Beckett unfolded himself from the couch, keeping his hands on her hips, he followed her into her room. She shut the doors firmly and led him to the bed. While he stepped out of his shoes, Gia worked her magic on his tie and the buttons of his shirt. She moved her attention to his pants next.

The belt hit the floor next to his shoes. She took her time, trailing her fingers down his chest, over his rippled stomach. Her smile was feline when the tickle of her fingertips had him drawing in a sharp breath.

Deftly, she opened his pants, shoved them down. And when he stepped out of them, she skimmed her hands back up his legs to his briefs.

Her purr of pleasure had him gritting his teeth. “Gianna,” he whispered.

“I’m here,” she answered. She slid her hands into his underwear, cupping his ass and then sliding the fabric down, freeing him.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” she whispered. Her breath next to his erection made him tremble.

She skimmed a hand up his leg and over his thigh. But just before her fingers closed around her target, Beckett was pulling her to her feet.

“My turn,” he whispered against her mouth. He drew her tank top over her head and made quick work of her leggings. She had on tiny black briefs and a strappy sports bra with a zipper front. “Oh, I’m going to like this,” he murmured against her neck.

Beckett backed her against the bed and slowly lowered her to the mattress. Gia’s breath was a gasp when he settled himself between her legs. They were separated by just that thin layer of fabric and yet if felt like miles.

“Beckett, please,” she pleaded.

He tugged at the zipper of her sports bra. Inch by inch it lowered until the fabric parted and her breasts were freed.

“I’m never going to have enough of you, Gianna,” he whispered, nuzzling a taut peak.

He tasted and tantalized, using his tongue to drive her wild. First one breast, then the other, until Gia found herself writhing under him. The sweet relentless torture had her biting her lip to keep from sobbing.

He moved back up her body and when he gripped his shaft, she thought that the torture had come to an end. “Let’s make sure you can be quiet,” he said, a quiet rumble in her ear. He pressed himself against the damp fabric of her underwear and Gia moaned.

“That’s why we’re practicing,” Beckett said, clamping a hand over her mouth. He ground his hips into her and this time her moan was muffled by his palm.

“Good girl,” he whispered.

He lowered his head to recapture the tip of her breast and continued his short thrusts against her. It wasn’t enough for her. She wanted more from him. She wanted to feel every inch of his thick shaft buried in her, stretching her until she could take no more.

But his attack was relentless.

With every stroke, he swept the head of his penis over her swollen mound and Gia saw stars. She’d never come like this before, but knew that she would tonight.

With a deft tug, he pulled her underwear to the side and grunted as her slick folds welcomed his swollen crown.

The skin-to-skin contact destroyed her.

Beckett stroked himself against her and Gia came, arching up violently. Her lips moving against his palm in a silent scream.

“God, I love how you come for me.” Beckett’s voice was strained, breathless. He pulled his hand away from her mouth and kissed her, so gently. “I love you, Gianna. Tell me you’re mine.”

Gia lifted her hips for him as he yanked her underwear from her. “Tell me, baby. Say you’re mine.”

Beckett held himself positioned just outside of her entrance. Trembling, he waited.

Gia grasped one of his hands and pulled it to her breast where her heart thundered for him.

“I’m yours, Beckett. I belong to you.”

Finally, finally. He thrust into her, staking his claim.

Gia buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed. She was his. He fought for her and won.

“You’re mine, my beautiful Gianna.” He whispered the words over and over again as he began to move in her like music, a dance as old as time. She welcomed him into her.

His mouth met hers and she feasted on his lips, his tongue. The heat of their love warmed every dark corner of her heart, freed her. She felt the light as it spread through her body, gilded and glowing.

His gaze locked with hers as he drove into her again and again. “I love you, my Gianna.”

She felt the words in her soul, in her body. The vibrations set off a chain reaction. As her body gave itself to him, the last shield fell away from her heart. “I love you, Beckett.” She whispered the words as they came together. Beckett, fully sheathed in her, shuddered his release into her as she fell apart around him.

This was love, this was life. They belonged to each other with an unbreakable bond forged of heartbeats and breath, of forgiveness and faith.

They whispered the words over and over again long after the last waves had receded.

* * *

Gia’s eyes fluttered open to the sunny morning light. She smelled … breakfast? The giggles of Evan and Aurora floated into her room and she started to wiggle out from under the quilt when a distinct sparkle caught her eye.

Her fairy garden, the first thing she saw every morning, was different. A third polished rock rested front and center, the word love etched into its smooth surface.

And on it rested a fairytale diamond ring.

Gia shot out of bed, her shaking hands nearly upending the globe as she reached inside.

It was real. Cool to the touch, the emerald cut center stone picked up the morning sun in rainbows of sparkle.

Was this really happening?

Clutching the ring in her hand, she hastily pulled on shorts and last night’s tank top and opened her bedroom doors. She paused in the doorway to take it all in.

Beckett in pajama pants and a t-shirt had a dishtowel draped over his shoulder and was expertly flipping pancakes to Evan and Aurora’s delight.

He scooped one up with a spatula and tossed it onto Evan’s plate. Her son was ready and waiting with the syrup.

The next one landed on Aurora’s plate. “Wow!” she gasped.

“Wait ’til Mom sees these,” Evan said. “Heart-shaped pancakes. That’ll kill her.”

Gia brought her fingers to her mouth. It was so blissfully normal. Sunday morning family breakfast. And Evan called her “mom.”

She felt the tears prick her eyes.

Beckett spotted her first and the rush of love she felt in her chest was echoed in his face. He lit up just looking at her. She mattered to him. They all did.

“Told you she’d cry,” Evan muttered to Beckett.

Beckett smacked him lightly with the spatula. “Don’t you have homework to do or robots to build?” he teased Evan.

Her son snorted. “I’m not missing this show for anything.” Evan made himself comfortable on the stool.

“Hi, Mama!” Aurora chirped. “Bucket made pancakes!”

“I see that, sweetie.”

Aurora clapped as Evan dumped a river of syrup on her plate.

Beckett skirted the island and met her in the living room. He took her hands in his, finding the ring in her grasp. “I see you found it.” He smiled down at her with such tenderness that Gia couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over.

She nodded.

Beckett brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, swiping away hot tears.

In the tiny space that separated them, Gia could feel the warmth, the strength of him. His steadfast loyalty, his love.

“I love you, Gianna.”

“I love you, too, Beckett.” She sniffled.

“I know I screwed up. Big time,” he said, holding her hand in his, his face close to hers. “And I’m pretty sure I will again, but I can promise you that I will stick and I will fight and I will be there, every day. For you and for Evan and Aurora.”

Gia was getting perilously close to humiliating herself with a tearful wail.

“I’ve asked your father, I’ve asked your kids, I’ve asked this whole damn town and now I’m asking you. Gianna Decker will you be my partner, my wife, my other, better half?”

Gia closed her eyes and let her heart tell her what to do. “Yes.” She had barely whispered the word when she was swept up in a crushing hug. Beckett spun her around, kissing her until she was too dizzy to stand on her own.

Evan and Aurora jumped around them cheering and laughing. Evan jumped on Beckett’s back and it was just enough for everyone to lose their balance. They landed in a heap on the living room floor, laughing like idiots.

“Mama! Bucket said ‘damn.’”

“Dibs on the secret passage room!” Evan hooted.

Beckett found Gia’s hand in the pile of chaos and slid the ring onto her finger.