Epilogue
“Hunter? You ready to go? Come on, man. We only have thirty-two minutes.” Brady stepped through the door that separated their kitchen from his brother’s.
“Can you help me with my tie?” Hunter asked as he hurried into the room in his dressy new clothes. He’d decided he wanted to use some of his money on new clothes so he would look nice at Kenley and Zane’s wedding. Michaela had taken him shopping and the results of her effort looked pretty nice.
“Yeah. I think I remember how to do a tie.”
“You’re not wearing a tie?” Hunter gave him a look that had judgment written all over it.
“I’m not. I’m wearing khakis and a dress shirt. That’s good enough for a wedding on a boat.”
“You look nice.” Hunter shrugged.
“You look even better,” Brady allowed as he pushed his brother’s chin up so he could see. A few slashes of silk between them and the tie was snug and straight around his neck.
“Don’t you boys look handsome?” Mick said as she stepped in wearing a low-cut dress and highheels. She didn’t dress up for work, and he never took her to the kinds of places she’d need to wear something like the ensemble she was wearing now. He made a mental note to change that in the future.
“You look pretty,” Brady said.
Hunter followed his complement with, “You’re so beautiful, Michaela.”
“Are you trying to one up me in front of my girl?” Brady teased his brother, though Hunter didn’t understand the joke.
“Oh! I almost forgot my gift for them.” Hunter ran off.
“Hurry up!”
“I am!”
“You did a great job with his clothes. He looks like a player.”
“That wasn’t my goal. I was just happy to find something that didn’t have itchy tags. He hates itchy tags.” When she smiled at him, something in his chest leaped with happiness. Michaela had opened her heart and her home to him and his brother.
She was an amazing person and sexy to boot. He couldn’t wait a second longer to make her his.
* * *
Brady gave her a look she hadn’t seen before. He was rarely serious, with exception to the few times she’s seen him mad. He was serious now.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. At least I hope not.” He bit his bottom lip and tilted his head as if listening for Hunter’s return. “I was planning to do this later. Maybe when we were alone and somewhere more romantic than my brother’s kitchen, but I can’t wait.”
He pulled a small box from his pocket. The velvet cube was dwarfed by his large hand, but she knew exactly what kind of box it was.
A ring box.
He snapped it open to reveal a diamond.
“Will you marry me, Mick?”
“I thought you weren’t the marrying kind.”
“It turns out I am the marrying kind, as long as I’m with someone who is my kind.”
“And I’m your kind?”
“You are better than my kind, but I’m hoping you’ll say yes anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Really?” He didn’t even attempt to hide his surprise, which made her laugh.
“Are you going to try to talk me out of it?”
“No ma’am. I’m going to get this ring on your finger before you change your mind.” He pulled the ring from the satin and slid it in place before he kissed her, complete with his usual moan of happiness.
“Eww. Stop kissing on my side. You guys said you wouldn’t kiss over here anymore,” Hunter complained, making them both laugh.
“Fine. I’ll kiss her later on our side. We have to get going.”
“We only have twenty-one minutes left.”
“Good thing it only takes nine minutes to get there.”
They got to the marina in plenty of time. Hunter was excited about all the decorations and getting to ride on the boat. Brady winked at her as he rested his arm around Hunter’s neck.
“How would you like to be in a wedding?”
“In Kenley and Zane’s wedding? I don’t know what to do. I didn’t get to practice.” Michaela patted his arm to calm him.
“Not this wedding. Brady was talking about our wedding.”
“I’m going to marry you?” Hunter’s eyes went huge and he stepped away from her. Brady just laughed at the miscommunication.
“No. I’m marrying Brady. Which means I will be your sister. Do you want to be my brother?”
“I’m already Brady’s brother.” He twisted his lips to the side.
“I’m willing to share you with Mick, if that’s okay with you.”
Hunter nodded. “That’s okay with me. Can I go look over the edge?”
“Yes. Keep both feet on this side of the ropes.”
She wrapped her arm around Brady’s waist as they kept an eye on Hunter.
“Are you sure you want to sign up for this? I mean he’s my brother and I’m committed to taking care of him for the rest of our lives. But if it’s too much for you, I would understand. That ring wasn’t meant to be a trap.”
“It doesn’t feel like a trap. I knew when I said yes I was making a commitment to both of you. I understand the two of you are a package deal.” She didn’t want him worrying about this. “I have enough room in my heart for both of you.”
He relaxed in her arms and rested his forehead against hers.
“You’re an amazing person.” He pulled back and looked down at her, his lips pulling up on one side. “I get more room in your heart than Hunter, though, right?”
“I don’t know. You only said I was pretty.”
They laughed and kissed until the music started for the service.
“It’s beginning,” Hunter said as he sat next to her. She looked up into Brady’s eyes and smiled.
“Yes. It’s beginning.”