Prologue
The streets of Paris were bustling as we left the Catacombs. I welcomed the warm air after having been chilled underneath the city with the dead for nearly an hour. I always welcomed the heat since I lived in Florida.
As we moved down the street, the images of the skulls stuck with me. So many bodies claimed the Catacombs as their final resting place. The suffering, the loss, the death—all things I hated to think about. Instead, I focused on the positive. The reverence had been like nothing I’d experienced in my life—paying respects to thousands upon thousands of people who once had walked this Earth. But still, we’d been surrounded by thousands of skeletons. Among them, I’d felt almost hopeless.
Dylan hugged me closer, breaking me out of my thoughts. “What a rush! You never know when your time is up. That’s why it’s important to live each day like it’s your last.”
That was his motto, always had been. I scrunched my nose, not wanting to talk about this now. “Let’s change the topic.”
He laughed. “Thanks for going down there. I know it wasn’t your thing.”
“Now you can make it up to me by kissing me at the top of the Eiffel Tower.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I would love nothing more, Mrs. Reynolds. Where are we meeting our tour guide?”
I pulled out my map as Dylan wrapped his arm around my waist and brought me closer to him while pedestrians passed us on the sidewalk.
At times, I still had to pinch myself. I was on my honeymoon—in Paris—with the love of my life. Until we checked in at the airport, the honeymoon location had been a surprise. One by one, he was making my dreams come true.
“We have to take the Metro to Champ de Mars.”
When he said nothing and remained still, I looked up. Dylan’s beautiful caramel-colored eyes stared back at me. In his eyes, I saw the promise of a lifetime together making beautiful memories. And one day we’d have a family. I loved my life and the man fate gave me.
A corner of his mouth turned up. “What?”
“I was thinking about how much I love you. How lucky we are. And we’re in Paris on our honeymoon. I can’t believe you did all this.”
His mouth found mine in the gentlest of kisses. Against my lips he murmured, “I love you, Mrs. Reynolds.”
I sighed and smiled when I pulled away; I’d never felt this happy before in my life. “I love the sound of that. The first thing I’m doing when we get home is making my name change official.”
Since there hadn’t been time to change my name, all my documents still said Knoah Knox on them. I loved how Knoah Reynolds sounded.
Dylan nibbled my neck. “I can’t wait for your name change to be official. I’ve waited nearly five years to make you my wife.”
“It took you long enough to ask me out. I had to wait almost four months after you started school and us being friends.”
On the streets of Paris, we grinned at each other, madly in love. Everyone deserved this overwhelming happiness.
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
I shook my head and grinned. “Never.”
“It was a legitimate fear. You turned down every other guy who asked you out. I had to get creative. But if you were my best friend, I could keep any other guys from asking you out until I worked up the courage.” His face turned serious, which was rare for the free-spirited Dylan. “You were the best chance I ever took.”
I loved him with my entire heart. Oh, how I wished we were back in the hotel room.
He shook his head and smirked. “I can see what you’re thinking and I want nothing more than to be inside you. But, we can’t miss the Eiffel Tower. Ours was the only opening they had left for a tour. And I know how you’ve always dreamed of seeing it. I’m not letting my girl miss it.”
It was the symbol of love. For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower with the love of my life for a kiss. It was item number two on my bucket list—right after marrying the man of my dreams. With a huff, I said, “You’re right.”
Dylan nipped the pout that had formed on my lips. “Where do we need to go to take the Metro?”
Refocusing on the map, I stared at the different stations. “It’s four blocks away.”
“Perfect.” Dylan’s voice trailed and I watched his eyes focus on a flower cart not far from us. “Would you get us some water, baby?”
Dylan loved surprising me with sweet gestures.
I turned to see a small little convenient store. “I’ll be right back.”
His eyes lit up. With another peck on the lips, I walked inside and grabbed two waters. The differences in brands and pricing amazed me. I loved Europe.
“You look like a woman in love,” the older man behind the counter commented as I approached.
“I am. My husband and I are here on our honeymoon.”
I glanced out the window and saw Dylan walk across the street as suspected.
The man looked out, too. “Enjoy, madame. True love only happens once, so they say. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” I fished a few euros out of my pocket to pay. I watched Dylan talk animatedly to a man selling flowers. One thing was for sure—Dylan never met a stranger. He could have a conversation with a fence post if given the chance.
I sighed, and warmth trickled through me as he accepted the colorful bouquet of flowers.
I am the luckiest girl alive.
This moment was perfect—I had all I’d ever wanted in front of me. And we planned to start a family soon after I finished college. A baby. I’d wanted to be a mother for as long as I could remember.
Our eyes met and Dylan beamed at me while he held the flowers out toward me.
His devotion made me giggle. I needed to kiss him.
As I pulled the door open, he yelled, “I love you, Knoah Reynolds! Forever and always, I love you.” Passersby stopped as Dylan declared his love for me on the streets of Paris.
I hollered back, “I love you, too!”
He opened his arms for me to come to him. I stepped out of the store toward the man I would spend the rest of my life with, needing to feel his touch.
Boom!
The earth shook and I fell back into the store. The chaos surrounding me was too great. Something hit my stomach, and I fell back. Dylan! I needed Dylan.
Dust swooped through, creating a heavy fog.
I lost sight of Dylan.
What’s happening? I scrambled to right myself.
“Dylan!”
“Knoah!”
Where is he?
Everything was so dark.
Where is Dylan?
“Dylan!”
Pain.
So much pain.
I need…
That was my last thought before everything went black.