Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Jacob rolled onto his side, pulling Casey with him. They lay naked in the bed in Casey’s apartment after hours of exploring every inch of each other’s bodies. Yeah, he could see himself with her for the long-term. He could get used to waking up every day with her beside him.
The wedding reception at the Big Wave had been rowdy with lots of beer and many toasts to the bride and groom. They’d seen Hawk and Kalea off in the rented limousine. The bride and groom’s next stop had been the airport for their flight to their honeymoon in the Crazy Mountains near Eagle Rock, Montana.
“Mmm.” Casey moaned. “What a night.”
“Which part?” Jacob asked. “The part where you tackled the woman who was ruining your wedding plans? Or the part where we ditched the wedding party and came back to your place?”
She chuckled. “Both.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and then each of her eyelids. “Did I tell you Hank spoke to the police and the DEA after the wedding?”
She leaned up on one elbow, a frown furrowing her pretty brow. “No, you didn’t.”
He grinned sheepishly. “I guess I forgot.”
She playfully slapped his bare chest, her hand coming to rest over his heart. “How could you forget something that important?”
“I had my mind on something else…rather…someone else.” He pulled her over until she lay on top of him and then kissed her thoroughly.
Casey returned the kiss, breaking it off first. “You’re stalling. What did Hank say?”
“He said Camila’s cousins confessed to the kidnapping, and that Camila put them up to it.”
“I thought they were a tight-knit family.” Casey’s brow wrinkled. “How did they get her cousins to confess?”
Jacob’s lips twisted in a wry grin. “In exchange for leniency on their drug trafficking charge.” His grin broadened. “They said they were tired of her loco behavior.”
Casey’s frown melted away, replaced by a smile that lit the room. “That’s funny. I think we were all tired of her crazy obsessiveness.”
Jacob’s grin disappeared. He reached up and brushed his thumb across the bandage on her temple. “I’m just glad you weren’t hurt any more than you were. I kinda like having you around. Think you could put up with a frogman for the long term?”
She stared down into his eyes for a long moment, making him wonder if she was having second thoughts.
“I don’t think…” she paused.
His breath caught and held. Had she changed her mind?
Then she continued with, “I don’t think I could live without this particular frogman. I kinda like having you around, too.” Her lips curled upward. “Is it too soon to say yes?”
Jacob’s heart swelled. “No, ma’am,” he said and crushed her in his arms, kissing her until he had to let go so that they could breathe.
When she was settled beside him in the curve of his arm, he asked, “Does this mean you’re going to be planning another wedding?”
“Could be,” she said, running a finger over the hard muscles of his chest. “Have you thought of a date?”
He touched his lips to her bandaged temple, careful not to hurt her. “How’s tomorrow sound to you?”
She laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”
“You’re the expert wedding planner.” He leaned back and gave her a narrow-eyed glance. “Are you telling me you can’t plan a wedding in a day?”
“I could do it, but I’d like to take it a little slower.”
His stern glance turned into a worried frown. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“No. Not at all. But I’ve found my prince, who happens to be a frog. Or frogman.” She grinned. “I’d kinda like to have the fairytale wedding to go along with that scenario, if that’s all right with you.”
“Darlin’, whatever your heart desires—as long as I’m part of what it desires. I’m okay with anything.” Again, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, long and hard.
When they came up for air, Jacob pressed his forehead to Casey’s. “As for the bachelor party, do you think you could get that same cake? And the stripper…yeah…the same stripper.”
She smoothed her palm across his cheek. “It’ll cost you.”
“A price I’m willing to pay,” he whispered, and kissed her again.