Epilogue
Trails of a dreamfaded in his mind when Davis surfaced from sleep, half-conscious of a numbing weight on his arm. He shifted and stirred, a jolt of pain shooting through his shoulder, and he drowsily licked his lips and opened his eyes. The room was still dark, and Kai was sound asleep, her head resting in the hollow of his shoulder, but he knew from his internal clock that it was early morning. He waited for the mental fog to clear a little, then he carefully drew her head onto his chest, and flexed his hand against the pins-and-needles sensation. Scrubbing his face to rid himself of the last vestiges of sleep, he tucked his head and brushed a soft, lingering kiss against her forehead, smiling a little when she made a soft sound and turned her face toward his warmth.
It had been quite a week.
Brushing back the wisps of hair clinging to her face, he kissed her again, then cautiously rolled his throbbing shoulder. Easing the tightness, he settled himself into a more comfortable position before resting his still-tingling arm along her hip. He stared into the darkness, thinking about how difficult it had been. First, they had traveled to Sedona, Arizona to lay Nate Curran to rest, then it had been Seattle, Washington to say his last farewell to his friend, Carter Lennon. Now they were in Smithfield, North Carolina, and he remembered how open Kai’s parents had been when they’d come up their walk.
Her mother was on her knees tending to some pretty impressive flower beds, a riot of color and blooms. When she’d seen Kai, tears had moistened her eyes. It had only progressed from there. Kai and her parents had quite a teary and heart-wrenching reunion where they talked and listened, and Kai opened her heart, exposing all her vulnerabilities and her fears, and finally, her forgiveness, not only for them but for herself.
Releasing a soft sigh, he gazed at her, his heart full of tenderness. Even in the faint light from outside, he could see the shadows under her eyes caused by the sleepless nights during the past few days.
He lightly brushed his thumb along her high cheekbone, then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She stirred when he eased away from her and leaned over and brushed a light kiss against her temple. “It’s okay, babe,” he whispered gruffly. “Go back to sleep.” He drew the comforter over her shoulders. He waited until he was sure she was asleep, then eased his weight from the bed. He tripped over his jeans, reached down into the pocket, and pulled out the ring box. He’d shopped for the ring here in her hometown while he had given her and her family some private time for their shared grief. He opened the box and stared at the ring. It was a simple band full of diamonds. He knew she would love it.
Slipping it into the nightstand, he sighed. He wanted to ask her soon, but not before he talked to her parents.
Making as little noise as possible, he dressed in his running clothes. Listening for any change in her breathing, he left the room, closing the door soundlessly behind him.
When he got downstairs, he could smell the bacon frying and he made his way to Eleana’s kitchen. Her mom was at the stove, and she turned at the sound of his footsteps. She met his glance, and the hollowness of her eyes made his gut clench. It was grief he saw—deep, gut-wrenching grief. He looked out the back window, to where the pool would have been. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot had filled it in, covered it over, and reshaped their backyard. There was nothing but a patio and grass there now.
“Don’t look so concerned,” she whispered. “I’m still working through it all, but I’m so glad to have my daughter back, and to have you, as well. A new beginning for her.” She turned off the burner and doled out the eggs and bacon, setting toast on two plates.
Guess he would be running later.
She sat down and regarded him with the same kind of look Kai often had—cool, shrewd, slightly amused. “I suspect that you had something to do with all of this.”
“Eleana—”
“No need to gloss it over or deter me, young man. I know an influence when I see one, and you’re an influence. We are so thankful you’re in her life.”
“I listened to her and tried to be there for her. We have an intense relationship.”
“That adds up to a lifetime of commitment and love,” her father said as he entered the kitchen, giving his wife an adoring look, then went to the pan and assembled his own breakfast. He sat down, too, after pouring a cup of coffee. “I suspect you’re going to ask me something important.”
“How did you?—”
“I can see it every time you touch or look at my daughter.” He smiled. “You have our blessing.”
He sat back, floored at her father’s perception, that ring burning a hole in his pocket, so to speak. So, later on that night when they were out on the front porch rocking slowly in the swing, he decided it was the perfect time to ask her. Except, she was so lulled by the rocking movement and content, he smiled to himself when, moments before he was going to open his mouth, he felt her go slack against his chest, and her breathing became slow, and even. His throat suddenly tight, he tightened his arm around her. Taking a deep breath, he rested his head against hers, thankful for her, and even more thankful for her courage.
Twilight slowly descended, the horizon blazing with red and yellow before turning a soft shade of purple. Davis watched the changing sky. Her breath feathered against his neck, and with her voice thick with sleep, she said, “I feel like I’m eighty years old.”
He turned his head and kissed her temple. His tone gruff, he responded, “You’ve just been through a lot. You’re just tired. Nothing wrong with that.”
Kai stirred in his arms, turning her head so their mouths connected. “You’re so sweet,” she said, her tone still husky with sleep.
Davis closed his eyes and tightened his hold, a knot of raw emotion climbing up his throat. He waited for the aching contraction to ease, then said the words in his heart. “I love you so much, Kai.” He reached for the ring and brought the box up as the porch light lit up as if in perfect harmony with his proposal. “Will you marry me?”
She went stock-still in his arms, then she lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes wide, her expression transfixed by a host of emotions. Davis took her face between his hands, experiencing so many things as he held her gaze. She stared at him, joy moving across her expressive face. Then her eyes filled, and she hugged him like there was no tomorrow. His throat closed up completely, and Davis closed his eyes and turned his face against her, hugging her back.
After coming out of all that danger and their rollercoaster romance, this was their payoff, and it was one beautiful goddamned sweet payoff.
“Don’t you want to see the ring and let me put it on your finger, woman?”
She made a sound that was somewhere between laughter and tears, and she hugged him even harder. “Of course,” she responded enthusiastically.
He opened the box and she gasped, giving him the best payoff. Her eyes luminous, she watched as he removed the ring and slipped it on her finger. “I love you, babe.”
Wrapping his arms around her torso, he totally enveloped her and turned his face against the soft skin of her neck. Feeling lighter than he could ever remember feeling, he gave her everything, his heart and his soul.
She gave a shaky laugh and tipped her head against his. “I love you so much.”
“Well? Let us see the ring,” came her mother’s voice from inside. Kai jumped up and ran inside, the sound of the exclamations and excited words warming him up even more.
“We need champagne,” her father announced. “I’m taking us all out for a celebration dinner.” When he didn’t immediately move, her father stuck his head out the door. “Get the lead out, Davis. We got us a celebration. Let’s go.”
He chuckled as he rose, thinking that this was just the beginning of their life together, and he could only be thankful to have her in his life, and her family. He couldn’t wait until she met his dad. He was going to love her, too.
Just like he did…for now and for happily ever after.
Thanks for reading.Don’t miss the next book release, Hazard, SEAL Team Tier 1, Book #5. Archer “Hazard” Booth and US Attorney Leigh Waterford will be working the kinks out of their professional relationship and trying to navigate the manhunt for the elusive and dangerous Angel Alzate while trying to ignore the kind of sparks that will eventually combust, regardless of any kind of precaution involved.