EPILOGUE
FOUR MONTHS LATER
WALKER
I’m finishing up moving our bags from our bedroom to get them ready to go into Morgan’s car once she’s home. She thought she’d be packing tonight, but she’s already nervous enough about visiting my hometown. I wanted to take this off her plate.
And I needed something to do to fill the time until she comes home. Spring break starts tomorrow and we’re heading out first thing in the morning.
There’s just one more thing I need to do before we can leave for Jasper Ridge. I hope it’s not too soon for Morgan.
Everything moved so fast when we first met and it hasn’t seemed like she’s looked back or doubted once, but I still don’t want to rush her.
That’s not going to stop me from asking.
I kneel down next to Roscoe and pet his head. He looks at me and I swear there’s excitement in his eyes like he knows what is about to happen and is thrilled that he gets to be part of it. When I glance at the clock, my heart starts to race in my chest.
I pull the carabiner out of my pocket, the engagement ring on it already and ready for this moment. When I attach it to Roscoe’s collar, he seems to sit up a little straighter.
“You’re the key to this whole proposal, buddy,” I murmur and I’m pretty sure he grins at me.
The sound of the key in the lock has me standing and turning around so fast I get a little dizzy. I wipe my hands on my jeans, but it doesn’t do much to stop the nervousness swirling around in my gut. Or the sweaty palms I have.
All the air leaves my lungs the moment Morgan walks into our home. Fuck, she’s gorgeous. It hits me every time I see her. I know how lucky I am to have my woman, and I make a promise every day, a choice, to ensure she knows how much she means to me.
“Hi,” she chirps when she sees me before her eyebrows pull together when she notices the packed bags waiting and ready. “I told you I’d pack my stuff up when I got home today.”
I shrug one shoulder, hoping my voice sounds normal, “Now you don’t have to.”
She walks right up to me, her hands resting on my chest. The smile she gives me fills me with warmth and I’m reminded, again, that she’s my home.
“Thank you,” she whispers. Her eyes narrow slightly, and I wonder if she can feel how hard my heart is pounding in my chest. “What’s going on with you? You look,” she tilts her head to the side as she studies me, “nervous.”
“I’m not nervous,” my voice is definitely a higher pitch than normal as I try, and fail, to deflect.
Thankfully, she doesn’t call me out on my bullshit and just makes a humming sound. In the effort to distract both of us, I swoop down and take her mouth in a kiss filled with everything she does to me. Love. Lust. Affection. Possession. It’s all there, coursing through us and making it feel like I’m floating.
We’re both panting when I pull back from her and take a moment to get lost in her pale blue eyes. “I love you, Treasure.”
Her whole face lights up as she smiles at me. “I love you, Walker.”
Then she’s kneeling down and giving Roscoe love as well. I knew she would. She doesn’t miss an opportunity to pet and snuggle our big ball of fur. I’m pretty sure Roscoe loves her more than me even though I had him since he was a puppy.
I can understand his feelings and don’t begrudge him. Morgan is loveable as hell. I’ll just never admit out loud how jealous it makes me sometimes.
Her hands roam around his neck and it’s like I can barely breathe as I kneel down next to her. I know the moment she feels the ring before her eyes snap to mine and her jaw drops open. Her fingers scramble to see what she’s found, wrenching his collar around his neck. Roscoe doesn’t seem to mind and simply pants before his tongue lolls out of his mouth.
“Morgan,” my voice is gruff as I reach out and help her hold the ring up, “you’re the other half of me. I knew it the moment I saw you after I pulled you over.” Even though her eyes fill with unshed tears, she giggles, and the sound makes me feel invincible. “I want to be able to take you back to where I grew up tomorrow and introduce you to everyone as my wife.”
I don’t call it my hometown or my home. It’s not. Jasper Ridge is where I grew up, but this woman, my Treasure, she’s my home.
She jokes, “Wouldn’t I be your fiancé?”
I shake my head firmly, “No, once you accept this ring, you’re my wife as far as I’m concerned. The paper is a formality. Honestly, so is the ring. You’ve been mine since the first time I looked into your eyes, but this way everyone else will know too.”
“And you’re mine,” she whispers, her eyes soft and filled with warmth as she looks at me.
I nod slowly as I take the ring off the clip and hold it up toward her. “Is that a yes?”
“I didn’t hear a question,” she sasses me with a huge smile on her face.
I growl and slip the ring on her finger. “You’re right. It wasn’t a question. We’re getting married.”
Morgan’s laughter fills the room and Roscoe huffs as he walks away from us, probably thinking we’ve lost our minds or knows what is about to happen. She launches herself at me and I take her mouth in a kiss that is filled with desire and need. It’s carnal, it’s feral.
I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait for her to plan whatever wedding she wants, but I’ll do it. Only for her.
But now? It’s time to celebrate.
I stand up with her in my arms and carry her back to our room, our clothes falling making a messy trail behind us. Wife. She’ll be my wife soon.
She gasps, “I can’t wait.”
Me either.