42. Epilogue
Carys
Three Years Later
My stomach flutters. It’s the same sensation I have each time I walk into the minimum-security prison to visit Finn except I’m not walking in; he’s walking out. My plane is fueled and ready to take us home to Cape Verde. Today is the start of the rest of our lives together. No more fingertip holds and longing glances across a tiny table. Tomorrow, we’re getting married, and I’ll officially be his wife. Though he’s been referring to me as his wife since the night he proposed.
Every time I heard him call me his spouse to a guard or another inmate waiting for the phone, a thrill raced down my spine. Finn Donaghey as a happily married man. Who would have called this outcome a few years ago? None of us, I bet.
When the metal gate retracts, he wanders out and squints against the sun. His hands are thrust in his pockets. My palms are slick with nerves, and I slide them along the sides of my skirt. Why am I nervous?
He comes to a stop inches from me and searches my face. Then his hands slide along my cheekbones and into my hair. A sigh escapes me at the contact, at being close enough to catch a whiff of his familiar scent. He slants his mouth over mine and kisses me like I am the sweetest thing he’s ever tasted. He devours me, and I cling to him. One of his hands leaves my face to cup my ass, tugging me flush against him so I have no doubt where this embrace is headed.
I roam his body, delighting in everything that’s still the same. “I missed you,” I whisper when we break apart.
He smooths my hair and stares deep into my eyes. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
“The plane is ready to go.” I tug him toward the car. “Let’s get you home.”
He chuckles. “First, I might want to get you out of these clothes.” His finger runs along the hemline of my shirt.
“It’s just you, me, and the pilot.” I slide into the back seat, and Finn follows.
I buckle myself into the middle spot, so we’re cuddled together. He traces everywhere on my body his hand can reach without removing clothes. Will we make it to the plane before we’re tearing off our clothes?
“Lorcan and Kim are in Cape Verde?” His voice is husky.
“Yeah.” I run a finger along his arm. “They’re in between assignments. Kim says the last one they did might have been the last. Lorcan ended up in the hospital. Scared her, I think.”
I haven’t told Finn the truth about tomorrow’s ceremony. I’ve been teasing him with details for months—all made-up, escalating in their extravagance. So, for him to come out of jail and say he can’t wait to marry me knowing I’ve planned a spectacle, well, that’s love.
“I remember.” He nuzzles my neck. “How far is the airport?”
I chuckle and kiss him. He shifts and deepens the kiss, and it’s all I can do not to unbuckle my seat belt and climb onto his lap. So surreal to have him close. I want to cling to him so tight he never slips away again.
“The hotel and casino are doing well?” His tongue flicks against my earlobe.
“Yes.” I’m breathless. His lips capture mine, and I’m lost again.
The driver in front clears his throat. “We’re here.”
We break our embrace and grin at each other. Finn kisses my forehead and tugs me out the door behind him. We climb the stairs to the plane, almost drunk with desire. Are we ripping each other’s clothes off or savoring every moment?
Three years .
At the top of the stairs, the pilot greets us. “I’ll need you to stay in your seats until we reach cruising altitude. I’ll make an announcement when that happens.”
Finn and I lock gazes and then settle into the chairs farthest from the cockpit. The door to the pilot is locked, and he’ll be too busy flying the plane to interrupt us. I hesitate for a second.
“It’s a long flight,” Finn says. “And I’ve got three years to make up for with you.” He winks. “You can catch me up on all the chatter before we reach cruising altitude. After that, the only talking I want is ‘yes, yes; more, more; give it to me.’” There’s a wicked glint in his eyes.
“Deal,” I breathe out, and my body is ready to go in an instant.
His fingers dance along the edge of my skirt. “How are Jay, Sofia, and the girls?”
We taxi down the runway. “Everyone is settled and happy. Lena,” my voice hitches when his finger slides up my skirt. “Lena has a new boyfriend.”
“She’s making up for all that lost time with Charles.” His breath stirs the hair by my ear, and I shiver.
We’re forced back against our seats as the plane rises into the air.
“You’ve kept your parents cut off?” There’s warning in his voice, but I don’t mind.
“Yes,” I say. “I learned my lesson more than once. Nothing good comes from having them in my life.” They tried to reach out once Finn was back in prison, but I made it clear our relationship was done forever.
He nods and squeezes my thigh. “Does Lena or Sofia have Lucas?”
“They’re probably fighting over him right now. He’s a well-loved little boy.” A smile rises. “He’s going to be so excited to see you.”
“The visitations were a good idea. I’m not a stranger walking back into his life.” He kisses my cheek.
“We have now reached our cruising altitude. You are free to move about the cabin unless we hit some unexpected turbulence.”
Finn unsnaps my seat belt and his own. “Is the cabin door soundproof?”
I laugh. “I don’t know.”
“We’re gonna find out.” He gives me a wicked grin, and then his lips descend on mine.
The last twenty-four hours since Finn got out have been a whirlwind in the best possible way. I’ve had three years to plan our wedding, and I started with grand plans, but I realized I didn’t need something big and extravagant anymore. At one time, maybe I would have wanted a big venue, hundreds of people, a thousand bouquets of flowers, with decorations on overload.
Instead, we’re getting married barefoot, on the beach, with only our family present.
At noon, Finn sips his coffee on the couch and eyes me. “Shouldn’t you be doing something with your hair and applying makeup? Putting on a dress? Organizing the parade or whatever you told me you were doing?”
I laugh at his parade comment and gesture to my relaxed waves and everyday makeup. “I can’t get married like this?”
“You can, but the five hundred people you invited might be expecting the full Carys experience.” Finn smirks.
That’s right. At my last visit I told him I found whittling down the invites impossible, so I expanded the guest list. My lips twitch with amusement.
“Daddy, can I please have a drink?” Lucas wanders over to the couch with his plastic cup.
Lucas has called Finn his father since he started speaking, but there’s something about hearing it in this house that causes my body to glow with warmth. Since Finn arrived yesterday, Lucas hasn’t been far from his side.
“Sure thing, buddy.” He sets down his coffee, ruffles Lucas’s hair, and goes to the fridge.
“You’re probably right.” I stretch. “I should start getting ready. I wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“What am I supposed to wear? Is it in a closet or something?” He pours the milk into a cup and passes it to our son. Such a simple thing, but my heart constricts for the thousandth time since he’s arrived.
“Everything you need is in the spare room. Lorcan can show you when he gets back.”
“What’s he doing?” Finn asks, and he lifts Lucas into his arms at his request. He carries him over to the couch and perches him on his knee. The two of them sip their drinks and stare at me.
“Had to pick up a guest.” I head for the bedroom. “Should be back soon.” He went to collect the justice of the peace to marry us. Kim meets me in the hallway, a dress bag over her arm.
“Go-time?” she asks.
I grin. “I’m getting married,” I squeal and escort her into the master bedroom.
There we spend the next hour getting ready. Kim is the lowest-maintenance woman I know, but since I’ve hired a photographer, I’ve cajoled her into wearing some makeup. All of us will remember this moment forever.
There’s a knock on the door, and I peek out. Lena passes through two bouquets for Kim and me.
“So, you’re just going to walk out there and get married?” Kim’s skepticism is clear.
“Yep. I decided I didn’t need all the pomp and circumstance. The right man, the right place, and the right people. Lorcan has probably told Finn by now that it’s a low-key affair, right?”
“Oh,” Kim says. “I’m sure. I’m also sure he’s not going to believe him.”
I check my appearance in the mirror again. He likes my hair down, so I haven’t bothered to put it up, and instead it hangs in loose waves around my shoulders. My dress is my one extravagance. It’s a custom-designed masterpiece that fits me to perfection. “I guess he’s in for a pleasant surprise then.”
“This is really what you wanted?” Kim smooths down her gown, which is the one we bought in the nearest city a week ago off the rack. One of the perks of looking like a supermodel is the ability to throw on almost anything and have it fit.
I whirl around the center of the room and take a deep breath. “Three years to plan, and in the end, all I wanted was this beach, this man, and our son.”
“I’m glad you’re so happy,” she says.
Our friendship has come a long way in three years. Lorcan and Kim have stayed here between assignments several times, and Lucas calls them aunt and uncle. Family doesn’t have to share blood.
“All right.” I check the clock on the nightstand. “Let’s do this.”
Kim throws open the bedroom door and leads the way to the beach. There, a trellis sits in the sand strung with flowers. Underneath and beside it stand all the people I love: Finn, Lorcan, Jay, Sofia, Rosa, Luciana, Lena, and Lucas. They’re all here to witness our happily ever after.
A photographer snaps photos, but I can’t tear my gaze from my husband. Legal or not, he’s been mine for a long time. Today we’re making it official and forever.
When I get to Finn, there’s a sheen of tears in his icy gaze. “I never thought I’d get this.” His voice is thick. “I never really believed I’d get this.”
Ignoring everyone else, I cup his chin and give him a quick kiss. “We made it,” I say. “I’m never letting you go.”
Instead of starting the ceremony, he tugs me tight against him and whispers, “I love you, Carys. Forever.”