Epilogue
One Year Later
Arctic temperatures turn my nose to ice as soon as Damian opens the car door for me. I step out in a pair of sky-high red heels and a little black dress, a thick winter jacket covering my outfit because Damian wouldn’t let me out of the house without it.
“You look amazing.” His gaze rakes over me from my head to my toes, his eyes darkening in a sinfully delightful way when they land on my shoes.
“Do you like the heels? Look, they have a bow.” I lift my foot off the ground to showcase my shoes.
“You know I do,” he growls. “I’ll like them even better wrapped around my neck.”
Heat races through me. It never gets old, having his eyes on me, the barely contained desire in his voice.
I look around him and grin when I realize where he’s brought me. Amillio’s Restaurant. Where it all began just a year ago.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful.”
He walks me to the door, my arm hooked into the crook of his elbow, just like the first time we came here. Only this time, it isn’t because we’re putting on a show of love and affection.
I’m simply in love with him.
The restaurant is just as fancy as I remember. Despite Damian’s wealth, we don’t come to upscale restaurants very often, preferring to eat in most nights, or occasionally grabbing food from our favorite hole-in-the-wall establishments.
Damian pulls out my chair for me. “Who knew one year ago that we’d end up here one year later,” I say.
“Oh, I knew from day one that you were going to be mine,” he says, completely serious.
My head tips back, a booming laugh shakes my body. “What bullshit. You did not.”
He chuckles, his shoulders shaking. “No. I thought you were snarky and irreverent.”
“I am snarky and irreverent. But you love me anyway.” I smile.
“I love you because you’re snarky and irreverent. Turns out it was exactly what I needed in my life.” He hooks his hand under my chair and pulls me closer to him. I lean toward him like a flower to the sun. He captures my lips in a long, soft kiss. The kind of kiss that promises more.
The server comes to take our order, and much like last time, I have no idea what is on the menu. I let Damian order for me, well aware of what I like and don’t like.
Dinner is delicious, although I still prefer Damian’s cooking.
“Courtney came by today with little Timmy. He’s getting so big already,” I tell him. I pull out my phone to show him the pictures I took. “She’s going back to work soon, and Pam is planning on taking care of the baby full-time.”
He swipes through the pictures with a small grin. “He’s cute. They did good.” He stops suddenly. His eyes dilate, and his tongue swipes across his lower lip. He stares at one of the photos for a long moment before handing my phone back to me.
I look at the photo that caught his attention.
It’s the one of me holding the baby. I’m looking down at his cute little nose and chubby pink cheeks.
My insides flutter as a thought crosses my mind.
“Would you ever… want babies?” I ask.
We haven’t even been officially together for a year yet. It’s somehow a conversation that hasn’t come up.
I am hoping he answers in a certain way, but I don’t want to influence his response. It’s a huge decision in life, if one is fortunate enough to have the options available to them.
He leans in close, his fingers firmly gripping my jaw, until he’s a breath away. “The thought of you growing a little spawn of Satan makes me want to haul you out of here over my shoulder and put a baby in you right now.”
Oh… Wow. Who needs dinner? That was hot.
“Ha,” I giggle. “Maybe put a ring on it first.”
His eyes glaze with fire, a wicked grin on his face. And then he drops his hand and leans back in his chair, my heart left beating in my throat.
“Okay,” he says.
I blink back a silent reply, my brain struggling to catch up. Damian pushes his chair back and pulls something from his pants pocket.
He kneels at my feet on one leg, a black velvet box in the palm of his hand.
“Brielle. I may not have known the moment I met you that you are the one for me, but it didn’t take me long to realize it.
Your intelligence challenges me. Your snark humbles me.
Your creativity astounds me. Your love completes me.
You make me a better person each and every day.
Being with you has shown me what success really looks like.
It isn’t a corner office in a high-rise building or how many zeros is in my bank account.
It’s coming home to you at the end of the day.
I never want to know a day without you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? ”
Tears well in my eyes. My hands shake in my lap as I force myself not to throw myself at him. I’m already nodding before he’s even got the question out.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh my God, yes.”
I can’t control myself any longer. I fling myself at Damian, nearly knocking him to the ground. The restaurant erupts in applause around us. A server brings out a bottle of champagne and a chocolate lava cake with two forks.
“May I?” Damian asks, reaching for my hand. It’s the first time I’ve even glanced at the ring as he slides it onto my hand. It’s a stunning diamond in a pear cut, the band twisting, tiny gems sparkling throughout.
“I love you, Damian. I can’t wait to be your wife.” I hold his face between my hands and bring my lips to his again.
“I like the sound of that more than you know, beautiful.”
Every moment that brought us together flickers through my mind. The late nights chatting on his couch. The kisses that were never supposed to happen. The lies I told myself, willing it to be a onetime thing when I knew that one taste was never enough.
Damian saw potential in me I hadn’t even seen in myself. He’s turned my dreams into a reality. And being Mrs. Damian Edgerton, that’s the real dream come true.
THE END