Epilogue
LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK - FOUR WEEKS LATER
Roman had rented an A-frame cabin hidden away in a secluded area on the lake so they’d have privacy for what he’d planned that weekend. And the hot tub on the back porch that they’d enjoyed last night, with the mountain backdrop behind the lake, had been a slice of heaven.
This was the first time he’d truly enjoyed taking time off work. And he looked forward to many more weekends like this with her, too.
After a day of hiking, he’d cooked them dinner—wild-caught salmon, baby potatoes, and asparagus. They were both now full, and they’d had a few glasses of red wine in them, but he was still nervous for part two of the evening.
He had no idea why his hand shook as he reached into his suitcase in the bedroom while Harper showered, but he knew the tremble wasn’t from second-guessing himself. He was all in. And he was confident what her answer would be when he proposed, but still, he was nervous. Maybe this is normal?
He’d pressed Harper to shower alone, which had most likely drawn suspicion from her since they usually showered together, but he’d needed to set up while she was in the bathroom to make everything perfect.
It took him a handful of minutes to prepare the living room, doing his best not to burn the cabin down as he lit the candles he’d placed all over the room.
Taking a few calming breaths, Roman went to stand before the roaring fire, the flat-screen TV on pause at just the right spot as he waited for Harper to search him out after her shower.
He’d even taken the time to change into the faded grayish-blue shirt that was her favorite. Top two buttons undone. Dark denim paired with it.
Roman set both hands on the mantle and bowed his head.
She’ll say yes. No doubt in his mind. But the damn nagging feeling his luck would run out was a knife to his chest. He’d been slowly letting go of those fears since Harper had encouraged him to do Zoom calls with the therapist, Riley Logan.
He did it for the chance to have a life without shadows.
A fresh start at something real. Something great.
His uncle was behind bars. Antonio was cleaning up the Riviera empire as planned. And he and Harper had Easter plans with his family in Florida soon. So yeah, what was there to worry about?
Roman even had a face-to-face with the CIA officer, Zack, last week. And he didn’t break his hand. Not even a finger. That had to be progress, right?
“What is this? Are those almond-rum-scented candles?”
Her soft, sexy voice had him lifting his palms and slowly turning to face her, and he nodded.
She was in a black silk robe, and if he were to guess, she had nothing on beneath it. Her hair was in a wet braid over her shoulder, and her head tipped to the side with curiosity.
“I may have prepared a romantic evening,” he said after swallowing the lump in his throat and striding toward her.
He reached for her hand and guided her closer to the fire.
“What’s queued up on the TV?” she asked with a smile as he held both her hands.
“Something special.” He grinned before he worked a shaky breath free from his lungs.
“You okay?” She arched a curious brow.
“I’m perfect,” he rasped, his throat muscles tight. “You should know I secretly visited your parents and Jackson last week.”
“Hmmm.”
“And your mom and dad at the cemetery, too.” His stomach sank at that part, and her brows tightened at his words. He lowered to one knee, needing to do this right. “I wanted everyone’s blessing for what I planned to ask you—what I could barely wait until now to ask you.”
She held him captive with her big, brown eyes. Mesmerized. Speechless?
“Jackson gave his approval on the condition he was allowed to plan a small engagement party at the club of his choice, a small price to pay.” He paused, searching for his breath.
“I, uh, only had one T-shirt made, so I’m hoping I got your answer right.
” He directed her focus to the black tee laid out on the couch on the other side of the room with, I Said Yes, written in pink letters across the front.
A half laugh, half cry, escaped her lips as she dropped to her knees before him and set both hands on his shoulders.
“Will you marry me, Harper Jaclyn Brooks?” He lifted the faded velvet ring box from his pocket and opened it before her.
She brought a hand to her mouth, and tears brimmed, making her brown eyes glossy. “My mother’s ring?” she whispered.
“Mike said your dad gave it to him a few years after your mom died in case he were to . . . and well, he wanted you to wear it if you ever found the love of your life.”
Tears slid down her cheeks, and she nodded while lifting her hand between them to accept the small but perfect half-carat princess-cut stone in a white gold setting onto her ring finger.
“Yes,” she cried before planting her hands on his cheeks and kissing him softly, the salty taste of her happy tears slipping between their lips.
“I can’t believe you did this,” she said a moment later, pulling back. “I mean, I knew we’d get married.” She sniffled. “But this. Wow.” She blinked, still recovering from the surprise, as he held her hand and helped her back to her feet.
“There’s one more thing.” Roman guided her to the couch, his legs feeling as though they might give out.
She said yes. His heart was hammering, there were tears in his eyes, and he was on cloud nine.
Harper picked up the tee and clutched it to her chest as he went for the remote for the TV and sat next to her.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Jessica to help me take the footage of your parents you had on VCR tapes and put together a special video for you,” he said with a shaky voice, and tears now spilled from his eyes when she reached for his free hand and gripped hard when he pressed play.
“I wanted them to be here with you for this moment.”
“Roman,” she cried. No, maybe that was a sob?
Shit, was he wrong to do this?
Harper stared at the screen with parted lips as she watched her father standing next to a wedding cake, a small piece held between his fingers, and a huge smile on his face as her mom leaned in, laughing, and took a dainty bite.
The scene faded, then blossomed into another wedding memory—her parents’ first dance as husband and wife.
And that memory faded away to become one of her mom holding Harper for the first time in the hospital right after she was born.
Harper watched memory after memory unfold, sitting quietly while tears streamed down her cheeks and she squeezed Roman’s hand.
When the film ended, she turned on the couch, her face red, her lips trembling. “I love you so much.” She swiped her free hand across her cheek.
He pulled his future wife into his arms and held her tight, stroking her back while her breathing evened out.
“Thank you,” she whispered into his ear before finding his eyes, and he almost broke at the beautiful sight of this woman who’d come such a long way, and they managed to find each other.
“I love you, too,” he returned, doing his best to get his voice to work. “And I promise for as long as I live, I’ll never lie to you. Never hurt you. And love you even after I’m gone.” He was sniffling now, too. “You’re my forever, Harper.”
NEW YORK CITY, ONE WEEK LATER (APRIL 2022)
“You really did let Jackson plan the engagement party, huh?” Harper did a quick mental calculation, remembering back to—
“It was exactly a year ago we made love for the first time in this hotel,” Roman finished her thought as they sat alone at one of the booths in the nightclub. “I may have helped him do a little planning.”
“I hope you reserved a room here for later?” She set a hand on his lap and squeezed his thigh, ready for later to be now.
“Absolutely.” His smile stretched, and she stealthily slid her hand farther up to his crotch, and yup, he was hard. Of course. He was always ready for her.
“And now I know why you insisted we take my car. Did you sneak an overnight bag into the trunk?”
He winked, then shifted focus to their party mingling not far away.
“You know we’ll have to do an engagement party with the whole team soon, too?”
“Yeah, we’re going to D.C. next week,” he answered without missing a beat. “Liam’s house, of course.”
Jackson had asked to do a small family party consisting of only their siblings tonight so they could get to know one another. Finn was in town, and Roman considered the man his brother, so he needed to come, too. He was currently chatting with Harper’s sisters.
“Knowing Jackson, he would’ve reserved the entire club if there hadn’t been another big party booked,” Harper commented while eyeing the crowded tables on the other side of the dance floor that was relatively empty since it was early in the evening.
Well, almost empty. Shit.
“Is your brother hitting on my sister?”
Harper had hoped he wouldn’t notice Jackson and London dancing close enough to share a heartbeat. Roman started to slide out of the booth, but Harper grabbed hold of his leg. “Slow down there. They’re only dancing.”
Roman’s jaw locked tight, protective-brother-mode kicking in, but she didn’t blame him. London was a single mom whose luck with men had been shitty at best, and Jackson was a one-night kind of guy.
“It’s my sister’s first time on vacation without the kids in awhile. I don’t want her taking home a broken heart as a New York souvenir.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. We’re going to Tampa for Easter next weekend, and I don’t want things to be awkward at your house. I want to make a good impression.”
As he turned in his seat to glance at her, it appeared Roman had already dropped his worries.
The passionate way this man looked at her always gave her tingles and wrapped her body in chills.
She’d pinched herself almost every day since his incredibly heartfelt and romantic proposal last weekend.
And in the summer, if things worked out the way they hoped, he’d be her husband.