Bonus Epilogue
BONUS EPILOGUE
Coming up to the little alcove, she found herself in the alley. Up ahead was the red neon sign. It hung in the small window over the plain metal door. Just like it had been before the fire. La Familia .
Standing in front of the restaurant’s door her hands were suddenly sweaty. Why was she nervous? Because on the other side of the door, the one person she loved with all her heart was waiting on her.
Adjusting her purse strap over her shoulder, she smoothed a hand over her hair and took a breath reaching for the door. Her hand hovered over the handle for a second, then she pulled it open.
Stormy was greeted by a young man with a bright welcoming smile. “Welcome, Miss Stormy. Are you meeting someone for lunch or dining alone?”
“I’m having lunch with Reeves.”
“Right this way, he has a table reserved.”
“He does?”
“Yes, he keeps one reserved for family.”
Her excitement deflated at hearing the waiter’s words. Maybe she’d misread Reeves wanting her to come have lunch at a La Familia. Maybe it was just lunch, things had been great, there was no reason to rush things, she scolded herself.
Stepping further into the restaurant, she took in the surroundings. She loved how they brought back the old-world touches of Spain in the décor. It wasn’t like before when she had first visited the establishment. If you were a patron of the establishment, you’d know right away it had been newly remodeled. Her mouthwatering smelling the aromas that filtered in the room.
“Right this way,” the guy said guiding her through the room.
“This should work for you, Miss Knight?”
“Thank you.”
Stormy slid in one of the few booths in La Familia tucked into the back corner. Today she wasn’t her usual self. She hadn’t bothered with makeup or doing anything more than pulling her hair into a ponytail. She had wanted to blend in with all the other tourists. She didn’t want to be a movie star worthy female as Whiskey called her.
Staring at the menu, Stormy struggled to come to terms with the fact she wasn’t in control any longer. She wasn’t a woman that didn’t need a man. She did need one. She’d finally met the man that turned her world on its head. What did women do in these situations, she thought.
Movement across the room brought Stormy out of her thoughts. That’s when she saw Reeves step out of the kitchen setting plates of food down on a table. What was she saying? She knew damn well Reeves Salvador knew she was there. The man drove her crazy and knew it.
She watched as the men at the table spoke to him making niceties. As they talked, Reeves turned his head and locked eyes on her. She expected a nod, a smile, something. What she got was a stern look making her uncomfortable. He did that to her, made her squirm. Her view was monetarily blocked by a server, when they moved, Reeves was gone. Sighing she waited patiently, after all he was the one who asked her there.
A shadow fell across her table drawing her attention to who or what had caused it. There staring down at her was Reeves holding a dessert plate. She watched through hooded eyes as he set the plate down and slid into the booth next to her.
“Stormy, where are Marco and Dale?” Reeves turned the plate until it sat perfectly poised between, he and Stormy. “You’re supposed to have one of them with you.”
Risking a look at him, she answered, “I was only coming here.”
Reeves sighed as he picked up one of the spoons and handed it to her. “That’s a poor excuse.”
Right then she saw Marco and dale slide into the booth across from them and sighed. “Did you really think you were alone?” she heard Reeves say, his voice laced with humor.
Ignoring his question Stormy turned towards Reeves, “I thought you wanted to talk to me.” She stared at his blue eyes, eyes that could look into her soul. “This was your idea, for me to come have lunch with you.”
He smirked toying with the cake. “I did, didn’t I?” He had hoped the restaurant would be quieter after the lunch rush, but it was bustling with patrons.
“I thought you wanted to talk about us.” Keeping the look on her face neutral, she waited to hear his response.
Giving her a curious look. “Us?” he asked.
“You can lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to me. We are an us.” She smiled, knowing damn well he had something on his mind. Still, she worried after everything they’d been through and the time they spent together, he’d change his mind and push her away.
He nodded, his eyes not leaving hers. “Sweetheart, we are an us, and it’s about time you understand your lifestyle is about to change.”
Resting her chin on her fist she kept a sly grin on her face. One thing she loved was giving Reeves a hard time. “How so?” she asked keeping the playful tone right at the edge of her voice.
Reeves spooned up a serving of the dark chocolate cake, then leaned in placing the spoon at Stormy’s lips. He let the creamy chocolate icing touch her full rosy lips. He watched as the tip of her tongue darted over them dragging the icing into her mouth. “You aren’t to go anywhere without a bodyguard.”
When she went to respond, he pushed the spoon forward making her eat the cake. Smiling, he spooned up another bite and held it up to her mouth. “Your also to make sure I have your itinerary before leaving the ranch.”
Once again, she went to speak and ended up with cake in her mouth. Reeves went in for another spoonful of dessert, but Stormy stopped him by placing her hand over his.
“If you’d have told me that’s what you expected of me, I’d have complied, Reeves.”
She had him there, he never told her what he expected from her. All he’d done was take her to bed. Taking a bite of the cake, he pondered what he wanted from Stormy. He promised himself he’d never bring a woman into his world. He wasn’t sure he’d changed his mind about that. But, he did want Stormy in his life. That was obvious. “I want you to be with me, Stormy.” Before she could say a word, he presented her with a pear shape two-carat diamond engagement ring.
Stormy’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes fell on the dazzling pear-shaped diamond. It was beautiful, but it was also the last thing she expected. Her heart raced, a whirlwind of emotions flooding through her. She stared at the ring, then back at him—at his earnest, vulnerable expression.
For a moment, the world seemed to slow, the only sound the faint hum of the room around them. There was no mistaking the sincerity in his eyes. He hadn’t just bought her a ring. He was laying his heart bare, offering her a piece of his life that he’d never given to anyone.
“I—” Stormy opened her mouth, but the words didn’t come out right. She’d never been good with this kind of thing—commitment, expectation, the weight of promises.
“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice unsteady.
He nodded, his eyes not leaving hers. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I want you, Stormy. In my life, in my future. I’m not asking for perfection. I’m just asking for you.”
She bit her lip. Her heart raced, “Yes, yes, yes,” she said launching herself at him, laughing when Reeves barley caught her keeping them from falling out of the booth.
Shaking his head as patrons looked on, he wanted to stop the kissing and laughing coming from Stormy, but he couldn’t. He was enjoying it too much. “You know things are going to change now?”
Stormy pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, a playful glint still dancing in her expression. Her lips were still tingling from the kiss, her heart racing as she felt the weight of his words. But instead of the nervous tension she expected, there was a spark of something else—a mix of excitement and something that felt like a challenge.
“Change?” she echoed, raising an eyebrow. “What kind of change are we talking about?”
He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. He could see the teasing edge in her, the way she wasn’t backing down even when the stakes felt higher. “You know what I mean,” he said, his voice low, though the heat of the moment was still alive between them.
“I’m good with it.” She laughed, the sound light and teasing, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Can you ask me?”
“Ask you what, sweetheart?” He chuckled, leaning in closer, his breath warm against her skin as he lowered his voice.
She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, as if daring him to say the words. “Reeves...”
His lips twitched into a wicked grin, a hint of challenge in his gaze. Slowly, he slid out of the booth, sank down to one knee, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. “Stormy Knight, will you marry me?”
Her heart skipped, but she didn’t let the surprise show on her face. She raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Yes, I’d be honored to marry you,” her voice was steady, though a little breathless as the moment sank in.
He leaned back on his knee, studying her with a playful, almost predatory look. “But will you obey?” he asked, his tone a teasing challenge, one hand still resting on his thigh as if waiting for her response.
She arched an eyebrow, her lips curling into a defiant smile. “We’ll see.”
Yes, they would he thought, he couldn’t wait to see how things worked out. He was sure there would be a lot of fighting and more making up. Slipping the ring on her finger, he stood up as the restaurant erupted in applause.
At the front of the restaurant, he saw their family standing at the bar all smiling. He’d asked them to come in through the kitchen where Stormy wouldn’t see them and get tipped off at what he was about to do. Pointing at them, he saw the smile spread across her beautiful face. “Would you like to go join them for a glass of champagne?”
“I’d love to.”
With their family gathered around them, they celebrated the love between him and Stormy. Reeves caught the eye of his brothers, who exchanged knowing glances. They laughed amongst themselves, likely teasing him about getting engaged. He didn’t know what Monroe was laughing about, he would be the last to fall and probably the one that would fall the hardest.
Wrapping an arm around Stormy, Reeves raised his glass to his brothers, a smile tugging at his lips. There was a quiet confidence in the gesture, a silent acknowledgment that, no matter what came next, his family would always have his back. The teasing, the laughter, it was all part of the fabric of who they were, and he was secure in the knowledge they’d stand by him, no matter what the future held.
He leaned down to kiss Stormy gently, his heart swelling with affection. She was his rock, the one who made everything else feel right. As their lips parted, he felt a tap on his shoulder, and Monroe, ever the attentive brother, appeared with a bottle of wine in hand. “Refill?” Monroe asked with a grin.
Reeves chuckled, accepting the offering as Monroe topped off his glass. The conversation around them buzzed on, a mix of love, laughter, and the clinking of glasses, but for a brief moment, it felt as though the world had shrunk to just the two of them.
“To us,” Reeves said softly, his eyes meeting Stormy’s, before raising his glass again to the people who had always been there for him. To the ones who would continue to walk beside him, no matter the journey ahead.