Epilogue #2
If he didn’t look troubled, I would think he’s beckoning me because he wants to be alone again.
But it’s obvious when he leads me to a massive office in its own wing of the house that he’s got something on his mind that has nothing to do with sex.
“What is it?” I ask, looking around the room. “Is this…”
“His throne.” He hesitates before touching his hand to the top of the chair positioned behind a huge desk. There’s still an indent in the leather left by Roman’s large body. “I don’t like coming in here, but Elena is getting used to it, so I think I can, too.”
I don’t even want to think about everything Roman put him through in this room. Not only him, but the whole family he ruled over like a tyrant. “Why are we in here now?”
“There’s something I wanted to give you.”
There’s an envelope on the desk—plain, unmarked. It might as well have a spotlight on it when he picks it up. “You can do whatever you want with this,” he explains. “But you deserve to know where you came from.”
My body starts buzzing, and the hair on my arms stands on end. “Is that…?” I whisper, but my throat is too tight to force out the rest. Somehow, my feet carry me across the room, and I hold out a hand.
“I figured you would want to know one day. You’d want more details about where you come from. It’s all there. I want you to feel...”
I swallow hard and take the envelope.
I could talk to Mom about it. Dredge up the past. We went over it once before, but I don’t think I need to rehash everything. Not when I know exactly where I belong.
My mom, Emma, kept me out of the system after my biological mom left, no matter how it happened. And she loves me as her own. She always has. She hasn’t always made the right choices, but she’s never treated me any less than her daughter.
I turn the envelope over in my hand without opening it, then fold and slide it into my purse.
“I have their names now, and I’m sad and sorry to think of what happened to them,” I whisper with a heavy heart.
“But I already have a certificate. It’s the one Mom had made for me when I was adopted.
The name on it is Allie Porter. That’s my name, that’s who I am.
I don’t need to be anyone else. I think everything turned out the way it was supposed to.
And I think it’s up to us to decide what home and family really means. ”
I reach out and take his hands, feeling the calluses which are just another part of him.
They are a symbol of how hard he works. All the years he spent on this ranch, busting his ass to earn respect.
I only hope that now, he finds peace, because he deserves it.
“I think it’s time for us to build something new.
Something for us. And we will. That’s all that matters. ”
I see my whole world reflected in his eyes, so deep and dark, like windows to his soul. “I love you,” he murmurs. “I’m always going to love you. You’re the only person I can imagine building forever with.”
“How did you know that’s exactly what I needed to hear?”
“Because I know you.” He draws me close and presses his lips to my temple before whispering in my ear, “Because you’re mine.”
I’m his. The idea soothes my soul. I spent so long thinking I had to fight the world, and I know he did, too. We still have to fight—that’s just how life is. There’s always going to be another battle. But I won’t be alone. I’ll never be alone.
I feel it before I realize what’s happening—something sliding over the ring finger of my left hand.
I look down between us at the ring he so sneakily placed there.
“Oh my God,” I breathe, blinking hard. I can’t believe my eyes.
A cushion-cut diamond sparkles up at me, set in what looks like platinum.
“Like I said. It’s up to us what we make now.
I want to step foot in this house and have happy memories to think back on, which is why I’m doing this here.
” My mouth falls open as he lowers himself to one knee.
“You’ve made it possible for me to get past all my shit and start fresh.
You gave me something worth starting fresh for, and that means everything.
You’ve given me my life, Allie Porter. And all I want to do is spend the rest of it making it up to you in any way I can. Please. Say you’ll marry me.”
This is it. This is right. The way it should’ve been from the beginning. Tears fill my eyes—all I can do is nod almost violently while I gasp for air, and he gets on his feet to clasp me in his arms and spin me around, lifting me off the floor.
Finally, I find my voice. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Thank you.” He sets me down and covers my face in kisses, picking up the tears rolling down my cheeks. “Thank you.”
“I can’t believe it.” I’m dizzy and giddy, laughing and crying all at once. “This is real, right? This is happening.”
“It is.” Taking my face in his hands, he smiles and lights up my world. “And I’m never, ever letting you go. You’re stuck with me.”
“I guess I’ll just have to learn to live with it.” I wink, making him laugh before he takes me by the hand.
“Come on.” There’s something sweet and young and hopeful about the way he smiles as he leads me from the room. “We have an announcement to make.”
The End!!
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