Epilogue
ZINA
Eight Months Later
I raced along the walkway leading to the entrance of the aquarium. I should have been there fifteen minutes ago, but I’d gotten caught up in traffic after stopping by to check on one of the puppy mill pups who’d been settling in with her new family just outside of Houston.
Alex was going to strangle me if I missed the dedication for the new penguin habitat.
Especially since it was the first time we’d get a chance to visit with Thelma, Louise, and the rest of the Ido dozen who’d been part of the Munyon wedding.
I shook my head as I thought about what a crazy mess that had been.
Over seven months later and I could still remember how it felt to think my whole life was over because he’d spooked.
Since then Lacey and I had worked with over a dozen brides to give them the weddings of their dreams. Well, mostly me since Lacey was still pushing herself too hard and the doc kept putting her back on bed rest. But today wasn’t about weddings or events or pit bulls. It was all about Alex.
He’d been invited to participate behind the scenes this week and help move the colony into their new habitat, so it was just as easy for me to meet him there.
Plus he’d promised me dinner at the exclusive Cattleman’s restaurant after the quick dedication ceremony.
I’d be a fool to turn down that kind of an offer.
The aquarium had gone all out with the holiday decorations.
Christmas was still over a month away, but as I entered the front door and made my way to the penguin exhibit, twinkle lights sparkled overhead.
Alex had warned me it would be a pretty small affair.
The public dedication would be happening the next day but since he’d been instrumental in coordinating the makeover, the aquarium had extended an invite to their private ceremony.
I hadn’t seen much of him since he’d started the veterinary program at the University of Houston in September.
Even though he’d arranged all of his classes, so he only had to drive into the city a few times a week, I was ready for the holiday break, so we’d have more time to spend together.
My heels clicked on the tile as the first strains of music drifted from the sound system down the empty hall. The low hum of chatter made me think the party might be bigger than I thought. I smoothed a hand over the skirt of my dress, suddenly wondering if I should have worn something nicer.
As I turned the corner, eager to get my first glimpse of the new exhibit and even more excited to wrap my arms around the man who’d made it possible, I stopped in my tracks.
What was my brother doing here? Zeb stood off to the side, Semper at his feet. Lacey sat at a small bar top table with Bodie’s arm draped over her back. Char spotted me and rushed over, a flute of champagne in her hand.
“She’s here.” Dolly wrapped her arms around my legs, preventing me from moving any farther.
“What’s going on?” I let my gaze rest on each person in attendance.
“Cue the penguins,” a deep voice boomed out over the room. Morty glanced over, catching my eye.
“What in the world is happening? Where’s Alex?”
It only took a moment for me to catch sight of him. Two rows of penguins waddled toward me, Alex bringing up the rear. Thelma and Louise stopped when they reached me and took turns lifting their flippers for a high five. I laughed as I tapped my palm against them.
“How did you finally teach them that trick?” I smiled at Alex. He’d been working on that one for weeks when the penguins had been staying in the warehouse.
“Turns out you can get anyone to do pretty much anything if you provide the right incentive.” He dropped down onto one knee in front of me.
My stomach flip-flopped while my heart seemed to swan dive to my feet. “What are you doing?”
“I’m hoping I’m about to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” He grinned, the same sexy, smug grin I’d come to love.
“Well, get on with it then.” The steady tone of my voice didn’t betray the mishmash of emotions that swirled around inside.
He reached for my hand. “Zina Baxter, you’re the strongest, most beautiful, most capable woman I’ve ever met. I don’t know what you see in me, but I start off every day so thankful that you’re a part of my life.”
Dammit, he was going to make me cry. The threat of tears swelled. I focused on my breath, trying not to lose it before he finished saying what he wanted to say.
“We haven’t known each other all that long in human years, but we’ve been together longer in penguin years.”
I laughed, spilling a tear over the rim of my lashes.
“That’s three and a half years in dog years, too. Plenty of time for me to know that you’re the one for me. I hope you feel the same way.”
I nodded, the tears no longer a threat now, but an inevitable outcome.
“I love you. Will you marry us?”
“‘Us’?” I’d been ready to literally bowl him over with an enthusiastic yes, but that last word caught me off guard.
“Yeah, us.” He stood and gestured around him. “You’re not just getting me. You’re getting the family I came with and the one we’ve created. Penguins, dogs, people, hell, even the damn bird.”
“Damn bird. Damn bird.” Shiner Bock piped up from his perch on Morty’s shoulder.
“Is he supposed to be in here?” I pointed to the bird.
“He’s part of the family. For better or for worse. What do you say?”
Alex held an open jewelry box out to me. A large aquamarine stone nestled against a white velvet background. “An aquamarine?”
“Yeah, like the ocean.” He took the ring and slid it onto my finger. “I figured that’s technically what brought us together.”
I centered the stone on my finger and looked up at him. My cheeks already hurt from smiling.
“So?” he asked.
“So what?”
“You didn’t actually say yes yet. It doesn’t count if you don’t say the words.”
I bit my lip, loving the fact that he’d turned my own argument against me. “Fair point. I say yes. Yes, to this motley, ragtag crew we’ve brought together. Yes, to you.”
“Good.” He caught me up in his arms and spun me around. When his lips met mine, everything else faded into the background.
Until someone tapped me on the shoulder. A firm, persistent tap that didn’t let up.
“Yes?” I pulled away from Alex to find Lacey invading my personal space.
“We need to get started right away. I’m picturing a winter wonderland dogsledding wedding so we can incorporate both the penguins and the dogs.”
“Oh no.” I shook my head and held tight to Alex. “We’re going to have a small ceremony. No fuss. No fireworks. No ice.”
“Aw, honey, are you sure?” Alex squeezed my hand.
I nudged my nose against his, my hair falling around us like a curtain, blocking out the rest of the room. “Actually, I have an even better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s elope.”