Epilogue
DANE
The empty desk outside my office felt wrong. I’d been staring at it for several minutes, trying to get used to the sight of it. Clean surface. Blank computer screen. Chair pushed in neatly, waiting for someone new. None of the pretty and sparkly stuff. None of the pizzazz.
My new assistant started tomorrow. Norma had handled the entire hiring process.
She interviewed candidates, checked references, and made the final decision.
I’d deliberately stayed out of it, knowing the board was watching to make sure I didn’t show favoritism or let my personal life affect business decisions again.
But it still felt odd, not having Ina right there. Not being able to look up from my desk and see her. I missed my beautiful little sentinel.
“Adjusting to the new normal?”
I turned to find Lucas leaning against my doorframe, looking slightly smug.
“It’s fine.”
“You’re staring at an empty desk.”
“I am not.”
“You are. She’s literally one floor down.”
I gave him a look. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“Probably. But watching you moon over Ina is more entertaining.” He came in and sat in one of my chairs. “How are you really doing? Now that she’s not here to keep your complicated schedule from imploding?”
I leaned back in my chair, considering the question. “My girlfriend is exactly where she’s meant to be. The matchmakers are finally happy to be out from under IT’s thumb and in their own department with proper resources and support.”
“That’s very diplomatic. But I asked how you’re doing.”
I shrugged. “I’m fine.”
“You miss her.”
“Of course I miss her. But I see her every day.
Lucas’s grin widened. “When is she moving in?”
“Sooner than she thinks,” I replied with a laugh.
“I don’t even want to know, but I’m glad you’re happy.”
“I am. And the best part is I feel like it only goes up from here. Like life is just getting started. There’s a whole future ahead.”
I owed Norma everything. She’d handled the board politics, made sure every regulation was followed to the letter. She’d been prepared for this from the beginning, like she’d known it was inevitable that I’d fall for my assistant and would need a plan to make it work.
Norma might have been the best matchmaker at Cupid’s Arrow, even if she’d never officially held the title. She was my own Cupid.
“When are you having us over for dinner?” Lucas asked.
“Never.”
He waved a hand. “I’ll just ask Ina. She wants us there. I can’t believe we’re both old married couples. We should plan a vacation together this summer. That’s what married couples do.”
“I’m not married.”
He rolled his eyes. “You basically are. We both know neither of you is going anywhere. You two are forever together.”
“Let’s hope.”
“Have you heard from Keith?” Lucas asked, his tone shifting to something more serious.
I shook my head, feeling relief. “No. Last I heard, he was moving to Florida.”
“Good riddance.”
“Agreed.” My eyes automatically went to the framed picture on my shelf. It was me and Keith taken about ten years ago. “It’s weird, you know? We were friends for so long. I thought we’d always be friends. Turns out I was wrong about a lot of things.”
Lucas leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “You weren’t wrong. You just outgrew him. He stayed the same entitled asshole he’s always been, and you evolved into someone better.”
“Maybe.” I wasn’t entirely convinced. Part of me wondered if I could have handled the situation differently.
If there was a way to have kept both my friendship with Keith and my relationship with Ina.
But deep down, I knew that was impossible.
Keith had forced me to choose, and I’d chosen Ina without hesitation.
I would choose her every time.
“Don’t do that,” Lucas said, reading my expression with the ease of someone who’d known me for decades. “Don’t second-guess yourself. Keith made his choices. You made yours. He’s the one who couldn’t be happy for you.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Because you’re sitting here looking like you feel guilty about firing someone who absolutely deserved to be fired.”
I sighed. “It’s not guilt. It’s disappointment. I wish he could have changed or evolved, as you say. I think the guy is missing out on real joy. It’s sad.”
Ina appeared in the doorway like I conjured her just by thinking about her.
Well, that wasn’t accurate, because if that was the case, she would be permanently perched on my desk.
She was wearing a navy dress that was perfectly professional and also driving me slightly crazy.
“Hi,” I said.
“Am I interrupting?”
Lucas stood, a knowing smirk plastered on his face. “I’ll just be going then.” He brushed past Ina with a wink. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“That leaves the options wide open,” I called after him.
He laughed as he disappeared down the hall.
Ina stepped inside and closed the door. Then she locked it. My cock immediately stirred.
“Come here,” I said, my voice husky.
She flashed another sexy smile before she sauntered my way. I pushed back from the desk and opened my arms in an invitation to sit on my lap.
“How’s your day going?” I asked.
“Good. Great, actually.” Her smile was radiant. “The matchmakers are incredible. They have so many ideas for improving the process, and they’re so passionate about what they do. I spent two hours just listening to them talk about their most successful matches.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning. At breakfast.”
“I know. But that was hours ago.” She reached up to loosen my tie slightly. “And I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“Have you now?”
“Mmm.” Her fingers worked the knot free, loosening it enough to allow her fingers to slide under my collar.
She kissed me, and I forgot what I was going to say.
I liked our little stolen moments. We were careful, but I was pretty sure everyone knew what happened when Ina showed up and that door closed.
We were in love and still in that delicious phase of our relationship that made it impossible for us to keep our hands off each other.
“Abby called,” she said after we thoroughly moved out.
“Yeah?”
“She made it very clear. One month and it’s been five weeks now, so technically I’m overstaying my welcome.”
“Where will you go?” I kept my voice serious, playing along.
“I guess I’ll have to move back to Wyoming. Find a nice ranch house, get a job at the local diner, and never see you again.” She sighed dramatically. “It’s very sad.”
“Tragic.”
“I’m supposed to be completely moved out by tonight, actually. So if you see me on the street with a suitcase, just know I tried my best. Do you think I could keep my job and work remotely?”
I sighed and shook my head. “I’m afraid that’s not an option.”
“Too bad. I guess I’ll be living in my car. Oh wait, I don’t have a car.”
“It’s a good thing I hired movers to pack up your things and bring them to our place.”
She pulled back to look at me. I could see her confusion.
We both knew she was going to live with me, but she was still putting up a bit of a fuss.
I decided to make an executive decision.
I figured it would be easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.
And I already had plenty of ideas about how I would beg for her forgiveness.
“What are you talking about?”
“This morning. Professional movers. They’re at your apartment right now, packing up your stuff. Abby is supervising to make sure they don’t go through your underwear.”
“Dane! You can’t do that!”
“I wasn’t going to risk you actually moving back to Wyoming because Abby was tired of us being disgusting newlyweds.”
“We’re not married.”
“Yet.” That too was a foregone conclusion in my opinion. We were just enjoying being together for now, but I was going to marry her. She would be my wife and have my babies.
“Dane—”
“Before you argue, I know we agreed to wait a year. I’m sticking to that. But I want you living with me. Properly. Not just most of your things, but all of them. I want you to feel like my apartment—our apartment—is actually home.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “You hired movers.”
“I did. And I got Abby a thank-you gift for putting up with us.”
“What kind of gift?”
“That set of knives she’s been talking about. And a set of French copper cookware.”
“Dane, that’s thousands of dollars’ worth of stuff.”
“She’s your best friend. She let us be messy and complicated and figure things out in her space. She deserves to be thanked properly.” I wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. “Plus, she walked in on us naked on her couch. I think we owe her more than just a spa weekend.”
Ina laughed through her tears. “She’s never going to let us forget that.”
“Probably not. But don’t think that’s going to make her stop asking you for a Birkin.”
I laughed. “We’ll see how she does helping with the wedding planning.”
“You’re very confident.”
“And that’s why you love me.”
“I do love you.” She kissed me softly. “Even though you’re high-handed and controlling.”
“I prefer to think of it as efficient problem-solving.”
“Of course you do.”
My computer dinged with a reminder about my next call, and Ina sighed.
“Back to work?”
“Unfortunately.” I kissed her once more. “Dinner tonight? I’ll try to be home by seven.”
“I’ll order from that Thai place you like.”
“Perfect.”
She stood up, straightening her dress, checking her reflection in the window to make sure she looked professional.
“Do I look like I’ve been making out with the CEO?” she asked.
“A little.”
“Damn.” She finger-combed her hair. “Better?”
“You look beautiful. You always look beautiful.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” She unlocked the door and opened it, checking to make sure no one was in the hallway. “See you tonight?”
“Absolutely.”
She left, and I watched her walk back toward the elevators. I was already thinking about us sleeping in our bed together for the first time tonight.
She had stayed over before, but that didn’t count.
Tonight she was staying for good. It was the first day of the rest of our lives.
I turned back to my computer to join my call with a smile on my lips.
***
What did you think about Dane and Ina’s story?
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***
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Check out a Billionaire Romance by Ali Parker, One Year Husband!
I don’t believe in fairytales.
I believe in contracts. Clean exits. Ironclad terms.
So when my father lays down the ultimatum—get married, have a child, and prove I’m worthy of the Westwood empire—I do what I do best.
I go get what I want.
She’s gorgeous. Curvy. Smart-mouthed.
And absolutely furious that I now own 51% of her struggling business.
Lucky for her, there’s room to negotiate.
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I want my inheritance—and zero romantic entanglements.
One year. One baby. No feelings. Just signatures.
Simple enough… until she starts showing up in my head, in my bed, and in my carefully controlled life like she belongs there.
Now I’m pretending to be a devoted husband in public, sleeping a little too close in private, and breaking every rule I set in the fine print.
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