Epilogue
Two Months Later
“Are you excited?” Blair asked Nora. “This is your first photo op with Ethan.”
It was the grand opening for Ethan’s donut shop in the casino.
“I doubt I’ll be in the picture.”
“Sure, you will,” Blair said. “You have been a big part of getting this up and going. I’ve never had the branding and PR skills you have. I’m trying not to be jealous, but what you did for this business of Ethan’s is outstanding. You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed it?”
She had and was so proud of herself to finally step out and do something without being shown.
She’d taken charge when the sale went through, listened to what Ethan wanted, his ideas and thoughts, and mixed it in with what she knew of him personally.
Nailing the logo on the first try boosted her confidence, but seeing the results after one month of new ownership told her how great their teamwork was inside the office and out.
“I have. But you were there in the beginning. You did a lot of the legwork to get it going. I’m so glad you flew back for it. Ethan was so happy when you said you could do it.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” Blair said mischievously. She wasn’t sure what to make of that look. The banter Ethan had with Blair was nothing like what she and Ethan shared in the office. “And I’m still annoyed you two kept your relationship a secret.”
They were off to the side chatting while Ethan was talking with Eli and his father. Egan wouldn’t be in the picture even though he owned just as much as Eli. It had more to do with being in the casino than the owners.
“It’s still not really public knowledge,” she said. Senior staff knew, they’d known for a month, but no one was saying much more.
It’s not like she and Ethan were hiding it anymore either. She’d walked to work with him a few times, they even left together if she was going to his place. No, she wasn’t kissing him in the office with the door open, she wasn’t holding his hand or making date plans.
But it seemed few thought much of it if they saw them together.
She should have realized that months ago when Ethan nudged her to stay at his place more.
It hadn’t taken her much to cave though. Especially since she wanted that time with him.
Things with her father were smoother. Not perfect and she didn’t expect it to be. There were still some bumps, still some words she didn’t agree with, but he was trying.
Even Ethan and her father were back on track. Or where they had been.
She couldn’t really ask for much more and had to get it out of her head that she was going to have this long-lost loving supportive relationship with her father where he never judged her again. It’d never happen.
But she was tired of hiding her relationship when it was going as well as it was.
Ethan waved her over, so she left Blair’s side. “Hi. Do you need something?”
“I do,” he said. “Come back here for a minute before they take pictures.”
“Okay,” she said when he pulled her behind the counter and in the back where the donuts were ready to replace those already in the case. “What’s going on?”
He was looking around as if he were unsure, maybe even a touch confused. “This probably isn’t the best place for this.”
“What?” she asked. She was getting concerned. It wasn’t like him to be this uncertain, not shuffling his feet as if he couldn’t stand still. Then he shoved his hand in his pocket, pulled it out and grabbed her left one.
When she looked down, he had a diamond ring between two fingers.
“I know I’m crazy. Crazy in love with you.
And I know it’s fast. I’m not pushing. Not pressuring.
Just so excited to have you be part of my life.
I’m ready to shout it to the world. If you’re not, I’ll understand, but we’ve been so open with each other and I can’t—”
“Be quiet and ask me, Ethan.” She was pretty sure she was shaking but only in the best way possible.
He let out a breath, his shoulders sagging, the grin filling his face to match hers. “I’d get on my knee, but I don’t want to walk out there with flour on my pants.”
“You don’t need to get on your knee,” she said softly.
“Nora Jones…” He slid the ring on her finger, and her eyes couldn’t possibly grow any more with the size of it. “Will you marry me? Be my wife. I mean you can stay my assistant too. I mean I really need you, but that’s up to you. Either way, I’d be lost without you in my life.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you. And I’ll stay as your assistant... for now. In the future, maybe some kids will need me a bit more.”
He hugged her tight, lifted her in the air and spun her around.
“Best day of my life. Now we need to get our picture taken. Me and my fiancée.”
Her jaw dropped. “Are you having them put that next to my name?”
“Yep,” he said. “Now the world will know who you are to me! Or at least Boston will. Problem with it?”
“Not a one!”
The End!
They promised themselves friendship, until their hearts wanted more.
Dr. Luca Brewer had the perfect life. Then one night took it all away.
His wife. His future. The family he was waiting for.
Now, he’s running from the memories, trading a city full of ghosts for a quiet island off the coast of Boston, determined to lose himself in his work and never want the unattainable again.
Pediatrician Gabriela Mills is done with dating. The big city gave her more frustration than hope, and the island offers a fresh start. One focused on her career and herself. Love isn’t part of the plan.
Then Luca arrives. Guarded. Grieving. Uninterested in anything beyond work and friendship and that’s exactly what Gabriela is prepared to offer.
As friendship slowly becomes more, the love they never planned could change everything. But when the going gets tough, will one of them take off running in fear of being hurt again?