23. Epilogue 2 Savannah
Six Months Later…
Bright blue skies and warm sunshine made our wedding day perfect. Ryder officiated the ceremony and, after exchanging vows on the beach, Rhys gave me the kiss to end all kisses. Now, the sun is beginning its descent into the horizon, meeting the ocean in a glorious sunset.
I’ve truly never been happier or more excited for the future.
Lifting the hem of my white lace dress in one hand, I’m getting ready to walk up the sand to the restaurant where the reception awaits, but my dashing husband seems to have other plans. He sweeps me up into his arms and carries me, causing everyone around us to cheer and clap.
“Rhys!” I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck.
Alice, wearing a pink bow in her fluffy hair, hops along beside us, trying to keep up with Rhys’s long strides.
She’s the best dog ever. She may be small, but she has a giant heart.
Just like the character in the story, she’s dauntless and full of pluck.
Yet she’s also a proper lady who eats her kibble one piece at a time.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look, ma chérie?” He nuzzles my neck and I giggle.
“Yes, only one million times,” I tease. “And I’ve never seen you look more handsome.”
He’s wearing a bespoke tuxedo and I’m wearing my mother’s wedding dress.
It makes me so happy having this piece of her here with me.
The white vintage gown is sleeveless and nearly a perfect fit.
My hair floats past my shoulders in soft waves and I chose to wear a crown of light pink carnations instead of a veil.
And, of course, Harper stood by my side as my Maid of Honor, softly crying through the entire ceremony.
“Let’s make it a million and one.” His lips graze my ear. “You look beautiful. Stunningly, achingly lovely. And I can’t wait to get you alone.”
“Same,” I murmur and start kissing him.
By the time we walk through the restaurant’s back patio doors, my lipstick is smudged and my crown is crooked.
Harper and Addie quickly fix me up. “Thank you,” I tell them, my gaze sweeping over the new place now decorated with strings of fairy lights, softly-glowing candles and fresh flowers.
I can’t believe how quickly and seamlessly this all came together.
The official opening is in one week, so tonight is the first time the brand new Charlie’s Place will be filled with family and friends.
It’s all I’ve ever wanted. A place where loved ones can come together and celebrate over good food and drinks.
My eyes water. I know my dad is so proud, and my mom is probably crying her eyes out. Both her girls found the love of their lives and couldn’t be happier.
A pair of arms wrap around my waist, and I lean back into Rhys’s embrace.
His rich scent fills me, and I take a moment to look around us.
It’s going to be quite a party tonight. Addie, her crew and their significant others are all here, of course.
And Harper, little Sienna in a pink party dress, and Ryland, along with his entire group of former assassins and their spouses, look ready to party the night away.
It means so much to me that everyone came to celebrate with us.
Even the huge, muscled former Navy SEAL who owns Rex’s Bar & Grille down the beach came.
He brought his gorgeous redheaded wife along, too.
When I found out about his place, I almost chose a different location to rebuild because I thought the competition might hurt my business.
I was also scared he might resent it. But Max has been nothing but welcoming.
It’s not long before music fills the air and I’m drinking a Kir Royale.
I chose to have tables set up with food so everyone can help themselves throughout the night.
A formal sit-down dinner seemed far too stuffy and fancy.
Plus with kids and Linc, I know appetites tend to be picky.
So I made sure to have a wide selection of choices, including a table serving up toasty grilled cheese sandwiches and mini cheese pizzas.
Maybe not exactly traditional wedding fare, but it’s been a hit.
Besides, my family is made up of thieves and assassins.
They don’t give a flip about tradition or expectations. We make our own rules.
We eat, drink and dance the night away. I find myself spun around the dance floor by so many big, muscular men, it’s exhilarating. But when Rhys claims me, pulling me against his long, lean, warm body, that’s when my heart pounds harder and desire lights up.
“I was just dancing with Addie,” he tells me, “and she asked if I’d consider joining A-Squared as a consultant.”
“That’s great!”
“I told her I’d think about it.” His vivid green eyes sparkle and his dimples pop. “For the right price, of course.”
I laugh. “You drive a hard bargain, Monsieur Laurent.”
“Me? You’re the one who convinced me to go to Disneyland.” He fake shudders.
“You’re going to love it,” I predict, toying with the edge of his collar.
“Love is an awfully strong word. But now that I have a niece to dote on and a wife I plan to knock up, I suppose I better get used to sticky fingers and temper tantrums.”
“You plan to knock me up?” I shake my head and can’t stop the smile spreading over my face.
“As soon as you’re ready,” he confirms.
“I wasn’t sure you truly wanted children.
Other than our fur baby.” I look over where Alice sits on Nik’s lap.
The huge Russian, also known as Saint, is covered in black ink and sits beside his tiny wife Mia.
He was a part of Ryland’s team and is a close friend of his.
And right now, he’s cuddling Alice on his lap and feeding her pieces of steak.
“I mean, I know we discussed the possibility…one day.”
“I want our babies,” he murmurs silkily. “It’s completely different. And they can put their little sticky fingers on anything and everything they like.”
“Only if you clean it all up,” I retort, and he throws his head back and laughs.
“For you, chérie, anything.”
He drops a kiss on my nose then dips me, and I let out a little squeal. Just as he’s pulling me back up, Addie and Cole appear beside us, and she’s frowning. “Have you guys seen Brighton?” she asks, looking worried.
“Um, not since your toast.” Addie, Ryland and Harper gave a speech together, welcoming Rhys to the family, and it made me nearly cry all my makeup off.
I can’t express how relieved and delighted I am that Rhys and Ryland seem to get along so well.
Even though the former thief and former Navy SEAL have such different backgrounds, their laidback, carefree, fun-loving personalities make the new brothers-in-law a perfect match.
Harper and I have already predicted those two are going to get into loads of trouble together.
“She mentioned having to take a phone call, and I haven’t seen her since.” Addie glances down at the elegant watch on her slim wrist. “That was a while ago.” Her scowl deepens.
“Maybe she went for a walk along the beach,” Cole suggests. “Why don’t we go look?”
Addie gives a distracted nod as Cole guides her off the dance floor, hand on her lower back, and toward the rear exit that leads down to the ocean.
I hope everything is okay. But if I’m being honest, if I were Brighton right now, I’d want some alone-time, too.
She’s surrounded by couples madly in love, and she’s the last woman standing.
That can’t be easy, no matter how happy she is for everyone else.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Rhys says, as though reading my mind. “But why don’t we go out on the patio and wait to see if Addie and Cole find her?”
Rhys guides me through the guests and out into the warm night air. The dark ocean waves roll in, bringing the comforting tang of salt and sand with them. We watch Addie and Cole walk along the shore, disappearing into the darkness.
“They’ll find her,” he assures me, turning me around and pulling me close.
“I know.” If anyone can get the job done, it’s those two.
“After Disneyland and the grand opening here, I’m whisking you away for a proper honeymoon,” he announces, toying with a lock of my hair.
“Oh?” I slide my hands up the lapels of his fancy jacket and wrap them around his neck, toying with his hair that stops just above his collar. “Where are you thinking?”
“We can go wherever you want,” he says, “but the South of France is very nice this time of year, Madame Laurent.”
“Is it?” I raise a brow. “I’ve never been there. And I’d love to see your home.”
“You’re my home, Savvy,” he corrects, pulling me up onto my tiptoes, “and I’m going to make you happier than you’ve ever been before.”
I let out a soft, very content sigh. “I love you, Rhys.”
“Love you, too. Forever, ma chérie.”
Forever and ever, I think. Then, with the stars twinkling above, I kiss my husband. And, just like my parents, I know I, too, have found a rare and beautiful love story.
What began as a dangerous adventure with a dashing thief turned into the love of a lifetime. Proving some rabbit holes are definitely worth falling down.
I hope you enjoyed Rhys and Savannah’s story! Last, but certainly not least, Brighton meets her man…er, The Man?
Make sure to preorder, Once a Thief, the final book in the Ring of Thieves series.
Would you like to know more about Ryland and his former team of assassins? You can binge the completed Force Protection Delta series today.
Or how about former Navy SEAL Max? Then make sure to check out the completed Project Phoenix series.