Epilogue
THREE MONTHS AFTER the showdown on the boat, Nat stood in the doorway of Henri’s Geneva apartment and gave the man a goodbye hug. Hollows darkened his cheeks and his clothes hung loosely on his frame, but he looked significantly better than he had the previous month.
The man she now considered a friend had even put colored lights and ornaments on a modest Christmas tree that filled the lovely old living room with a fresh evergreen scent.
He’d recovered from his injuries in time to testify against Deschamps, but it hadn’t been necessary.
Henri’s would-be killer had been arrested, and had rolled on Deschamps, who’d been remanded to jail while awaiting his multiple trials.
While there, he’d walked into the wrong end of a shiv, presumably at the behest of a rival.
Nat wasn’t bloodthirsty, but she didn’t mourn the crime boss’s death either. He’d killed Henri’s wife, made his life hell, and then tried to kill him. Deschamps’ death wouldn’t bring back Delphine, but at least Henri could stop hiding. He could live again.
“We’ll see you next week before we leave.
” Natalie stepped back and smiled. Ford had invited him to celebrate the holiday with them early, along with Katja, Sabine, and Alain.
After that, Ford would accompany Nat to LA to be with her family and friends on Christmas, followed by a visit to San Francisco to see his family for the new year.
If they kept this up, she’d have enough frequent flier miles to fly first class.
“When will you be back in the new year?” Henri leaned against the door jamb and crossed his arms.
“Not sure yet, but I’ll let you know.” She glanced at Ford. They needed to talk, because a long-distance relationship would not work for her long term. Nat’s heart broke at the thought of him returning to Europe without her after the holidays.
Henri looked at her and Ford, his gaze steady. “You are good for each other.” He nodded sharply. “Make it work.”
Her lips parted. Could he read minds?
Ford just smiled.
A few minutes later she and Ford sat in his Audi SUV, surrounded by the huge trees and old multi-story apartment buildings in Henri’s posh new neighborhood.
She put her hand on the sleeve of Ford’s puffy jacket.
“Anything I need to know about the rest of the day?” She knew he’d ensure she had anything necessary for whatever he had planned.
Mostly she asked so he understood she didn’t mind that he needed an itinerary.
Honestly, as much as she craved spontaneity, his organizational skills meant they got more done—including fun activities—than would ever happen if she were in charge.
Her contribution usually entailed derailing his plans to keep things fresh and interesting.
He’d learned to adjust, to go along with her detours, and almost always enjoyed it.
Like yesterday when they’d been in Old Town to buy his mother her favorite chocolates for Christmas.
After buying plenty for themselves too, including a delicious chili flavor that Ford had balked at but ended up loving, Natalie had convinced him to go ice skating in Bastions Park.
They’d returned to his place exhilarated by the brisk air and laughter—neither of them was a great skater so there’d been lots of grabbing each other for balance—and hadn’t even made it past the foyer before he was buried deep inside her with her back pressed to the front door. Her skin tingled at the memory.
He wasn’t the only one who flexed in the relationship though. She made sure to give him the time and space to accomplish his main priorities. She liked variety, but she wasn’t a child who needed him to constantly entertain her. She wanted a partner, not a parent or someone who resented her.
They were opposites in many ways, but they fit well together. He reminded her that there could be joy in setting aside her immediate desires for delayed gratification. She reminded him that going off script could make the mundane moments and tasks more interesting.
She didn’t feel pressured to change and hoped he didn’t either.
It was more like they each tempered the other’s extremes.
It wasn’t a laugh a minute, but together they created more joy than she could ever experience on her own.
He’d lightened up so much in the last few months, and she loved seeing him smile more, be playful.
He still took safety seriously, he still needed a lot more organization and structure in his life than she did, and those were also things she loved about him.
She wanted him to be happy, not to become a different person.
Now, next to her, he ran his palms along the tops of his thighs as if to warm them. “It’s lunchtime. How do you feel about Osteria Delle Alpi or Zesti?” He shrugged. “Or, we can just scrounge from the cupboard at home.”
The way he said home—like she belonged there—made her stomach dip, but if they went straight back to his house, she’d probably jump him and then just eat unhealthy snacks. Tempting, but… “Zesti sounds good.”
“Greek it is.”
An hour later, after a delicious meal, he looked at her over the table and took both of her hands. “Dessert?”
She patted her full stomach, but the thought of pastries from Sophie et Mia made her reconsider. “If I say yes?”
“I figured S&M, but I have other ideas too.”
“Do you?” She grinned at his double entendre. “I’m rubbing off on you.”
“I wish.” His deep, innuendo-laden voice had her clenching her knees together.
Whew. Maybe she should’ve skipped lunch and gone straight for her favorite dessert. Him, obvs.
At Sophie et Mia, she splurged on a carac, a chocolate-filled tart with bright green icing and a little chocolate disc on top that made it look like a boob. She took a bite. Just the shortbread crust alone… “Mmm. It’s almost better than sex.”
He raised an eyebrow, his face smug, and she laughed.
“You’re right.” She licked the top of the tart and watched his eyes spark. “It’s a distant second, but if you ever throw me over, I’m going to have to move next door to this place so I can eat one every day.”
Expression suddenly serious, he caught her gaze. “I’m not going to throw you over.” His head dipped just enough to put him at eye level. “You know that, right? I love you.” He gestured between them. “I want to make this work.”
Her heart turned to goo. “I know.” She really did. She felt it in her bones. “I love you, and I want this to work too.” If they weren’t in the middle of a shop, she’d kiss him senseless, ganache on her lips be damned.
He took her free hand. “I had this whole day planned out, a choose-your-own adventure for you, but I’m not sure I can wait until the end.”
Now her entire body softened like warm chocolate. “You did?”
He nodded.
“How perfect. You get to plan. I get to pick what comes next.” Honestly, now that she thought about it that was pretty much the rhythm they’d developed, though he’d never presented it that way.
“You don’t mind the extra work? You must have a whole decision tree in your head, an endless cascade of contingency plans. ”
He shook his head and gave her a slightly embarrassed smile.
“On my phone actually, but I don’t mind.
It’s what I do automatically anyway.” His thumb stroked her fingers, sparking little ripples of delight across her skin.
“But doing it for you, getting to watch your eyes light up when you’re having a good time…
” A blush crept over his cheeks, and he swallowed.
“I love that. You’re already beautiful, but when you’re having fun, you’re fucking incandescent. I can’t look away.”
It wasn’t all the sugar making her lightheaded. “Ford, Jesus. How am I supposed to resist kissing you now?”
He laughed and lifted her hand to press his lips to her knuckles. “Savor the wanting, baby. I promise to make it worth your while.”
Holy shit. That much smolder should’ve set the patisserie on fire. A full-body shiver ran through her. “Okay. What’s the next choice?”
He rolled his lips between his teeth, suddenly looking unsure of himself. “This one’s tougher than lunch or dessert, and might require some discussion.”
“Okay.” A trapeze act took up residence in her gut. “Hit me.”
Squeezing her hand, maybe harder than he realized, he said, “I don’t know if I can survive a long-distance thing with you.
After the New Year, I can’t imagine leaving you in LA, only seeing you when one of us can visit, only being with you a small part of the year.
I want more than that, Nat, and I’ll do whatever it takes.
” He watched her carefully, his shoulders tense. “If you feel the same way…”
Nat was flying now, tethered only by his hand. “Do you really not know?” Maybe he didn’t. He wasn’t used to happiness, probably didn’t fully trust it. “I want to be with you. Every day. Whatever it takes.”
He blew out a pent-up breath, a small smile relieving the tightness in his face. “I hoped, but I didn’t know for sure. I know I’m not as easygoing as you are, and—”
“Stop right there.” She turned intertwined their fingers. “I love you exactly the way you are. Because of who you are. You think I don’t have the same fear? That you’ll eventually tire of my freewheeling ways?”
He put his other hand over their clasped ones and shook his head. “I’ve been fascinated with you from the moment we met.”
Her disbelieving look had him sitting up straight.
“Truly. You were a challenge, and maybe a reminder of what I’d lost when Con died, and a temptation like I’ve never known.
Any anger or frustration I felt was with myself.
Any exhaustion came from fighting this attraction that hasn’t waned since we met four years ago, and has only grown stronger in the past few months.
I love your ‘freewheeling ways.’ Without them, you wouldn’t be you. ”
The desire to cry pricked at her eyes. She pushed away the half-eaten tart to take his other hand. “Ford. How am I supposed to eat when you say things like that?”
A small laugh fizzed out of him, and he gave her the look that always made her eager to get naked.
“Don’t keep me in suspense any longer.” She raised her brows and gave her head a little shake to spur him on. “What’s the next choice?”
“Okay.” He cleared his throat. “Geneva, LA, or some third wildcard location?”
“You’re not talking about vacation.”
“No.”
“Are you offering to move to LA?”
Leaning in, he said, “I would move anywhere with you.”
A tear slipped free and trailed down her cheek.
“Nat.” He tried to lift a hand to wipe it away, but she held on tightly.
Apparently, she’d just been waiting for him to ask, because the answer came easily. “I’d like to live here.”
His eyes widened. “In this pastry shop?”
She laughed. “Not sure Blitz would be welcome.”
“Definitely out then.”
Before she could respond, the server stopped by to offer more coffee and Ford had a brief conversation with him in French while Nat silently urged the young man to leave already. Once he’d gone, Ford turned back to her, all playfulness gone. “What about your family? You okay leaving them?”
“My parents will probably be disappointed at the distance, but I don’t think they’ll be too surprised by my decision.
I love the home you have here, the little community you’ve found.
And there’s so much to explore. This decision doesn’t have to be etched in stone, right?
We can live in Geneva for now and reevaluate at some point. ”
He nodded. “Any time. You get the itch, we’re outta here.”
She couldn’t stop herself from smiling, not just at his rapidly expanding sense of humor, but because she was on the verge of getting exactly what she wanted.
The man she’d wanted for so long. And he was better than the dream.
He was real, and he loved her. “I would move anywhere with you too, but right now, I’d like to live here.
” She paused. “You’re asking me to live with you, right? ”
Ford smirked. “I think Katja has another property somewhere if—”
She nudged his leg with her foot.
He dropped the act and looked deep into her eyes, his own so blue and sincere and full of love. “Yes, please. Move in with me.” He trapped her foot between his calves and gave a gentle squeeze. “I’ll make a plan.”
She could already envision his checklist: Ten Easy Steps to a Swiss Visa. “I’ll probably set fire to it. Better have lots of contingencies, Beaumont.”
Leaning in, he dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “As many as it takes.”
THANK YOU
Thank you for reading LIE IN THE DARK!