Epilogue
“I have something for you.”
Esme sent a slow, seductive grin Tyler’s way. She was currently sitting on the edge of Grayson’s desk in the FBI office while they waited for Grayson to come and give them a final report, but if Tyler was in the mood to play, she could certainly enjoy some fun with him.
He bent down on one knee before her.
She lost her grin. “What are you doing?”
He opened his hand. “Thought you might like this back.”
Her ruby ring—her grandmother’s ruby ring—lay nestled in his palm. “Tyler!”
“And, uh, I was also thinking…maybe you’d like to…date me?”
She took the ring. Slid it back onto her finger.
“After we dated a while, we could?—”
“Tyler.” She cut through his words by sighing his name. “You married me first, and now you want to date me?” A pretend marriage, granted, but it could not be forgotten .
He was still on one knee. “I actually want to marry you. For real this time.”
Wild hope flared inside of Esme.
“But I’m trying not to rush you. The Feds and the CIA have just completely cleared your name.”
They probably shouldn’t have completely cleared her name because she had been guilty of some crimes. A few. Maybe more than a few. But the people in charge had been overeager to make amends, especially since one of their own—Thaddeus Caldwell—had been as dirty as sin. The joint task force had gotten to work on Esme’s behalf. They’d erased all references to her being the Fox from the dark web. They’d also put out a trail of breadcrumbs that indicated the deceased Thaddeus had actually been the Fox.
After all, you couldn’t put a bounty on a person who was already dead.
Esme was free and clear. She’d agreed to provide more information to Grayson and his team. Because she was helpful like that.
Grayson had been patched up at the hospital. He’d been pissed as hell at Thaddeus, and with Grayson’s testimony—plus the recorded evidence that Ronan had gotten because, yes, he had been wired—Esme and Tyler were both being celebrated for bringing down some very dangerous individuals.
Esme wasn’t exactly sure which government agency Ronan had really been working for while he played the role of a hired killer. Though it was certainly a role he’d played well.
At the first opportunity, Ronan had apologized for drugging her. And for not contacting Tyler sooner. It seemed Ronan had waited a while on contacting Tyler because he’d needed to be absolutely sure Jorlan would be alone for their meeting. Once the location had been secured and Jorlan’s presence guaranteed, then Ronan had texted Kane and Tyler.
Apparently, Ronan hadn’t trusted Esme not to blow his cover, so he hadn’t told her that she wasn’t in danger from him. She had no idea where he would have gotten the idea that she was not the most trustworthy woman on the planet.
Ronan had also not realized that Tyler had been briefly knocked out after he’d fired his shots—he hadn’t known about Tyler’s concussion. He’d thought Tyler would leap right up to help Clay.
Ronan’s apologies had seemed genuine.
Tyler had punched him in response. Twice.
Then they’d gone for drinks. Men could be such asses sometimes.
And, other times, they could be amazing. She admired her ring. She had missed that ring.
But back to what Tyler was saying. The very important things he was saying.
“I think your father may even semi-like me,” Tyler told her.
Her father did semi-like him. The father who was not the villain she’d feared. Like father, like daughter. Their appearances had been designed to deceive.
“I will be a good husband to you, I swear it. I’ll work on my morning mood. I’ll try not to be an asshole first thing in the day.”
Her hand—with the ruby ring in place—pressed to his cheek.
“I’ll try to be a man good enough for you,” he told her with his eyes all serious as if he could ever be anything but good in her mind. “And I will work to prove, every single day, that you are the most important person in my life.”
“You are too good for me.” When would he get that?
“No.” An instant denial. “Esme, you are my everything. ”
Sometimes, she couldn’t quite believe it. This man loved her. She could see the love when he looked at her. Feel it when he touched her. They’d endured so much, and now, they had the chance to truly be happy.
Clay had survived his surgery. He hadn’t been behind the bombing in Paris. Instead, Thaddeus had been the culprit there. Clay had set the bomb at the safe house, though. The Feds were in talks with him, as he was being held behind bars. Some sort of deal would probably be made with him, though she didn’t know what yet. She did know that Tyler and Kane were not in a forgiving mood when it came to the sheriff. Not that she blamed them one bit.
“So, Esme, will you date me? Then, when you’re ready, will you marry me?”
She thought they could skip ahead to the important part. “I’m ready right now.”
His eyes widened. He also rose to his feet. Towered over her. “Now?”
“I’ve been half in love with you since Paris. And I am completely and irrevocably in love with you now. You are the man I want. When I think of my future, you’re what I see. Only you, Tyler.”
“I will make you happy,” he vowed.
“I already am.”
His hand curled under her chin. He leaned in slowly. His lips feathered over hers.
The door flew open. “I’ve got the last reports. This case is closed and you can— seriously? In my office?” Grayson’s voice rose a very high notch. “Get a room, man.”
Tyler lifted his head. His smile warmed her heart. “We’re gonna get a marriage license.”
“What?” Grayson’s shock was clear. “Is this another mission? You two going undercover?”
“No, it’s not a mission. It’s for real.”
“Forever,” Esme affirmed.
“Feel like coming to my wedding?” Tyler asked Grayson.
Grayson hurried across the room and slapped a hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “Hell, yes, hell, yes!”
“You’re sure about him?” Her father stood with Esme before the closed church doors. She could hear the music playing from inside. But they didn’t enter, not yet. “If you’re not sure, we can leave right now.”
Of course, he would have a quick getaway available for them. Typical.
But Esme shook her head even as she patted his arm. “He’s the one for me.”
“You love him?”
“With all that I am.” With every scheming part of herself. Every hopeful part, too.
Her father inclined his head. His guards—always present—opened the doors for them. Her eyes went straight for the man at the end of the decorated aisle. Tyler.
She walked forward. Her feet brushed over the rose petals that had been left behind by Kady Jo. The little girl and her mother had been invited to the wedding. Esme had a soft spot for them both .
Tyler didn’t wait for her to come to him. He bounded toward her. Met her halfway down the aisle.
Kissed her right there.
He was learning to not always follow the rules. She loved that about him. No, she loved everything about him.
Esme would never forget how she’d felt when she saw him rushing to the rescue in that horrid basement. The instant she’d known for certain that death hadn’t taken him from her.
The world started spinning again.
Together, she and Tyler walked the rest of the way down the rose-petal-covered aisle. Then it was time for the vows. To swear that she’d love him forever.
Spoiler alert, she would.
Esme released a soft breath as they faced each other.
And that is how even a villain gets her happy ending.
All she had to do was marry a hero. One with a bit of his own dark side.