Page 140 of Five Days to Be Mine

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Evan, but I love you so much.”

“I love you. You are thoughtful, caring and kind. I love you so much. I'm the lucky one. This has been the best week of my life. You are amazing, and anyone who doesn’t think that? Forget about them. I’ll banish them from our kingdom forever. I’m going to work every day to be the kind of man you deserve.”

I’m wiping tears away from my eyes and gasp as he stops in the middle of the path and kneels.

"Evan?" I don't know what to say and I'm trying to wipe the tears out of my eyes.

“Mara Cotter, will you marry me?”

He is holding out a box with a ring, and I can't believe this is happening. My pulse gallops.

There is only one answer. My heart leaps.

“Yes, Sir Evan, I will.”

He takes my shaking hand and slides the ring on my finger, stands and kisses me.

I melt under his kiss. It’s a kiss of promise and want, a kiss that makes me tingle, a kiss I don’t want to end.

He breaks off the kiss and touches his forehead to mine. "I love you."

“I love you.”

“I love you too. I can’t believe you did that.”

“I can’t wait to keep surprising you.”

I laugh, and it feels good.

He takes my hand in his and we walk out of the dark park together.

“What else did you say to him?”

“I told him to leave you alone, and if I saw that he was on that property again, I’d take legal action.”

I exhale. For years, I had resisted taking any action against my dad because…well, he’s my dad, and I thought it would be fine if I just avoided him, and I didn't want to put my mom through any stress.

But Evan, taking care of it for me, makes me safe. Nobody has ever stood up like that for me.

“Evan, thank you.”

“Not a problem.” Evan holds the car door open. “Get in, princess. I can’t wait to have my way with you, wife-to-be.”

“I’ll go wherever you do. I love you.”

His lips come down hard on mine, and I open, giving him all the access he’s demanding. We kiss, long and slowly, out in the middle of the street, and I don't care where I am as long as I am with this man.

“I love you, too.”

I know I’m the luckiest woman in the whole world, and I can’t wait to see where loving Evan takes me next.

EPILOGUE - EVAN

Iknew they would, but seeing Noel and Theo dote on Mara and welcome her, makes my heart soar.

Julian presses another drink into my hand. “Whose idea was the flame eater?”

“Logan’s. Not that I’ve seen him, yet.”

---