Page 98 of Whiteout

“Is that Kayleigh?”

“Yeah, she insisted on coming when I told her what happened, but I think she just wants to check you out. Their flights were only fifteen minutes apart, too.”

“How convenient.” He smirked. “This is not how I planned on meeting your folks.”

“You saved me, so you’re their hero.”

He didn’t, though. Breanna saved herself.

“That’s pretty fucking good the way I see it.”

His fiery princess. He was lucky, and not just because he was alive. Ian got to be the man who loved her.

“Potty mouth.”

“You love it.”

“I do.” He smirked, waggling his brows. “Now, come here.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Don’t care. I need you next to me.” Careful not to pull on his IV, Breanna climbed onto the bed. He kissed her, soft and sweet. “I love you, princess.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

Caressing her cheek, Ian gazed into fairytale eyes. “Let’s get married.”

“Are you proposing?”

It’s now how he planned to do it, but then life is too short to wait, right? “Yeah.”

“You haven’t even asked me out on a date yet.”

“I think we’re past that part, aren’t we?” Ian raised his brow.

Breanna grinned, her forehead touching his. “Never.”

“So, if I buy you flowers and take you to dinner, then will you marry me?”

“There’s a very good chance I will.” She giggled.

I know you will, princess.

“I’m going to take that as a yes.”

Five years later.

Ian gazed at his princess, his beautiful wife, nursing their three-month-old son.

She did marry him. The day he got the green light from his physician, he drove to Portland and took her on that date. And a year after they met, as snow softly fell on the lantern-lit deck, they spoke their vows to each other.

Breanna got that internship with Penguin and published her father’s novel, just as she said she would. She wrote the foreword herself. It was a New York Times bestseller. Posthumously, Shane achieved what he’d always aspired to be.

Ian leaned over from behind her, gently stroking his son’s dark hair, he kissed Breanna’s crown. “Everyone’s waiting for us.”

“I know.” She smiled up at him. “He’s about finished.”

“Good, because Daddy’s starving.” He winked.

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