Page 78 of Deception and New Direction

“What’s wrong?” he asked, likely feeling my chills.

“I know you’re trained for stuff like this, butIstill didn’t like it when you lunged atJasonto tackle him to the ground and get the gun away.”

“Babe,” he said to me, lifting my chin up soIcould look in his eyes. “Ifyou think for one minuteIwould let the womanIlove die whenIcould have done something to stop it, you’re wrong.”

“You really do, don’t you?”Iasked him, thoughIalready knew that answer.

“Yeah,Ilove you with everythingIhave in me,” he replied.

“I love you too,Jack.”

“Yeah?” he asked me, rolling on top of me.

I nodded back to him. “Ido.IthinkIalways haveIjust didn’t know it.”

He kissed me long and hard then made love to me again before he wrapped me up in his arms and we fell asleep.

EPILOGUE

RUTHIE

It was my wedding day.Eventhough my parents had a weird marriage andInever really grew up around normal relationships,Ialways had envisioned what my wedding day was like.Thiswas not it.

I had always envisioned marrying a man who loved me unconditionally and the ceremony being filled with a lot of pink.Thosewere the only two things that had stayed true to my dream wedding.

ButIalso realized that my original plan—thought of whenIwas a little girl—to get married in a castle inEnglandwith a horse and carriage, a million flowers everywhere, and possibly a unicorn, was not really whatIneeded.Thereality was way better thanIever could have dreamed up.

The ceremony and reception were taking place on the acreage betweenJack’sandVince’shomes.Wade’sandVince’smothers, who had adopted us all as their own, had helped me arrange everything.Fromcaterers to tent rentals to chairs and lighting.They’dasked me my favorite color—which was obviously pink, thoughIhad added in navy blue to complement it and not make it so overly girly—and they’d taken care of the rest.

I was sitting in the guest room ofJack’shouse—thoughIguess it was my house too now.Iwas standing in front of the long mirror looking at myself in my straplessA-line gown.Itwas a simple satin gown with tiny pink—because why not—beads along the neckline and a pale-pink beaded sash at my waist.

Val, who was now a professional hair stylist, had done both my hair and makeup for me as my wedding present.Ilooked like a fairy princess, andIloved it.

I had madeJackstay the night atArcher’snew place last night so tonight would be at least a little special.He’dcomplained nonstop for a week about my “nonsense rules” but, in the end, did exactly asIasked.

Ellie,Val, andCathad all stayed the night with me, having a low-key bachelorette party at the house.Ihadn’t wanted anything big, plusCatwas heavily pregnant andVincewas adamant that she not overdo it.Iwasn’t bothered by that becauseIhonestly just wanted to spend this quality time with them.

“How are you feeling,Cat?”Iasked her, knowing she had been having a rough pregnancy.

“I’ve been puking since week five of this twenty-seven-month pregnancy,” she replied. “I’mso ready for this little one to come out already.”

“Only two more weeks left, though.You’vegot this,”Elliechimed in, rubbing her own belly.

Ellie had found out only two weeks ago that she was also pregnant.SheandWadewere thrilled andIknewJackwas happy to become an uncle.

That had brought up our conversation about kids.Weknew we both wanted them but had never talked specifics before.

“How many kids do you want?”IaskedJack.

“Don’t care,” he responded. “Aslong as they’re healthy,Idon’t care if it’s one or five.”

I had choked in response to that number. “Umm, we are not having five.”

He chuckled at me, pulling me in for a kiss. “Whateveryou want, sweetheart.”

“Good answer.”

I had so much happiness in my life right now, both within myself and also within my friends’ lives.

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