“Can I have everyone’s attention?” I cleared my throat and asked. I watched Ryan and as soon as he heard me his head snapped around in my direction. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he needed to go to the hospital later for whiplash because of how fast his head turned around.
The biggest grin I had ever seen crossed his face and he started for me, but Nanny grabbed him by the back of his shirt. She said something in his ear, and he looked frustrated and pained, but stayed where he was.
“So I know I’m a little late with my speech. I know I should have been there two years ago to give it, but I’d like to give it now,” I stopped and looked at Mace for approval. He nodded his head, giving me the go ahead to continue.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Mace’s dead little sister, Charlotte, but I’m kinda not dead. That’s a long story, for another time. Right now it’s Mace and Araylia’s time, and we should focus on them and their love for one another. Mace, you’ve been through a lot of shit, too much for one person to have to live through. But you came out on the other side, somehow, and on the other side of all that trauma was Araylia. Your shining light. Araylia, you’ve had a lot to deal with as well. Raising a son by yourself and a crazy ex is not easy to deal with, but you managed. The result of a lot of trauma was a beautiful, epic love. A bond that cannot be broken. From the sidelines, I watched Mace and Araylia fall in love and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Araylia, I want to thank you for bringing my brother back from the dark. And Mace, thank you for giving Araylia something to be excited and happy for. I wish y’all a lifetime of happiness, you both deserve it.” I raised my glass to my toast and finished off the rest of it in another gulp.
Both Mace and Ryan were on their way to me when I raised my head again. Mace reached me first and flung me into his chest. He buried his face in my hair and squeezed me hard.
“Mason, can’t breathe,” I gasped out.
“You’re funny if you think I’m letting you go,” he mumbled into my hair.
“You don’t have to let me go, but you do have to let me breathe.” I laughed a little and finally let myself relax enough to wrap my arms around his waist, squeezing him back.
Mace pulled back a few minutes later and held my face in his hands. He had tears glistening in his eyes, and it was hard to witness my big brother break down. When his shoulders started to shake, I pulled him into me again.
“So glad you aren’t dead. So glad you’re here with us today,” he murmured between ragged breaths.
“I’m happy you feel that way,” I laughed through my tears.
“Why would I feel any differently?” He asked. He subtly wiped the tears from his face and gave me a serious look.
“I…I figured you would hate me for doing what I did,” I stuttered, looking away from him.
He caught my cheek in his hands and forced my eyes to his. “I could never hate you, Charlotte. For the longest time I thought you would hate me for not being there when you were ‘killed’. I thought you would hate me for not being there when you needed me the most,” Mace admitted, breaking my heart.
“Using your words against you, I could never hate you. After everything happened that night, I was so fucking glad you weren’t there. You could have been killed and I would have been parentless and brother-less. You kept me going for so long. Knowing you were alive kept me alive. I am so happy you were gone that night.”
He released a pent up breath, and kissed my forehead.
“Love you, little girl,” he whispered my nickname.
“Love you, but I’m pretty sure we can agree I’m not a little girl anymore.” I chuckled.
“Still a little girl in my eyes.”
I glared at him and he kept a straight face, not giving anything off. Finally, I huffed and gave up. When I turned my eyes away from Mace, I caught sight of Ryan. He was standing a few feet away, with a happy smile on his face. He had his thick arms crossed over his broad chest and looked like he was waiting patiently.
I glanced back at Mace and subtly nodded my head in Ryan’s direction, indicating I wanted to go to him. I didn’t need his permission, but I wanted to make sure he was okay with me leaving him for a moment to have a talk with Ryan. I wanted to make sure Mace was done with his reunion for the time being. He nodded and kissed me on the cheek before walking over to Ryan with me.
Ryan glanced nervously at Mace, suspecting that words were going to be said.
“You have my permission to date her, but if you hurt her I will kill you. You’re like a brother to me, but she’s my sister and I just got her back. Don’t fuck up,” Mace warned.
Ryan nodded his head, staying silent until Mace walked away and wrapped his arms around Araylia’s waist. I turned back to look at Ryan, and my nerves started to grow again. We ended on a horrible note, but I was hoping that the letter I had sent him would change things.
Ryan stalked toward me, and took my cheeks in his large hands. He gazed into my eyes before speaking.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he whispered, moving in closer.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” I mumbled back.
One of his hands moved to the back of my neck and the other moved into my hair. His face was inches from mine, so close I could feel his breath against my lips.
“Where do we go from here?” I asked on a whisper.
He didn’t answer me; instead he moved the few inches closer and fused his mouth to mine. I took that as a good sign. I gripped his waist and opened my mouth to him, waiting for his tongue to touch mine. It did and I swear it felt like I was coming home. I moaned in his mouth, and kissed him back with fever. I never thought I would get this opportunity again, and now that it was here I was never going to take it for granted. I would never take Ryan for granted. You never knew when something or someone could be taken away from you.
Sloane – 3 months later
I glanced at the picture sitting on our nightstand and smiled. It was a picture of Ryan and I at Araylia and Mace’s wedding. My hands were around Ryan’s shoulders and he was looking down at me with a smirk on his face. I was looking up at him with a glare, but if you looked close enough at the picture you could see that I really wanted to smile at him. I had a hint of a smile at my lips. It was one of my favorite pictures of us. I had it put on my nightstand so I could look at it every morning when I woke up and every night before I went to sleep.
The last few months had been crazy. I had been welcomed back into the fold with open arms. I had been relocated to the FBI branch closer to Palm Coast, where we lived. Mace and Ryan were overjoyed when I shared that news with them. On the side I had been doing the desk work at Jones’ Security again. The guys were ecstatic that I came back to do that work for them. Apparently it was too difficult for them to do a little paperwork. I rolled my eyes at the thought. Seriously, it wasn’t that hard.
What they didn’t know is that that was about to be my full time job. Yup, I was quitting the FBI. That was the smaller part of the good news. I couldn’t wait to share all my good news with Ryan.
Not long after I came back, Ryan convinced me to move in with him. He had said he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I told him no anyway. He was shocked and hurt, to say the least. I then softened the blow by telling him that he could move in with me. The house that I used when I was here before was still for rent when I moved back so I had started renting it again. Ryan moved in with me and began renovating the house. He wanted at least two other rooms, plus he wanted to finish wrapping around the porch. He was almost finished, but not quite. There was still a little work to be done.
“Sloane, baby, are you ready?” Ryan called from somewhere in the house.
I had legally changed my name to Sloane. That was who I felt like, Sloane. I didn’t feel like Charlotte anymore. Charlotte had died that night when her parents did. I had taken on the name Sloane when I started doing undercover cases, and I wanted to keep it. Plus, it was kind of confusing for Mace to cal
l me Charlotte when his daughter was around. So legally I was now Sloane Jones. Hah, it kind of rhymed.
“Yeah, give me a second.” I yelled back. I touched the picture frame one more time and walked out of our bedroom to meet Ryan in the kitchen. He had told me a few days again that he wanted to have a date night.
“Ready,” I smiled, holding my arms out at my side.
Ryan growled and strode to me and took my mouth in a searing kiss.
“What was that for?” I asked breathlessly.
“Cause I love you,” he told me, stroking my cheek tenderly.
“I love you,” I whispered back against his lips.
“Why don’t you say ‘too’?” He asked
“Too what?” I asked
“I love you, too,” he cleared up my confusion.
I made on O with my mouth and ducked my head in embarrassment. I felt my reasoning for not saying too was stupid, but I went on to explain anyway.
“I feel like saying ‘I love you, too’ takes away from the love. I don’t love you too, I just love you. It means more to me not to say too,” I informed him.
My cheeks heated up and I tried ducking my head again, but he caught my face and turned my eyes to his again.
“Beautiful,” he whispered.
“What is?” I asked.
“The way you think, Killer. It’s beautiful.”
I smiled and kissed him lightly on the mouth. I pulled away and smirked at his growl.
“We have a date remember?”
“We could just say fuck the date, and I could bend you over the counter right here.” Ryan offered with a dark look in his eyes.
“No we can’t. I have some important news for you and you said this date was special.”
“Alright,” he sighed dramatically and took my hand as we headed out of the front door.
I headed for the truck, but he steered me in the opposite direction, confusing me. “Why are we going over here?” I asked.
“Because this is where our date is.”
I smiled at his thoughtfulness and started rethinking his offer to bend me over the counter. That could technically count for a date, right? We rounded the house and I sighed in pleasure looking at my favorite spot on the whole house. The side porch with my swing. Ryan had placed a few candles on the railing and put a throw blanket on the back of the swing since the chill had started to creep in.
He helped me up the stairs and sat me down on the swing then wrapped the blanket around my shoulders. He, however, didn’t sit down next to me. I looked at him, confused until he got down on one knee in front of me. A gasp found its way out of my mouth and my hand flew to my mouth.
“Sloane, you know I love you so much. We have gone through so much shit to get here now, and I want to take it one step further. I want to give you my last name, and want you to wear my ring on your finger. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to put my babies in you. I want to sit on this swing 25 years from now watching our grandchildren run around. So, Sloane Jones, will you marry me?” He asked, pulling a ring out of his pocket and presenting it to me.
I bobbed my head up and down so many times that my neck began to hurt.
“Yes?” He asked.
“Yes! Yes, yes yes, a thousand times yes!” I squealed and jumped down on top of him. I peppered kisses all over his face and hugged him tightly to my body.
He chuckled and pulled away long enough to slip a gold band with one diamond sitting on it. It was simple, yet elegant and so me.
Ryan maneuvered us up and on the swing, pulling the blanket back around my shoulders. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into him. I rested my head against his shoulder, and looked out at the stars. I started thinking about the kind of wedding I wanted, and started planning it out in my head. I was so damn excited.
“Sloane Huntley,” Ryan mumbled, rolling the name around on his tongue, trying it out.
I smiled and said, “You’re damn right.”
He chuckled and kissed my temple. We sat in silence for a long time, just cuddling with each other and looking out at the stars. It was a beautiful night, despite the cold. Suddenly, I remember the news I needed to share with him.
“So do you want the good news or the great news first?” I asked, praying he would say the good news first. I was a firm believer in saving the best for last. And the great news was the best news in my opinion.
“Good news,” he said.
I did a little happy dance in my head, thankful that he said good news. When I was done with my dance, I turned around to face him and took his hands in my lap.
“So I talked with the FBI and told them that I would be putting in my two weeks’ notice. So in two weeks I will no longer be an agent!” I squealed, almost clapping my hands together in excitement.
Ryan grabbed my cheeks and squeezed them together then kissed my mouth long and hard. “Are you serious, Killer? No more cases or working away from home?” He asked.
I nodded and kissed him back with just as much passion. He pulled away abruptly.
“You said good or great news first? Are your sure there is anything better than not being an agent?” He asked, laughing.
“Oh I’m sure there is better news,” I teased.
“Well what is it?” He asked impatiently.
“We’re pregnant,” I whispered.
Ryan didn’t move or make a sound. I was suddenly nervous. I thought he would be happy with the news of having a baby.
“You’re shittin’ me?” He said, stunned.
“Nope. Araylia told me I was about seven weeks along.”
“Holy fucking shit! We’re having a baby!” Ryan pulled me fully into his lap and squeezed the shit out of me. I released a sigh of relief that he was happy. That was all I wanted in life, to make him as happy as possible. To be together and be happy. To continue to grow as a couple. To make babies together. And just be together. He was my missing piece. All those years ago when my parents were murdered pieces of myself were scattered along the way and Ryan picked those pieces up and mended them, but there was still something missing. That something being him. He was my missing piece, and I couldn’t be happier that I had found him.
The End
(For real this time)
Acknowledgments
First I want to thank God. It wouldn’t have been possible without him.
Second, my husband. Honey, you have been supportive of my dream the entire time. Thank you for that. I love you ten times more than you’ll ever say, with all my heart and soul! <3
Kim, my editor, best friend, and twin. I love you! Thank you for taking care of my baby and treating her right. I would never trust someone with my book as much as I trust you with it. You have done so much for me, so thank you! Love you honey! <3
My PA, Claire. Girl, you are amazing! Seriously freaking amazing. I have no idea what I would do without you. You know what I need before I even do. Thank you for sticking with me through the late nights/early mornings. You truly are a gem. <3
My betas, thank you for taking a chance on a fresh author. Thank you for taking care of my millionth child, as if it were your own! Y’all are the shit. Love you!
My Vixens! Holy shit, I don’t even know what to say to y’all. There are no words to express my gratitude to y’all. Thank you so much for y’all’s help. Oh, ha, and thank you for the inspiration! ;) Flove your asses!
My readers, you are the reason I am where I am today. Y’all inspire me to continue writing. Your words of encouragement mean the absolute world to me. Thank you for taking a chance on a new author and loving my men as much as I do. I can’t thank you enough. Love y’all! <3
Bloggers, you guys are seriously amazing! If it weren’t for y’all’s hard work, I wouldn’t be where I am at either. Thank you for the reviews, kind comments, and help when it was needed. Keep up the AMAZING work! Thank you! <3
Playlist
Not a Bad Thing – Justin Timberlake
We Can Make Love – So
Mo
I’m Like A Bird – Nelly Furtado
A Drop In The Ocean – Ron Pope
Lego House – Ed Sheeran
Slow Love – Michael Alvarado
About The Author
H.S. Strickland is from a small town in South GA called Brunswick. She moved to SC when she was in her early teens and just recently made the move to Florida. She dragged her daughters, husband, and kitty along with her. H.S. has always had a passion for reading, but recently starting writing, although it has always been a dream. Her Nanny always told her to follow her dreams, which is how she got into writing. That and her characters were nagging to have their stories told. If you can't find H.S. behind the keyboard making magic, you will find her chasing her daughters around the house. If not that then curled in her big red comfy chair reading. She loves alpha-males who are almost ass holes, but still have a sweet spot for their woman. She has loved the entire journey to where she is now and couldn't thank y'all enough!
Connect with H.S. Strickland
Website: www.authorhs.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorhope
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HSStrickland12
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/hopiesierra
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