"Hey, Leigha, are you enjoying yourself?" he asks.
Her smile widens. "Of course, it's the perfect night—magical," she says with a wink.
Alex chuckles. "Mind if I steal Kylie away for a dance?"
"Not at all."
Alex slides his hand into mine, maneuvers us through the tables, and onto the center of the dance floor. The music starts and Alex wraps his arm around my waist, kisses my hand, and draws my body tightly against him. We sway to the guitar intro. So far, we're the only ones on the dance floor, and no one looks like they're going to join us.
"Why isn't anyone else dancing?" I whisper in Alex's ear.
He glances around. "Maybe they’re taking a break." He pulls me in close again, nuzzles close to my ear, and sings the lyrics softly, "I won't give up on love…"
I close my eyes, let the words consume me—now more meaningful coming from Alex. The party slips away, and nothing exists outside the two of us, the music, and the promise of true love forever.
True love.
I never really believed it existed—never thought it was actually possible—until Alex. He turns so many things I thought about love upside down. Alex is my one true love, he owns my heart, and I trust him to cherish it and keep it safe.
I think about my parents, the lives they had together and apart, and mourn for them. My mom left for something better and has spent years jumping from one marriage to the next, each relationship doomed from the start, and never understanding love is giving as much as receiving.
My dad—he wasted his life grieving a lost love, unable to accept he'd been duped into thinking they shared an unbreakable bond. He never tried to find someone new to love, who would love him in return—accept him for who he was and what he could offer. He died the day my mother walked out the door, a ghost of the man I knew as a young child.
And then it hits me—the love Alex and I share is so rare. Not everyone experiences love this deep. Love that slips into the heart, and lives in the soul, and becomes as life-sustaining as breathing air. I have that, and I will never take it for granted.
Alex leans his head back, gazes into my eyes. "I once told you that our lives were perfect just as they are—that I didn't want or need more. I was wrong. I need you—by my side forever. I want to give you everything, my heart, my soul, my life. All my love. Vow to protect your heart and your love, and I want my vow to be binding."
I'm breathless.
"Marry me."
Every part of my body tingles. I'm paralyzed, physically and mentally. Alex is staring at me, his eyes soft, but also wary.
"You want to marry me?" My mouth is suddenly dry, and I can barely manage a whisper.
He smiles, and his gaze never leaves mine. Nothing feels real. My head is swimming. Am I breathing?
"Marry me, Kylie," he asks again.
This can't be real…can it?
"Ky—"
Adrenaline surges through me.
"Yes!"
For the first time in my life, I'm certain of what the future holds. My future is in front of me. "Yes, Alex, I'll marry you."
Epilogue
"Reyes," the patrol officer manning the front desk bellows.
"Yeah?" I bark back.
"I think you need to take this phone call."
I glance up from my computer screen and look at him. He better not be interrupting Candy Crush for some bullshit he doesn't want to deal with. "Yeah, all right, transfer it back here."
My desk phone rings, and I grab the receiver, "Sergeant Reyes."
"Hey, it's Turner." Kevin Turner is one of my buddies from high school. We still keep in touch since we both went into law enforcement—just different areas. Turner's a guard at the state pen for as long as I've been on the police force.
"Hey, man, it's been a while. How's life with convicts?"
"Stimulating as ever," he quips. "Except we have one less—escapee from the infirmary. Someone you know."
That catches my attention. The hair at the back of my neck lifts, and a chill runs through me. I've put many men in prison, but I have a feeling I know who's escaped. "Who?"
"James Wells.”
I knew it. I run my hand down my face. "Christ, when did this happen?"
"A few hours ago. The Warden's trying to keep a tight lid on it. The marshals have been called in, but nothing's gone public yet. Thought I'd give you a heads up, though."
I take a deep breath. "Thanks, I owe you. Call me so we can get together for a beer or two—I'm buying."
"Well, you've got yourself a date," Turner jokes, and then hangs up the phone.
I drop back in my seat and try to wrap my brain around this. Fucking poetic justice—Kylie works her ass off to keep Wells in prison, and a month later, he slips out and is free. Considering how things have ended up with her, I'm not sure if I give a shit. If it were just Stone affected by this, I wouldn't care, but—damn—that woman is still under my skin.
I'm not obligated to tell anyone about this, we have nothing to do with the case at the moment. So, why do I feel the need to let Kylie know? Because she could be in danger, and I want her to be on the lookout? If Wells is smart, he's on his way out of the country.
I pick through the leftover pizza in the breakroom, and grab a slice of pepperoni, so cold there's an orange layer of grease covering the meat and cheese.
Am I so desperate to talk to her again, I'm looking for any excuse to get in contact with her? That's probably closer to reality, but I don't want to deal with it right now.
One of the other unfortunate detectives tagged for duty tonight comes in, shakes snow off his jacket, and hangs it on the hook in his cubicle.
"Snowing out there?" I ask, take a bite of pizza, and quickly regret that decision as the grease coats my tongue.
"How'd ya know? You must be a detective or something?"
"The best one here," I state, and puff out my chest for added effect.
He snickers. "Right, that's why you pulled the shittiest duty of the year."
"Fuck you." He blows me a kiss.
I toss the pizza in the trash and take a sip of the coffee hoping it will somehow get rid of the disgusting taste in my mouth. "Where've you been?" I ask.
He grunts. "Up to the state looney bin. Some doctor misplaced one of his patients, and they asked me to come look in all their closets. Didn't find him and had to drive all the way back since it's not our jurisdiction anymore."
My stomach drops as if I swallowed a fifty-pound boulder. "What's the patient's name?"
"Uh," he pulls out his note pad, "John Sysco. It looks like he just walked right out the front door, and no one stopped him."
"Do they think he has an accomplice?" Sweat covers my body, and I'm breathing fast now.
"Has to—surveillance camera shows him in street clothes. Don't know how he got them, no one suspicious visited him twenty-four hours prior to him leaving."
I take a deep breath, and exhale.
"I heard the dude's loaded," the detective says. "He's probably on some tropical beach, never to be seen again."
"Yeah," I mutter, "probably right."
I head back to my desk, sit, and stare at the wall. Sysco and Wells both escape on the same day—hadn't expected that. It's too much of a coincidence for them not to be cohorts. I wasn't aware they even knew each other, although, they share a thirst for revenge and a severe hate for Alex Stone—something I can relate to very well.
I glance at my watch. Almost midnight. The party's still underway at Stone's, I'm sure. Matt Gaines got an invite, so he'll be there, rubbing elbows with the rich, and fundraising for his next campaign.
I pull up my text messages, and shoot one off to Matt.
Are you still at Stone's party?
Yes, he replies.
I hesitate. I'm pretty sure Matt figured out my feelings, so this just makes me look pathetic. Is Kylie there?
You mean the soon-to-be Mrs. Stone? Yes, she's here, and sporting the Hope diamond on her ring finger.
Fuck!
A picture pops on my screen, that bastard Stone putting a ring on Kylie's finger, and her smiling like this is something to be happy about. I'm pretty sure I'm going to blow chunks.
Something up? Matt asks.
My blood is boiling, and the last thing I want to do is give them a heads up of what may be coming around the bend. It's not my problem. She's not my problem. They'll figure it out when Wells and Sysco show up.
Nothing that can't wait.
I toss the phone on the desk. She's engaged to that prick! I pick up my phone, find the name in my contact list, and type another message.
Alex Stone and Kylie Tate just got engaged. Thought you'd want to know.
I press send and turn off my phone.
Happy fucking New Year.
About the Author
Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains, Anne L. Parks has moved all over the United States with her Navy husband. Legally trained, she switched careers and followed her dream of becoming an author. When not writing, she spends her time reading, doing yoga, mountain biking, and spoiling her German Shepherd, Zoe. And drinking wine.
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Parks loves to create stories with mystery, plenty of twists and turns, and loaded with suspense. With a background in criminal defense and a military husband, she feels right at home amongst highly trained, somewhat jaded, ready-to-take-out-the-bad-guys alpha males and the strong, brave women who love them, but can also handle whatever life throws at them. Murders, terrorists, courtroom drama…if it touches on the dark nature of humanity, Parks is unafraid of delving into the depths of depravity—and bringing her readers along for the ride.
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Website: annelparks.com
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/181507340145603/
Also by Anne L. Parks
Kylie Tate Romantic Thrillers
Malevolent
Revenge
Vindication
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Return To Me (Romantic Suspense)
The Return
Return To Newport
Lauren’s Return
Returning Home
RSVP (A Return To Me Christmas Wedding Novella)
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The 13 (Military Romance), Part of Susan Stoker’s Operation Alpha World
Mia
Ritt
Mason
Ben
John
Lucas
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Stand Alone Novels
Conrad (Military Romance) Part of Elle James Brotherhood Protectors World
Retribution, Silent Cove #2
Strangers
Revenge Page 24