by Laura Beers
Keeping hold of her hand, he slid to the ground, bending on one knee. “I love you, Alex. I am prepared to fight to win your affections, but please, stay married to me. Don’t leave me.”
“I’m scared, Dawson,” she whispered as tears came to her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“What do you mean?”
She took her hand and wiped away the tear that had fallen onto her cheek. “I’ve never been in love before, and I fear that I might disappoint you.”
“Oh, Alex.” He sat back on the bed and pulled her into his arms. “You could never disappoint me.”
“Men have asked to court me, but I’ve never accepted,” she shared. “I didn’t want to stop working as a Pinkerton agent.”
“If we stay married, then you won’t have to. We can continue to work cases together.”
“And what if you tire of me?”
Hearing the vulnerability in her tone, made his heart sad. She was terrified that he would one day reject her. It was evident that she didn’t realize how much he cared for her.
“To open your heart to another is one of the most daunting, but rewarding, experiences in life.” He leaned back and cupped her cheeks. “I promise that I will never hurt you, Alex Wayne. Please say that you believe me.”
She smiled through unshed tears. “I believe you.”
“Now tell me that you will stay married to me, and we can turn this into a real marriage.”
“Do I have to repeat that horribly long sentence?” she remarked cheekily.
He chuckled. “How about we seal it with a kiss instead?” he asked as he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
“Mmm,” she murmured, after he leaned back. “I find that I enjoy kissing you, husband.”
He waggled his brow. “Now that we are truly married,” he hesitated, “how about we start our honeymoon… now.”
“Now?” she asked, her eyes growing wide.
“Unless you have an objection,” he replied as he placed light kisses down her neck.
She swallowed slowly. “May I say something first?”
“You may, wife,” he said, bringing his gaze back up.
“I’m afraid I am not sure what love is,” she admitted hesitantly.
He leaned back and smiled at her. “You know you are in love when you don’t want to live another day without that person by your side.”
“Oh,” she whispered. “Then I love you, too.”
“Do you mean that, Alex?” he asked, his eyes imploring hers.
Bringing her hand up to cup his right cheek, the longing in her eyes nearly brought him to his knees. “For my entire life, I’ve believed that no one wanted me, but when I’m in your arms, I feel safe and protected. I finally know where I belong, and it’s with you, Dawson Wayne. I belong with you, forever.”
Not wanting to waste another moment, he kissed her, demonstrating without words just how much he loved her.
Epilogue
With her hand securely tucked into the crook of Dawson’s arm, Alexina stepped down the steps of the train and onto the wooden platform in Denver.
“I have a surprise for you,” Dawson said, leaning closer to her.
She arched a brow. “Another one,” she asked, glancing down at her left hand and admiring the gold band. He had surprised her with it three days ago, the morning after they officially started their honeymoon.
“I wired my family, and they agreed to meet us in Denver,” he confessed.
“When did you have time to wire your family?”
He gave her an impish grin. “Yesterday, while you took a nap. I suppose I’ll have to get used to a lazy wife.”
“I rarely take naps.”
“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it, wife,” he teased. “But your actions seem to prove otherwise.”
She laughed. “I am glad I didn’t shoot you.”
“Me too, babykins,” he crooned affectionately. He started leading her toward the far corner of the platform where a large group of people were standing, all with eager, expectant looks on their faces.
Stopping in front of the group, Dawson announced, “I would like you to meet my wife, Alexina.”
An older woman with gray hair stepped forward and embraced her warmly. As she stepped back, she said, “I am Victoria, Dawson’s mother, and it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“How did you convince this lovely lady to marry you, son?” an older version of Dawson asked.
Dawson smirked. “Alexina just begged and begged for me to marry her. Frankly, I felt bad for her, so I agreed to marry her.”
“Is that right, ma’am?” his father asked her in an amused tone.
Alexina grinned. “If I recall correctly, it was the other way around.”
He chuckled. “That sounds about right.” He extended his hand toward her. “I’m Jarod, Dawson’s father.”
“It’s my turn now,” a pretty brunette girl said with a smile on her face. “I’m Alice.”
“How do you do?” she asked politely.
Alice leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Are you a Pinkerton agent, too?”
“I am.”
Her eyes grew wide. “How did you become one? I mean, did you have to take a class or do some training? Is it scary confronting all those bad guys and… ”
“Hold up, little sister,” Dawson said, cutting her off. “Let’s finish the introductions before you start asking Alexina all those questions.” He pointed at the two men standing next to his father. “Allow me to introduce you to my brothers, Donald and Harrison.”
They tipped their heads politely at her.
“I’m sure you are famished after your train ride,” Victoria said. “Why don’t we go get something to eat?”
Placing a hand on the small of her back, Dawson answered, “We would love that, but first we have to check in with the Denver office.”
“I thought you might. Why don’t we meet at Anna’s diner? It is about two blocks from your office,” Jarod suggested.
“That sounds like a plan,” Dawson agreed before he escorted her off the platform.
After Dawson hailed a hansom cab, he remarked, “I apologize for my family. They can be rather intense at times.”
“They’re perfect just the way they are,” she replied, smiling. “I can’t wait to get to know them.”
“I should warn you that Alice now wants to be a Pinkerton agent, and she will ask you thousands of questions about it.”
“I look forward to that.”
Dawson wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tugged her close. “I’m sure glad that I decided to keep you,” he teased.
“Was it because of my fried apples?”
“That may have swayed my decision in your favor.”
Alexina smiled, and she couldn’t remember a time when she had ever been this happy. She felt as if she radiated joy.
The hansom cab pulled up in front of the Denver office, and Dawson assisted her out.
“Did you inform Mr. Gordon about our decision to stay married?”
She shook her head. “No. I just notified him that we would report today.”
“Do you think he will be angry?” Dawson asked, extending his arm.
“I don’t really care,” she replied. “It was my decision.”
“That’s my girl.”
After they knocked on the familiar blue door of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, they were quickly ushered into Archie’s office where he greeted them.
“Welcome back,” he said, pointing toward the two chairs. “I hope your journey back from Hidden Ditch was uneventful.”
“It was delightful,” Alexina shared, sitting down on the chair.
“Good, good,” Archie mumbled, grabbing a file off his desk. He extended it toward her. “The Chicago office has a case for you. You’ll need to go undercover as a pickpocket in hopes of infiltrating a notorious crime ring in Chicago.”
“Unfortunately, that won’t work for us,” Alexina stated, pla
cing the file back onto the desk.
Archie groaned. “Us? Don’t tell me that you two are staying married.”
“We are,” Alexina confirmed, reaching for Dawson’s hand.
“But I thought you said you would never stay married to a man that you barely knew,” Archie pressed.
Alexina smiled over at Dawson. “People can do crazy things when they are in love.”
“Love?” Archie appeared stunned for a moment before directing his next comment to Dawson. “What did you do to Alexina?”
Dawson chuckled. “Nothing.”
“Fine. I’ll send a wire to Hopkins at the Chicago office to ask for Dawson to be transferred there.”
Leaning forward in her seat, she replied, “Actually… we’d prefer to stay in Denver.”
“Are you sure?” Dawson asked, turning toward her. “Chicago is your home.”
She shook her head. “No. Chicago was where I’ve lived for the past ten years. I find that I don’t care where I live as long as I am with you.”
“But I can transfer to Chicago,” he urged.
“True,” she responded with a smile. “But all of our family is near Denver.”
Dawson leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she replied.
Archie cleared his throat. “That was touching, but I do have a case that I can assign you.” He held up a file. “Are you comfortable with tracking down the notorious bank robbers, The Red Bandits?”
“We could do that,” Alexina said, accepting the file.
“Good,” Archie stated as he rose. “I’ll look forward to these men being put behind bars.”
As they walked out of Archie’s office, hand in hand, Alexina’s heart was full. She had a husband whom she adored, a job she loved, and a smile that she couldn’t seem to wipe off her face. For her, life was undeniably perfect.
The End
Other published stories from Laura Beers
The Beckett Files Series
Regency Spy Romances
Saving Shadow
A Peculiar Courtship
To Love a Spy
A Tangled Ruse
A Deceptive Bargain
The Baron’s Daughter
The Unfortunate Debutante
Don’t forget to join us at the Pinkerton Matchmaker Readers Group on Facebook so you can stay up-to-date on all the new releases!
About the Author
Laura Beers attended Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. She is an avid reader, though she was a reluctant convert. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance and loves naps.
Besides being a full-time homemaker to her three kids, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Currently, Laura Beers resides in South Carolina.
You can reach her at [email protected]