“You won!”
“I did,” he gasps out his breath. “I won.”
Someone comes up behind us, but he doesn’t put me down.
“Good game, bro.”
I try to disentangle myself from him, but Sullivan refuses to let loose. “You too.” He holds me with one hand. I feel him offer his other out to his brother.
“This the woman who finally got you?” a female voice speaks.
This time he does let me down.
“Candice, I’d like to introduce you to Shelby Bruce.” He sneaks his arm around my neck. I lean into him, not caring about the sweat sticking to his skin.
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
I notice her and Braylon don’t stand together like we do. Maybe they aren’t as happy as they’d like people to believe.
“Nice to meet you too. I do have to thank you.” I look up at Sully, kissing his jawline.
“Thank me?”
“You let this one go, so I could scoop him up. Your loss, but he’s the best luck I ever had.”
Rowan snorts from behind us, and Sullivan chuckles. “C’mon, Counselor, let’s go get some water.”
“With pleasure.” I hug him tightly, letting him lead me over to the refreshment table.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” he asks after he gulps a bottle of water.
“I think I know.”
“You can’t know.” He tucks his hands in the back pockets of my jeans. “Because no one’s ever stood up for me with my brother the way you just did.”
“It’s my pleasure,” I purr into his ear.
“What’s gonna be my pleasure is seeing these bare-asscheeks bending over as they make me double-chocolate brownies.”
I laugh, not able to ignore the heat between my thighs.
“You want it tonight?” I ask as I move back, biting my lip.
“Yes. Every. Single. Night.”
This man?
Those words?
Best I’ve ever heard.
Epilogue One
Sullivan
My heart swells in my chest as Rowan walks down the aisle toward the man who will be her husband. Standing in front of the church, along with the man who she’ll give herself to, I swallow hard. The dress I helped her pick out looks incredible as it sparkles in the candlelight of the chapel.
As much as I thought she was beautiful then, she’s gorgeous now. The wide smile across her face, the wetness in her eyes, and the sparkle that radiates from inside competes with the one she wears on the outside.
Our dad is like the rest of us in our dress uniforms. Even though he and I don’t always see eye-to-eye, I’m still proud of the awards he wears on his chest.
As they step to the altar, Cutter comes down, holding out his hand for Rowan.
“Who gives this woman to this man?”
“Her family and I do,” Dad answers, before kissing Rowan on the cheek and heading over to where Mom sits.
She wipes at her eyes, which means she’s crying. Mom always cries at important moments in her kids’ lives.
“We are gathered here today...” the preacher starts, and as I listen, I look across the way. My eyes connect with the love of my life.
Shelby smiles softly at me, and I answer it back with one of my own.
The two of us have grown closer since Frank killed himself. It’s a wonder I ever let her out of my sight, but I’ve learned to trust her. She got herself out of the situation as best she could, and then I cleaned it up. Together we’ve worked through the nightmares and fear.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Cutter, you may now kiss your bride.”
We watch them go down the aisle, and then we start pairing up with our bridesmaids to make our way out of the chapel. I come together with Shelby, holding my arm out to her.
“You look beautiful.”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she sasses back.
For hours we pose with the rest of our friends, taking wedding picture after wedding picture. I don’t mind though, because I’m with Shelby.
“It’s been a great day,” Shelby whispers as we dance later at the reception. Her arms are around my neck and we’re swaying to a slow beat.
“Can you see this being us one day?”
She puts her head on my shoulder. “I can, but only when it’s the right time.”
“So you’re in no hurry?”
She shakes her head. “Not at all, I’m ready for whatever you’re ready for.”
“Come with me?”
“You know I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Grabbing her hand, we dash through the crowd out to the balcony. It’s lit up with soft outdoor bulbs, a couple of drinking stations, and what will later on be a packed dance floor. Walking her over to the ledge, we face one another.
“You look beautiful.” I grasp her chin with my forefinger and thumb. “My mind kept wondering throughout the ceremony.”
“Wondering about what?” She beams up at me.
“It kept thinking how much I adore you.” I bend down, capturing her lips with mine.
“Sully.” The name comes out on a whisper before they touch.
It’s a slow possession, one filled with passion and promise. I’m careful to not let it get out of hand. “I have something for you.”
“Do you?” She lifts her eyebrows up in question.
“Yeah.” I grin. “You know you’ve become my best friend, right? I hate sleeping without you, I don’t do well if you aren’t around to wish me a good shift, if possible, I wanna have my lunch and dinner with you. Breakfast too.” She laughs when I add on that little tidbit. “But what I want more than anything is to make that shirt you wear when I’m having SWAT events come true.”
“What?”
I reach into my suit pocket. “When you wear that jersey with the name Baker on it. I want that to be true, Counselor. You’re already my family, but I want to make it official.”
Bending down on one knee, I open the box to the ring that screamed her when I first saw it. “Shelby, will you marry me?”
Her hand covers her mouth, her green eyes sparkling in the night with unshed tears. “It’s beautiful.”
“As beautiful as you are.” My voice shakes as I wait for her to answer. “It’s morganite,” I ramble. “Learned a lot when I was searching for the best for you.”
“Sullivan Baker, you are the best man I’ve ever known. I love you more than I thought possible. Yes, Sully, yes!”
Launching off the ground, I wrap her tightly in my arms, twirling her around. And while we spin, I see the entire reception is watching us through the windows.
“She said yes!” I yell.
The group erupts, family and friends coming out to congratulate us, and as I look across the balcony, locking eyes with the woman of my dreams, I know our future is going to be everything we’ve always wanted. And everything Shelby Bruce deserves.
Epilogue Two
Devante
As has become my habit when I’m working the morning shift, I park the ambulance in front of A Whole Latte Love. “You want anything?” I ask Cutter who’s feverishly texting. Ten bucks says it’s to his brand-new wife, Rowan.