I smile through my tears. “I’ve seen that,” I whisper. “And he’s already taking such good care of me.”
“Because I love you,” Charlie says, walking into the room and overhearing our conversation. “And I’m always going to look after you.”
In the days ahead, Charlie more than proves his words. He attends the funeral home with me, helping to confirm arrangements. And on the day of the funeral, he never leaves my side. At night, he holds me close as I cry a river, encouraging me to let it all out, never once asking for anything for himself.
Days turn to weeks, and life slowly goes on. I return to the office to discover Corrinna Smith has been fired. Charlie asks if I want my old role back, but I decline. Now that we are officially a couple, I think it’s best we work in separate divisions within the company.
A month after Dad’s death, I feel strong enough to return to the house. Charlie has gradually moved all my things over to his place, but I still need to go through Dad’s stuff. Charlie, Abby, Drew, and Kai help me pack up the house, and it’s cathartic even though it’s heartbreaking.
I’m not sure what to do with the house.
All I know is I don’t want to sell it yet. It’s been in my family for over a hundred years, and it’s the house where I grew up and Dad grew up, so I’m not ready to part with it. Maybe, I never will be. All I know for sure is I can’t live there now. The ghosts of the past are too prevalent, and I can’t bear to live there without Dad.
So, I settle into Charlie’s house. Sharing his bedroom and his life. Getting to know Elizabeth and Lillian and forming bonds with my new family.
It’s the fresh start I so desperately need, and, as the weeks turn to months, gradually the constant ache in my chest becomes less intense.
EPILOGUE
Charlie
Tears glisten in Demi’s eyes, but this time, they’re happy tears. “Yes, you beautiful, complicated man. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Thank fuck. I climb to my feet, slide the engagement ring on her finger, and kiss the shit out of her, and then, I sweep her in to my arms, swinging her around as warmth invades every part of me. Demi’s presence in my life has banished the cold, empty feeling that used to reside inside me, infusing me with warmth and light and more joy than I thought I’d ever experience.
She lights up my life in so many ways, and I never believed love could be like this. She is my whole world, and I can’t ever imagine living without her.
She laughs, and the sound does funny things to my insides. Demi was a shell of herself for months as she struggled with grief. I’ve had recent experience with it too, so I knew to let her process it in her own time, and I just tried to be here for her, in whatever capacity she needed.
Mom has been amazing with her, and they have bonded in a way I only dreamed of. Mom is still grieving too, but having Demi around has been good for both of them. And Lil loves her to bits. They hang out a lot, go shopping, and have spa days, and I know Lil’s confiding in Demi about boys and shit I really don’t want to know. It’s as if she’s always lived here, and she’s helping fill the gap left by Dad’s larger-than-life presence.
Uncle George was put away for a few years, and I feel good that I had Xavier send a file anonymously to the police. That is one less monster walking the streets preying on innocent kids.
But the elite threat is all too real, and now, I’m a full member of Parkhurst, along with my friends, we fully intend on doing something about it. It’s clear President Hamilton wants to keep us close so he can control us, but he underestimates our determination. None of us will rest easy until they’ve all been taken down. For now, protecting Demi and keeping her and my family safe is my sole priority.
“You make me so happy,” she murmurs, drawing me out of my mind. I banish all thoughts of elite shit as I place her feet on the ground, focusing on the beautiful woman circling her arms around my neck.
“You make me happy too, babe.” I rub my nose against hers. “Especially when you’re naked and spread wide open on my bed.” I waggle my brows as blood rushes to my cock, swelling it instantly. It’s just as well I moved my bedroom over to the other side of the house, far from innocent ears, because we’ve used the last six months to get better acquainted under the sheets.
Demi has readily handed over responsibility for her sexual satisfaction to me, and I’ve enjoyed pushing her out of her comfort zone as we explore new desires. I think she’s happy to lose herself in me every night because it’s a distraction from her grief, and I’ve loved showering her with pleasure and reminding her that life is still very much for living.
No matter how often I have her, whether it’s rough sex or intimate lovemaking, I am never sated because I cannot get enough of this woman. Every experience is a new experience, and I crave her body in a way I’ve never known.
She playfully swats at my chest. “We’re not wasting that gorgeous dinner, and I want a PG-rated memory I can share with our future children.”
I grab her ass cheeks, pulling her pussy tight against my hard-on. “We can eat dinner, and I’ll give you that romantic proposal story for our kids and grandkids, but I’m having you for dessert.” I nip at her earlobe, and she shrieks.
“Damn you, Charlie.” She smacks my ass. “Now, I’ll be squirming eating dinner.”
We grab a couple of selfies before reluctantly leaving the lighthouse. They don’t usually allow visitors into the actual lighthouse, but, like most things in life, flashing the cash worked, and they granted me permission to propose to my girl here.
“Did my dad tell you he proposed to my mom here?” Demi asks as we stroll hand in hand toward the parking lot.
“He did.” I glance at her, hoping this won’t upset her. “I was planning on proposing to you six months ago, and your dad helped me plan it.”
She slams to a halt, pressing a hand to her chest as tears well in her eyes. “He knew?” she whispers.
I nod, placing my hands on her hips. “I asked him for your hand in marriage, and he gave us his blessing. I was looking for someplace special to propose, and he told me how he proposed to your mom here, and I knew this was the place.” I pull her into my arms and turn us so we’re facing the lighthouse. “I think we’ll have to make it a formal family tradition. One we pass on to our children. What do you think?”
“I think I love you so much my heart is fit to burst.”
“Ditto, Mrs. Barron.” I press my mouth to hers. Our kiss is slow and sensual, and a deep sense of contentment fills me as her love wraps around me.
“I’m not Mrs. Barron yet,” Demi rasps when we finally tear our mouths apart.
“I’m hoping you will be soon,” I admit, linking our fingers together. “I’d like a short engagement because I can’t wait to officially call you mine.”
“There’s no need to wait,” she agrees. “I’m dying to marry you.”
I kiss her more passionately this time, rocking my hips against hers so she feels what she does to me.
“We’d better leave before I throw caution to the wind and let you take me here,” she murmurs against my lips.