Really, it’s a light jog.
I head down the driveway into the cul-de-sac and race up the neighborhood street. Gated and safe, no irksome bodyguard named Tony needed.
Cold slices my lungs, and I keep pace, reaching the long, winding driveway of the Cobalt Estate. My childhood home.
Naked tulip trees frame the driveway, and I take a single breath before ascending the path. Thatcher was invited to an Outlander marathon with Eliot and Audrey. Since he was off-duty tonight, he agreed to go. I love that he’s spending time with my siblings like they’re his own.
Sentiments whirl around me. Fuel me.
I run harder.
I’m out of breath as I reach the ornate fountain that guards a castle-like mansion. Icicles drip off the stone fountain, but its not frozen solid. The sound of rushing water calms my spinning brain, and I text Thatcher to meet me outside.
Fifteen seconds later, the door swings open, and Thatcher emerges, all six-foot-seven of him. Bold and quiet and assertive.
“Thatcher,” I greet deeply.
“Jane,” he says just as fully. He assesses me in a sweep. Lingering on my bare feet, pajamas, and lack of coat in the winter. He’s already removing his brown leather jacket while he closes the door behind him.
I can barely contain what aches and pleads to explode out of me. My breath smokes the air as he approaches. Towering above.
I crane my neck to look up.
He stares down and places his warm jacket on my shoulders.
“Thank you,” I breathe, slipping my arms through the big sleeves that engulf my frame. I hug the jacket around me, his scent dizzying. “I just…” I inhale. “There’s so much I want to tell you.”
A sliver of space separates him from me. Tension beckoning us to draw skin-to-skin. Neither crosses the distance, because once we do this will turn into raw, desperate passion. Our lips together, bodies fused—and right now, words must come first.
He seizes my gaze, with me to the end. Ready for whatever grenade I toss, but this one won’t blow us to pieces.
And I gush, “I need you. I need you like the air I breathe, and I want you like ground beneath my feet. I’m not afraid—I’m not afraid, not even a little. You are the man who has respected all of who I am and protected every little piece of me.”
His chest lifts in a strong breath. We stare powerfully, not wasting a moment to blink.
“You keep me whole,” I profess. “And love—that dreaded, beautiful word—love.” I breathe, “Love is two wholes. We are two-hundred percent—an illogical number, maddening, and I will forever embrace every illogical, maddening second with you.” Tears threaten to surge.
We’ve drawn closer, touching without touching.
“I love you, I love you, I love you.” It pours out of me. “Je’taime, je’taime, je’taime.” He’s already clasping my face, and I’m in his arms, legs wrapped around his waist. Our foreheads nearly press together, and his lips skim over my lips.
“Jane.” My name is cast in love.
We kiss, so intensely that the cold breath in my lungs sparks into flames. For the longest time, out of all the March sisters in Little Women—I aspired to be Jo. Fiercely independent with career passions and desires far outside a household.
It turns out, all along, I resisted against being Meg. I want to be a wife and to one day raise children, a life as traditional as they come, and that ending is as worthy as any other.
We stare deeply into each other. His hands beneath the backs of my thighs, my fingers woven behind his neck.
I take a deeper, stronger breath. “Mr. Moretti, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
His mouth breaks apart. He looks stunned.
“I’m asking you to marry me,” I clarify.
He smiles. Ladies and gentlemen, a full-blown smile that overtakes his face.
My lips pull to extraordinary heights. Happiness swelling between us.
“I know what that was.” He places me gently on my bare feet.
Fountain still rushing beside us.
I don’t understand what he’s doing until he drops down to one knee. And he unpockets a paperclip, twisting the metal between his fingers into a little ring, and I laugh, tears pricking my eyes.
My steepled fingers touch my lips.
His eyes are reddened, and he holds up the paperclip ring. “Yes. My answer will always be yes.” He slides the ring onto my finger. “Sempre toujours.”
Always always.
He stands back up and lifts me effortlessly. I’m in his arms again. Kissing, and my heart is overcome with a thousand words. Branded on his lips, on his body and soul.
Our kiss ignites fires. Melts snow and burns the grounds beneath our feet. It is filled with epic, soul-crushing love. And we’re armored for whatever storm comes next.
I hope and plead that nothing will ever tear us apart.
42
THATCHER MORETTI
A single beam of morning light slips through blinds, through cheetah-print curtains, and glides across Jane’s cheek as she sleeps soundlessly. I lean midway up the headboard, holding her against my chest while her arms curl around my bicep.
I don’t move a muscle. I could stay right here all day long.
And the fact is—I can.
Nowhere else I have to be, not until tonight at least. Wednesday. I’m off-duty thanks to Donnelly, picking up the extra slack with Xander.
He told me, “You’ve got a Wednesday Night Dinner to prepare for. First non-Cobalt to walk those hallowed halls. Do us proud, man.”
Her parents invited me to the mysterious and legendary dinner party. But only after they admitted to knowing about the twin switch…and they knew from the moment Banks dodged their calls.
And they didn’t tell the Tri-Force.
Rose said to Jane and me, “We kept the secret because that’s obviously what you both wanted, and it’s just a morbid fact that you didn’t trust us and decided to keep us out of the loop.” She seemed hurt but layered on a cold glare.
“You’re close to Price,” Jane explained in a rush. “We were worried you’d tell the Alpha lead.”
Rose frowned. “Of course we trust Price, but that does not mean we’d put him above you. I’m sorry if your dad and I made you feel like we would.” She held her daughter’s hands. “We will always choose you first. You’re my blood and bones.”
Jane hugged her mom.
I looked to Rose, then to Connor. “I’m sorry for lying. It wasn’t our intention.” I explained briefly how we thought it’d just be a short week.
“You’re dating our daughter,” Connor said like that had made all the difference during the switch. “I recognize that Jane didn’t know how this would go since she’s the first of my children to be in a serious relationship. But know now that there’s a hierarchy.” His lip rose in a grin. “Many people need me, but there are only a handful that I’d drop everything for—and you’re now among them.” He cocked a single brow. “Just so you understand: you rank higher than security, and I would lie for you, if needed.”
He’d lie for me.
That knowledge still whirls my head.
“Lastly,” Connor said, “don’t apologize for trying to deceive me, but I will accept an apology for failing.”