Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“You love me?”
“I’ve loved you since you sat down next to me at the club, Loretta Lamb.”
“For that long?”
“Yes,” he says in a tender tone. “I’ve never been in love before so I fucked up along the way, but I’m here for the long haul if you’ll have me.”
“I’ll have you,” I say eagerly. “Will I be here for the long haul? I know your friend said I’d be fine, but I don’t always feel great. Maybe you can check on my heart.”
“We have.” He kisses my lips softly. “You’ll need more tests, but we suspect you may have something called CPVT.”
“It’s treatable, though?”
He trails a finger over my collarbone. “If you do have it, you’ll need to get a device implanted that will regulate your heartbeat.”
“A device?” I stare at his lips before my gaze moves to his eyes. “Like Dax has?”
He nods. “Your father has it, too. He was diagnosed with CPVT before you were born. He told me that today.”
“I had no idea.”
“He’ll explain it to you,” he assures me. “Once you’re stronger.”
“When can I go home?”
“Never.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“I want you to move in with me,” he tells me. “The extra bedroom can be your studio. Or if you like, I’ll move in with you, but…”
“No,” I interrupt him. “I want to move in to your apartment. You have that claw foot tub, and that big bed.”
“We’ll handle all of that before you’re discharged.”
I tap my hand on the bed. “Hold my hand, Gaines.”
He does as asked, scooping mine into his. He leans down to press his lips to my wrist.
“I love you too,” I whisper. “I fell in love with you when you told me your name was Garin.”
“You’ll marry me one day.” He smiles softly. “It doesn’t have to be soon, but one day, lamb. One day.”
“One day soon.” I bite my bottom lip. “I’ll marry you.”
“Will it be my turn to talk to her soon?”
I sob when I hear the voice calling out from the doorway. “Is that Lynton?”
“He’s here.” Gaines stands straighter. “He’s a great guy.”
“He’s my best friend.” I smile. “Don’t tell Pen that.”
“It’s our secret, my sweet Eloise.” He kisses me softly on the mouth. “There is a long line of people waiting to see you. I’ll give them each a couple of minutes and then I’ll be back to move you up to CCU.”
“Okay,” I agree with a slight nod of my chin. “I feel like a storybook character. I woke up from my dream to find the love of my life waiting for me.”
“You’re the love of my life, too.” He smiles gently. “This life and every life beyond.”
“You’re quoting Garin again.”
“No,” he corrects me. “That one is all me, my love.”
EPILOGUE
Eloise
Six Months Later
I feather my fingertips over the small scar that is a reminder of the device that is keeping me alive.
“Will this set off any alarms at the airport?”
Gaines looks up from where he’s sitting on the couch. “Are you planning a trip?”
I shrug. “I like to plan ahead.”
He pats the spot next to him, summoning me to him. “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would that be?”
I settle in next to him. Tugging my bare legs to my chest. “It would need to be a warm place so you wouldn’t have to wear any clothes.”
He drops his phone on the coffee table and faces me. “Or you.”
I glance down. “I’m only wearing a bra and panties now, that’s close enough, right?”
“Wrong.”
He tugs one of the straps of my bra down my shoulder, trailing kisses along its path.
“We can’t fuck yet.”
His brows perk. “I gave you the all clear months ago, lamb. We’ve fucked how often since then?”
“I lost track.” I smile. “I would guess somewhere near a thousand times.”
His head falls back in laughter. “I’m not a machine.”
“Close, though.”
“Tell me why I can’t fuck my pretty little wife right now.”
I swoon. “Oh, you know I like that.”
“The part about me wanting to fuck you, or the part about you being my hot and very pretty little wife?”
I lift my left hand in the air to admire the diamond wedding band and matching engagement ring.
The ring was on my hand the day I was discharged from the hospital.
We made it official last month in a small ceremony at a venue called Howerton House.
The people we love were there including our shared family. Stevie and Saylor acted as flower girls in dresses I knit for them. Stevie wanted to wear the dress I made for her school dance, so with a few minor adjustments it became the perfect flower girl ensemble. It took no time at all to knit one for Saylor too. That little girl has come to view me as her sister, even though we’re not related by blood.
Astrid stood next to me and Berk took his place beside my husband.