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The elderly couple who’d been standing by the waterlily pond shuffled by with a wave. The man gave Ryder a knowing wink. “Easy now, laddie.”
Ryder laughed.
Nathalie blushed and put some distance between them.
Distance he immediately wanted to eliminate. “I guess this means I’ll be running the executive protection division from London after all.”
“For a little while at least.” Nathalie gave another twirl. “I want us to make new memories here. Good memories. And I want to paint these gardens again. In the spring.”
“I do need a new painting. Blue irises.” Ryder smiled. “To match my eyes.”
“Definitely blue irises.” Nathalie sobered. “I love you, Ryder. Whatever we do in life from now on, we do together.”
“Together,” he agreed.
Nathalie was his soulmate. Neither time nor family expectations had been able to keep them apart. They were both older and wiser, able to put the pain of their past behind them and build a new life.
Together.
Always.
THE END