Page 149 of Beautiful Revenge

I don’t take my eyes off her until she disappears around the corner.

Love makes you feel powerless. I’m officially fucked.

Harlow

“There she is. I think she’s waking up,” the nurse singsongs like she does this all day, every day. Which I guess she does. She does work in surgery.

I feel him before I see him. His warm hand engulfs mine, our fingers laced, as his other strokes my hair. “You did great, baby. It’s over.”

I drag my heavy eyelids open to the man who was one of the last I saw before they made me count down from ten. I could barely concentrate on the menial task because all I could think of was his profession of love.

“All vitals are perfect,” the nurse announces. “Success all around and looking good.”

I try to swallow over my dry throat. “What about?—”

“When I said success, I meansuccess.” the nurse interrupts. She double checks a monitor from my finger as the automatic cuff on my arm puffs up to take my blood pressure. “Everyone is doing great. It was easy—no complications. The team said it went as well as it could have. We’ll give you some time before we wheel you over for a visit.”

My chest is heavy as I sigh with relief.

“She’s a giver,” Devon announces. “I knew she was, but I had no idea it would come to this.”

The nurse smiles at me. “I’m going to get you a cup of water—but just a few sips. We’ll start you out with some bland food as soon as we can.”

“But not too much,” Devon says with a smirk and never takes his eyes off me. “We don’t like waste.”

I lick my dry lips and am about to tell him he can give me all the shit he wants about my quirks, because he loves me. However, I don’t have the chance.

As soon as the nurse leaves us, he picks up my left hand and slides a band on my ring finger.

“What’s this?—”

Devon doesn’t give me a chance to ask. He lifts my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to the base of my finger next to the diamond he just put there. “As soon as you’re up to it, we’re making this official. We’ll do it at the manor or in the middle of the construction at your grandma’s house, but we’re getting married. When your body is ready, we’re having a baby. From what I researched, six months is possible, waiting a year is better. I’ve waited a lifetime for you, so I don’t care.”

“Devon.” I look at the ring he just put on my hand and listen to the heart monitor pick up speed.

Tears form. So many tears in the last few months. But they’ve gone from scared to mad to happy. And the happyones have been worth it. “Yes—not that you asked, but yes. I can’t wait to marry you. And babies. I can’t wait for that either.”

He leans down to take my mouth in a deep, searing kiss. When he lets up, he tips his forehead to mine. “From bridal assistant to groom. I really climbed the ladder, huh?”

My smile is weak but happy. “We got here the hard way, but it was worth it.”

“Every minute, baby. Every bloody minute it took to make you mine was worth it.”

EPILOGUE

Devon

Five years later

Iwind around the last bend until I get to the house. There are no more weeds, gravel, or limbs blocking the way. My wife likes a clean car. Paving the road was one of the finishing touches on Grandma’s house.

It’s what we still call it even though every inch of it is all Harlow. After the big life-saving event, the contractors got down and dirty. Most of it was brought down to the studs where they were able to start from scratch.

Everything other than the staircase. That was restored to its original beauty. I’ve seen the pictures and can attest to it. It even creaks, but not as badly as it once did.

My wife is living her small-town dream in her grandmother’s house, with a garden, three cats, one dog, five chickens, and one duck who was lonely enough to join the party and won’t leave.

He loves Harlow and hates me.