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EPILOGUE

Ella

Six months later

S tretching out on the lounge chair, I look out across the sandy beach to the beautiful waters of the British Virgin Islands.

“Here you go, baby. A world-famous Painkiller for you.” Jack plops down on the chair next to me and hands me the frosty glass. I push my sunglasses onto my head to hold my hair back. I take a moment to admire the man that I’m so in love with that it steals my breath at times. From the time we’ve spent in the sun, his skin is golden, and his beard a little longer than usual. His tattoos and muscles are on full display, since he’s only wearing low-slung swim trunks.

“You need to stop looking at me like that, or you aren’t going to get any beach time, because I’ll be marching your ass straight back up to our villa. ”

My grin widens, and I shrug. We’ve spent most of our time in the villa. And I was only half-heartedly complaining yesterday that we hadn’t spent as much time as I would have liked on the beach over the week we’ve been here. Even if I was basking in every moment we spent together, relaxed and uninterrupted. Jack did his best to convince me that the villa was better than the beach, but he conceded that we could spend our last day out here.

But looking at him now, I’m rethinking my decision to come to the beach.

He swings his legs up onto the lounger and leans back, taking a sip of his beer.

The last six months have been something out of a fairytale. I moved into Jack’s house, both of us supporting each other as we healed, both physically and mentally, from our injuries and the whole ordeal. Our amazing group of chosen family was rallying around us at every step of that journey. Jack promised me the chance to be a normal couple, and he’s delivered on that promise in spades. And he gets me flowers every Monday.

Because of the amount of evidence collected, Craig and Steve had no choice but to plead guilty. We’re still waiting for them to be sentenced, but it’s unlikely we’ll have to worry about either of them for a very long time.

I even got a new job out of the whole ordeal. After I made a full recovery and started talking about returning to work, I knew I didn’t want to go back into accounting. Jack suggested I take Alice’s position since they hadn’t filled it yet. I was hesitant at first, but I couldn’t be happier working with Jack and the rest of the guys.

I’ve loved every moment of getting to know everyone more. Sometimes, I get emotional when I think about how this is exactly the kind of family I dreamed of at my loneliest moments.

Jack also kept his side of the bargain to play bingo. He and Frank have become close. Frank calls him at least once a day to chat. Jack tries to act like the older man drives him crazy, but I hear how he laughs and talks with Frank like they’re old friends. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It makes me fall deeper in love with Jack, if that’s even possible.

We spend the next few hours alternating between relaxing on the loungers and playing in the water. My belly hurts from laughing so much by the time we leave the beach.

Walking hand-in-hand back to the villa so we can get ready for dinner, I’m badgering Jack to tell me what we’re doing. Yesterday, he told me he had something special planned for our last night here, but won’t tell me what it is.

“Can I have a hint?” I ask as we climb the stairs to our villa, glancing over my shoulder at him walking behind me.

Jack grips my butt with both hands, making me giggle. “No, now hurry up.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine.”

Scanning our key card, I push the door open, the cold air hitting me as I step inside. My feet cement to the floor as my eyes float around the large, open room. Candles are flickering from every available surface. Flower petals line the floor, creating a path to the balcony door. Butterflies take flight in my stomach at the sight of this surprise.

Jack’s arms slip around my waist, pulling my back to his front, tucking his chin over my shoulder. “You should follow the petals and see what’s at the end.”

A shocked laugh pops from me as a smile overtakes my face. I take a trembling step forward as I walk to the sliding door. Jack’s body heat permeates my skin as he follows close behind. Sliding the door open, I step back into the balmy air. On the table, there are more candles and a bottle of champagne in a wine bucket filled with ice and two plates covered with cloches. I spin around to face Jack and gasp when I find him down on one knee, holding a small box. My heart races as he takes my hand, kissing the back of it softly.

“Before I met you, I thought I had all the family I needed. Then I walked up to that accident, and something inside of me shifted. Every day I spent with you, I realized something was missing. And that something was you. I can’t even imagine my life and my family without you in it. Will you continue making me the happiest I have ever been and be my wife?”

By the time he finishes his speech, tears are streaming uncontrollably down my cheeks. The ring he’s holding out is breathtaking. It’s a flawless round diamond with an array of blue and green sapphires in varying shapes and colors and smaller diamonds, giving it a floral look. A sob catches in my throat that he would pick something so perfect for me. I can’t help but think Clara would approve—of him and the ring.

“Jack, nothing would make me happier than being your wife.”

Smiling up at me, he slides the ring on my finger and surges to his feet. He wraps me in his arms and lifts me so my feet dangle, pressing a sweet and consuming kiss to my lips. When we take a breath, I giggle as I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. As his eyes search my face, they are so full of love and desire, my heart skips a beat .

“I love you, Gisella.

“I love you, too, Jack.”

He carries me back inside, our dinner long forgotten.