Page 7

EPILOGUE

CALLUM

C aroline is so goddamn beautiful I actually ache when I look at her. She’s a photographer’s dream, with her soft cheekbones, pouty lips, and fuck-me eyes. Although she probably reserves the last one only for me. Well, she better.

I adjust the camera lens and frame her perfectly in the soft light streaming through our living room window.

“Chin up slightly,” I tell her in a professional tone, the one I use with all my clients, “and try to look past my camera. Think happy thoughts.”

Her lips curl into a mischievous smile, and she raises one brow at me. “Like what? The way you pumped your tongue in and out of me last night? Eating me like I’m your favorite food?”

I sigh and snap my eyes shut. The tables have turned. Caroline is the one who keeps teasing me, not the other way around. “You are my favorite, babe. Now, please, focus and soften your eyes.”

She doesn’t listen. Instead, she flutters her eyes dramatically. “Like this?”

I give up and laugh. “Jesus, you’re impossible.”

“And you love it.”

“And I love it.”

It’s time. The moment I cannot stop thinking about. The moment that has kept me awake for nights.

I stand and grab a small box from under the seat, pretending to rummage through the items. “Okay, now I’m going to ask you to pose with some random things.”

“Why?”

I don’t look at her because I’m an awful liar, and she’ll quickly catch onto it if she sees my eyes. “I can’t explain it, but you’ll just have to trust my creative vision.”

“Okay, sir.”

First, I give her a vintage birdcage and ask her to hold the hanging hook. Next, a pocket watch. Then, an antique handheld mirror.

Lastly, I hand her a small red velvet box.

She accepts it without question, just like the other items.

My heart pounds in my chest, my palms so sweaty that I have to put the camera down or else it might slip from my fingers. “Now open it, babe.”

She looks at it closely for the first time, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion. “Okay. What’s this?”

Caroline lifts the lid, and her breathing becomes erratic. Her eyes widen, and her tears gather. My heart is in my throat as I kneel before her and take her hands in mine. “I knew you were the one, Caroline, from the moment I met you. My biggest mistake was letting you go that night and waiting for fate to intervene. I should’ve asked your name, gotten your number, and married you the same week. I won’t make the same mistake again. I’m never ever letting you go. Will you marry me, babe?”

She lets out a sound that’s half-sob, half-laugh, and nods, her fingers caressing my face. “Yes, Callum. I will marry you.”

My hands tremble as I slip the ring onto her finger. I stand and pull her into my arms, emotions clogging my throat. “I love you, Caroline. Forever mine.”

She wraps her arms around me and kisses my chest. “I love you too, Callum. Forever yours.”

“And I thought you should know. Your mom’s at your favorite hotel. I asked for her blessing last night, and she gave it to me. She’s waiting for your call.”

Happy tears slide down her cheeks. “Oh, Callum.”

I don’t know what I did in my past life to deserve her, but I bet I saved the whole world.