Page 26

JOANNA

I gazed out the window, watching people bustle around the train station outside as the train I was on gently rolled into motion. Snow was falling despite the fact it was spring, creating a sense of isolation that would only be compounded once we left civilization behind.

“Excuse me. Is this seat taken?”

I looked up, and my heart leapt. The most handsome man I’d ever seen stood before me, his green eyes twinkling and a mischievous smile on his lips.

“No.” I instinctively smiled back. “It’s not. Would you like to join me?”

“I’d love to.” He sat and beamed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Weston Conti.”

I accepted his proffered hand, playing along with him. “Joanna Lee.”

He raised my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist. “Charmed.”

Butterflies swooped in my stomach.

“What is it you do, Weston?” I asked.

He released my hand and reclined in the seat, making himself comfortable as we picked up speed. “I used to be an undercover federal agent. Now I work as a private investigator at a company called King’s Security.”

“That sounds like an interesting job.”

“It is.” He cocked his head. “My father was a detective, but I lost him in a horrible tragedy. I have a wonderful mother who loves cooking and who keeps me in line.”

I laughed. “She sounds great. I also have a mother with plenty of opinions, and a father who lets her get her way because he absolutely adores her.”

His lips twitched. “As he should.”

I glanced out the window. We were on the outskirts of town now, and if I leaned at just the right angle, I could see the outline of the mountains we were heading toward.

When I turned back to West, my breath caught. He was no longer seated opposite. Instead, he’d dropped to one knee on the carpet in front of me. I opened my mouth to ask what he was doing but closed it again when I noticed the ring box clasped in his hand.

“Joanna.” He drew in a deep breath. “My smart, beautiful, courageous Joanna. I love you more than I ever dreamed was possible, and I want to marry you for real. With both of our families present, all of our friends, and a brand new ring. I want to be with you forever. What do you say?”

I blinked at him, emotion swelling in my chest. Sincerity was etched into every line of his beloved face.

Perhaps the start of our love story hadn’t been what I would have chosen for myself, but we were stronger because of everything we’d been through, and our happily-ever-after could still be fairy-tale perfect.

“Yes,” I whispered. “I will marry you again.”

He took my hand and slid the single white gold engagement band onto my finger, alongside the wedding ring I’d never taken off. Then he cupped my face and kissed me as we hurtled into the countryside, snow falling softly outside.

I wrapped my arms around him and blinked back tears. “I love you.”

When he kissed my forehead, everything inside me settled.

No matter how we’d started, West and I had the rest of our lives together, and it all began now.

THE END