Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“So, this is where it all ended,” she murmurs, looking at the property. “In my head, it’s always so much bigger.”
“I’m proud of you for coming here,” I tell her.
“It’s where so much ended,” she murmurs. “But it could be where everything begins, too…”
She turns to me, squeezing my hands firmly. There’s so much meaning in those lion eyes of hers.
She’s ready. Not just to be here but to face her past.
She’s ready for us, for more than just love. She’s ready for commitment.
“Elle, move i—”
“You can do more,” she whispers, licking her lips. “I mean, if you want…”
My heart pounds. Has she seen the ring? Or perhaps I’ve given it away somehow.
I don’t care.
She’s ready!
“Elara,” I say, my voice husky and choked up. “I love you so much. You’re talented, funny, kind, and stubborn. More than anything, you’re strong. And if you say yes, I’ll count myself the luckiest man alive. Hell, say no and I still will, because I got to be with you.”
I reach into my back pocket, take out the ring box, then kneel and open the box, showing a thick, gorgeous diamond glittering in a white-gold band.
“Elara Vance,” I say, “will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she yells, smiling widely.
As soon as I slide the ring onto her finger, I stand. She collapses against me, crying happy tears, as we find each other’s lips.
EPILOGUE
ELARA
Five Months Later
My engagement ring glistens in the sun as I sit on the back porch, watching Mira and Rhett practice with the bow and arrow. Mira has absolutely loved moving in with Rhett, especially because it gives them so much more time to shoot.
Rhett is shirtless, the sun dancing off his sculpted body. As he draws the bow, I see the bullet scar tightening on his arm, drawing my mind back to those crazy, chaotic days.
But my mind never stays there for long. And I won’t let it get trapped there today. Life is too good that there are butterflies dancing in my belly.
“Wait,” Mira says, as Rhett steps forward to collect the arrows. “I want to shoot one first. Can I? I’ve got a special arrow.”
“A special arrow?”
“Yeah-huh.”
“Okay, then…”
Mira turns, gives me a wink, then walks over to the arrows and searches through them. When she finds the right one, she takes her shot, hitting the bullseye.
“Nice shot!” Rhett says, and Mira beams.
Rhett goes to collect the arrows, his muscles shifting with each step. He pulls the arrow loose, tilts his head, then holds it to the sun. When he sees Mira has strapped a pregnancy test to it, he spins.
Mira giggles and throws her hands in the air. “I’m going to have another brother or sister!”
Rhett rushes over to Mira, scoops her up, then runs over to me and pulls me into the best three-person hug in the whole universe.
“We’re going to be the best family,” he says excitedly, hugging us tight. “You hear me? The best. Whatever happens, I’m going to be there for you, for both of you, always.”
“I love you,” I say, burying my face in his neck and breathing in his manly scent.
“I love you too,” he says huskily. “More than anything, Sunshine. More than life itself. I love you… and you, Mira.”
“I love you too!” Mira beams.
It’s a perfect moment, one that doesn’t need to be photographed, one we don’t need to find the light for.
The light is within me. And in my perfect, happy baby sister. And the man of my dreams.
The light is in my belly, ready to meet the most loving parents and aunt they could ever hope for.
EPILOGUE
ELARA
Five Years Later
I’ve got one hand resting on my pregnant belly and I’m using the other to gesture at the photo of me holding our first child, Lionel. For lion, for mine and Mom’s and… yep, his eyes.
“The colors here are very interesting,” the patron says, voice full of enthusiasm. “Is it edited at all?”
“Believe it or not, no,” I beam. “I noticed the colors were a little funky in the hospital room, so I asked my husband to get the camera. Technically, this is his piece.”
The lady laughs, then nudges me playfully. “Don’t tell him that.”
Our second child kicks in my belly as if laughing at the lady’s joke. I smile, then let her move on. The gallery is bathed in bright yellow light, bouncing off the sleek surfaces, glimmering in people’s glasses.
And across the room, through all the people who are here to see my work, I see the three of them. Mira, my man, and our little lion. Mira is taller now, thinner, a lanky teenager who somehow seems at ease with life.
Rhett is older, more rugged, letting his beard grow out and become an even more confident shade of silver. I love that the light bounces off his wedding ring too, which he always wears proudly.