Epilogue

Am I dreaming?

McKenzie tried to wrap her head around it. Here she was her wedding reception, dancing with Miles for the first time ever, not the least bit surprised to find that he danced as skillfully as he did everything else. A dozen people, including Miles's family members, looked on with indulgent expressions as the couple completed their obligatory dance together, weaving through the patches of sunlight that shone through the tall windows of his church's reception hall.

The wedding itself—hastily planned and modestly attended—had been perfect. With only three days' notice, Karen had pulled together flower bouquets, a wedding soundtrack, a gorgeous three-tier cake, and even a beautiful white dress for McKenzie to wear.

During the ceremony Miles gave her a ring once belonging to his maternal grandmother; she'd loved it on sight, just as she was loving this intimate reception taking place a mere twenty steps from the sanctuary where they'd pledged to have and to hold each other, until death parted them.

Speaking of death, Mr. Ellis—Dad—had assured McKenzie that in the extreme unlikelihood some vengeful Centurion caught wind of her wedding, the entire church was surrounded by people who worked for him. She caught Drake's eye as he stood at the edge of the parquet floor, watching them dance. He sent her a crooked smile. What a blessing to have a father she could respect!

As his gaze wandered toward Miles's mother, McKenzie knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he longed to reconnect with Karen.

Sudden movement wrested her attention from Dad back to Miles, who dipped her without warning. She swallowed a gasp and clung to him, delighted when he planted a stirring kiss on her lips. Everyone watching them cheered.

When he pulled her upright again, she tottered, both hot in the face and light-headed. Oh, my.

In her peripheral vision, she saw Maggie, Miles's tall, raven-haired half-sister conversing with her father. One look at Maggie, and McKenzie had realized Karen wasn't her biological mother, a circumstance that puzzled her as they behaved just as mother and daughter would.

And now Maggie was crossing the room toward Karen. Her purposeful expression told McKenzie she had an agenda.

"Hello, I'm right here."

Miles's words snatched McKenzie's attention back to him. "Sorry, but I think your dad sent Maggie to ask your mom to dance."

Her words startled Miles into glancing toward his mother. Sure enough, her wide eyes went from Maggie to Drake as she took in what Maggie had to say. With the firming of her lips, Mom shook her head and turned pointedly away to look at Miles and McKenzie.

Miles sighed. "Pretty sure that's a no."

"But he's so lonely, Miles. Why won't she give him a chance?"

"She gave him twenty-seven years, Angel. He was off working that whole time."

Hearing resentment in his voice, McKenzie finally gleaned the reason for the tension between father and son. She glanced briefly at the elder Ellis. "Maybe he wants to make up for that."

"Well, I think it's too late for Mom. She's moved on, if you know what I mean."

"She's seeing someone?"

Miles's shoulders rose and fell. "I don't know. Some guy from work, I think."

"Well, what about you, Miles? Will you give him a second chance?"

"Me?" He met her earnest gaze, clearly startled. "You know, you're not just beautiful, you're insightful also."

"Well," she grimaced, "I had to learn to read my father from a young age."

"I get that." He glanced toward his father, caught his eye, and sent him a nod of acknowledgment. "Yeah, I'm open to starting over."

His words warmed her heart. Lifting a hand from his shoulder, McKenzie stroked her new husband's face, marveling that she'd ever believed he was just eighteen, amazed they were married now. "You're a good man, Miles. Believe me, there were times I thought God had forgotten me, and I would be isolated and in WITSEC for the rest of my life. But I kept praying that He'd give me hope and a future, like He promised in Scripture."

Miles grinned rather smugly. "So, I'm your future now. I like the sound of that."

"You're my present, my past, and my future."

Her words made him swallow. "I love you so much."

Wrapping both arms around his neck, she kissed him as boldly as he'd kissed her earlier. "Same," she murmured against his lips while friends and family cheered them on.