Epilogue

August

Mid-season

[Vee]

"The End." The bold type-print is dead center on the page.

"And they lived happily ever after?" Ross jokes, turning his head toward me as we both sit upright on his bed.

"Happily for now," I explain.

Ross scowls over the reading glasses at the edge of his nose. His broad, naked chest is on display. "I don't like that ending."

"Why not?" I scoff. "They ride off into the sunset."

"There was no sunset in that ending." He narrows his eyes at me, having listened to me read the ending of my next book. This is his new demand. I read him what I write, but when I get to the sexy bits, he shuts me up, telling me he doesn't need any instruction in that area.

My voice rises. "It's figurative."

"And it's weak. The ending needs something brighter than a sunset."

I chuckle. "You read one romance novel and now you're an expert?"

"I've read three," he reminds me, keeping his gaze on me before removing his reader glasses.

My heart does a little skip. We're reading my books together, which makes me nervous, but it also thrills me. His interest in what I do for a living. His care for my career. The way he loves me.

I dig my teeth into my lower lip, suddenly a little anxious he might be right. Maybe the ending needs a little more. "What would be brighter than a sunset?"

Ross shoves the covers off his legs and scoots from the bed to kneel beside it. "I really wanted to do this on the mound at Anchors Field, but can you believe I had to make an appointment for such a thing, and they are booked for months out?"

"You don't say."

"So, I'm doing it here. Where I want you to live with me. Where I want you to share my bed and my home because you own my heart and occupy all my thoughts."

He tugs open his nightstand drawer and pulls out a little black box, flipping it open to present something shinier than a sunset. Something brilliant and solid and I can wear on my finger.

"Ross." I swallow hard, tears blurring my vision.

"Marry me, Vee. Because I'm superstitious, and I want you in my life always. To chase away concerns and bring me peace. And love me."

"I do love you," I whisper, my throat too thick to speak any louder. "And yes. Yes, I'll be your secret keeper, superstition whisperer, and your wife. Oh my God, Ross Davis, you're asking me to marry you."

"I sure am, sweetheart. So, is that a yes?"

"That's a holy cow yes, and play ball, and swing for the bleachers."

Ross laughs. "Okay, I don't need the rest of those things."

"Yes, yes, yes. Now get on this bed," I demand, setting my laptop on the nightstand that became mine a few months ago.

Ross scrambles up from his knees, while I hold out my hand. Then he slips the beautiful square-cut diamond on my finger.

"Now, that's a homerun," he chuckles, staring down at his gift.

"You're my homerun, Ross."

I'm tackled to the bed and peppered with kisses before he travels all the bases and we both score.

Because the biggest win is Ross and me together. Always.

+ + +

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