Epilogue

"brI LOOKS HAPPY, DOESN'T SHE?"

Somehow Jack managed to tear his gaze away from the most beautiful woman at the wedding reception—that would be Lindsey—to spare his sister a quick glance as she swayed to the music on the dance floor with her new husband.

Yes, she did. Beyond happy, in fact. More like radiant. And gorgeous.

He searched the crowd, homing in on the maid of honor. Cara was sitting off to one side, talking animatedly with the groom's grandmother. Probably about the sabbatical she was set to begin next month at that remote estate down near Potosi with the reclusive owner who'd agreed to help her with her research.

His youngest sister was gorgeous too. Also dateless. What was wrong with the men in her circle that they couldn't see past the challenges she'd overcome with such admirable grace and grit?

But that was a concern for another day.

Tonight, the woman beside him deserved his full attention.

"Don't you think so?" Lindsey nudged him.

He nodded. "Yes. I don't know that I've ever seen her happier. Or maybe it's easier to spot true happiness when you're feeling it yourself." He reached over and squeezed her hand.

She returned the pressure. "The months we've been dating have been the happiest of my life too. At this stage, the nightmare I went through feels like nothing more than a bad dream."

"I hear you. I'm glad it ended fast after the night at the warehouse. If Oliver had survived, we'd still be dealing with the aftermath."

"I know." She sighed. "On a happier note, I have good news."

"I do too." More than one piece, actually. But he'd save the best for last. "You go first."

"Dara called today. She and Chad are expecting. Madeleine and I have already talked about throwing her a baby shower."

That sounded like the woman he'd come to love. Always thinking of others.

"I'm happy for them. They had a tough stretch, thanks to Heidi and Oliver."

"But they stuck together and weathered the storm. An example for all of us." She squeezed his hand again. "Now tell me your news."

"I've been accepted for the next session of the FBI National Academy. It starts in October."

Her face lit up. "Oh, Jack. I'm thrilled for you. But I'm not surprised. When you told me County had nominated you, I knew you'd get one of the coveted spots. I mean, if they wouldn't take the best detective in St. Louis, who would they take?"

"You may be a bit prejudiced."

"No." She gave a definitive shake of her head. "That assessment is based on firsthand experience. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be sitting here tonight." A sudden shadow dimmed the animation in her eyes.

"Luck and God had more to do with that than my detective skills."

"I'll concede they both came into play, but you jumped on every lead. Not many detectives would have pushed as hard and as fast as you did."

"I had an ulterior motive." He winked at her, doing his best to dispel the sudden pall that had fallen over their conversation. This wasn't the mood he wanted to create for the rest of their evening. "Speaking of ulterior motives, why don't we stroll out to the terrace? The heat's not too bad for early August, and the setting is romantic." He motioned to the French doors that lined one wall of the reception venue, which opened onto a large courtyard with an illuminated fountain. "I could get us each a chocolate mint square to finish the evening on a sweet note."

"I already had wedding cake—but you know I can never pass up your chocolate mint squares. I think I've gained five pounds chowing down on them since we met."

"Not that I've noticed." He gave her slinky dress with its skimpy, oh-so-alluring shoulder straps a slow, appreciative perusal. "Especially in that phenomenal outfit."

Despite the soft lighting, it was impossible to miss the slight flush that rose on her cheeks. "You have a silver tongue, Detective Tucker."

"Complaining?"

"Never. I'm all yours."

"Hold that thought."

He rose and drew her to her feet, his pulse picking up.

This was the moment he'd been anticipating for months. The brief but critical exchange that would determine the course of his whole future.

At the bank of doors, he opened one and ushered Lindsey through. "Pick a spot and I'll join you in a minute."

"There's a secluded table over there." She motioned to one tucked beside a rose trellis, not far from the fountain. "That work for you?"

"Perfect."

"I'll go claim it—not that there's a crowd to fight. It appears we have the whole terrace to ourselves."

Also perfect.

"I'm fine with that. Be right back." He leaned down and brushed his lips across her forehead.

"I'll be waiting." After rising on tiptoe to give him a discreet return kiss on the cheek, she strolled toward the table, the hem of her dress swishing around her legs.

Jack lingered to watch as she paused beside a rosebush and leaned down to smell the blossom, his throat tightening.

How blessed he'd been the day this special woman had walked into his life, adding joy and light and laughter to his world. A world he'd thought was more than adequate as it was.

But what a difference love made.

It brightened. Illuminated. Warmed. Filled the empty place in his soul he hadn't even known existed.

And if all went well in the next few minutes, that love would grace all his tomorrows for the rest of his life.

SOMETHING WAS UP .

As Lindsey claimed a chair at the table for two and Jack disappeared inside, a quiver of anticipation zipped through her.

After eight months of dating, their trajectory seemed clear. Yet he hadn't so much as hinted about making their relationship permanent.

Could tonight be the night?

Maybe.

What better setting to get a person in a proposing mood than the wedding celebration of a cherished sibling?

However ... given Jack's background, eight months might be unrealistic. Love and trust didn't come easily to him, thanks to his experience with his mother and the dregs of society he dealt with in his job.

But they were heading toward the altar, no question about it—even if a proposal wasn't on his agenda for tonight.

He came back through the door, a plate containing two mint squares in one hand, bottles of water in the other. After setting the items on the table, he sat across from her. "I didn't have a third hand. Mind sharing a plate?"

"Not at all." She picked up one of the forks balanced beside the three layers of decadence that had rocketed to the top of her favorite-desserts list after her first bite months ago. "I think it was sweet that Bri wanted you to provide these as a grand finale on her special day."

"She said it would make her feel like Mom was with us. Hard to refuse a request like that."

Another indication of the soft heart that beat beneath Jack's sometimes guarded manner.

"Shall we dig in?" She lifted her fork.

"In a minute. I have a gift for you first."

Her pulse lost its rhythm as he reached into his jacket pocket. Withdrew a small box. Held it out.

Slowly she set the fork down and took it.

This must be it.

Struggling not to hyperventilate, she lifted the lid. Removed the thick layer of soft cotton batting that covered the contents.

Oh.

Her lungs collapsed as a surge of disappointment swept over her.

It wasn't a ring.

But wait.

On second thought, this was almost as good.

The burnished gold claddagh pendant had to be his grandmother's. The one he'd rescued from the box of cough drops in the decrepit dresser he'd found on the sidewalk the day he'd been evicted.

If he was giving her his beloved grandmother's most cherished possession, it had to mean a ring was coming at some point.

And she could wait.

Because Jack was worth waiting for.

Vision misting, she held the box reverently as she looked over at him. "This was your grandmother's, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"I can't tell you how honored I am that you're entrusting it to me."

His eyes darkened. "I'm planning to entrust you with more than that, Lindsey." Before she could digest that, he motioned toward the pendant. "Would you like to wear it?"

"Yes."

He rose, circled behind her chair, and secured the clasp on the delicate chain, his fingers warm against her neck.

Then he returned to his seat.

What?

No kiss to go along with such a precious gift?

"Why don't we have dessert?"

She stared at him.

He wanted to eat? Now?

Was the pendant not as big a deal as he'd claimed?

Trying to reconcile his behavior with his words, she followed his lead and picked up her fork.

"Bri and Marc were leaving as I got our mint squares." He cut off a bite. "I think Marc is anxious to get the honeymoon started."

Did Jack sound a little winded?

"I expect most grooms are. Brides too." She dived into her treat. "I'm sure they'll have a wonderful trip. It was thoughtful of him to plan it around one of her bucket list destinations."

"Yeah, it was. But I hope the Pyrenees side trip after Paris won't be too taxing for her. She'll want to hike."

"I have a feeling Marc will keep close watch over her and find other sources of entertainment if she has any issues." Which she might. Though Bri had made an incredible recovery from the near-fatal parachuting accident that had shattered her femur, the incident had left her with a now almost-imperceptible limp.

"She does tend to push herself, though. Like someone else I know, who insisted on muscling through her workday after walking into a murder. All because she didn't want to disappoint clients."

"That was my stubborn streak showing—and I have the scar to prove it." She wiggled her finger at him, then went back to eating. "I should have listened to your advice that day and gone—" Her fork ran into a solid object, and she frowned down at her mint square. Poked at it with the tines.

A small flat object emerged from the pink mint filling beneath the thick chocolate icing.

What in the world?

"Something wrong?"

She waved a hand over her plate. "There's a foreign object in my dessert."

He leaned closer to inspect it. "I must have dropped it in there during the baking process. At least you got it rather than one of the other guests. That would have been embarrassing. What is it?"

"I don't know." After excavating it, she used her napkin to wipe off the sweet coating. "I think it's a wad of aluminum foil."

As she squeezed it, however, the shape registered.

It wasn't just aluminum foil. It was an object wrapped in aluminum foil.

This time, her heart did a somersault.

Fingers fumbling, she removed the wrapping to reveal a diamond solitaire flanked by more diamonds set in a beautiful filigreed gold band.

Cradling it in her palm, she met Jack's gaze across the table.

"Surprise." For a guy who was 100 percent steady and confident, his sudden uncertain smile clogged her throat. "If you're not ready for my speech, tell me and I'll tuck it away for another day."

"I'm ready." Somehow she managed to croak out her response.

He took the ring, set it on the table, and cocooned her hand in his. "You know my history, Lindsey. I've got a ton of baggage. I never expected to find a woman who would convince me to trust her with my life—and my heart. Then you came along, and I fell hook, line, and sinker. I knew almost from the beginning that you were special, and these past months have confirmed that. I love you more than words can say, and until God calls me home, that love will never waver. Every day of my life, my first and last waking thought will be of you." His voice hoarsened, and he picked up the ring. "Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

In answer, she lifted her hand.

He slid the ring on.

It sparkled in the moonlight as she flexed her finger, and she blinked to clear her vision. "I love you too, Jack. With all my heart." She touched the pendant that hung around her neck. "I figured this meant a ring was coming, but I didn't expect it the same day."

"I wasn't taking any chances. I had to ensure Gram's treasure stays in the family." He scooted his chair closer and angled it toward hers. "You didn't finish your dessert."

"A first, I know. But what was inside was even sweeter."

"I remember what you said when you ate your first mint square." Tenderness softened his features. "‘This is a taste of heaven.' I'm going to do everything in my power to make certain you draw the same conclusion about our marriage every single day."

She leaned toward him and linked her hands around his neck. "I think you should seal that promise with a kiss."

A slow smile bowed his lips, the sudden heat in his eyes ratcheting up the temperature on this summer evening.

And as he pressed his lips to hers under the glittering stars, the fountain tinkling beside them while roses perfumed the air, Lindsey gave thanks.

For on that night when she'd dangled from the catwalk moments from death, her fingers slowly losing their grip, it had seemed that all her hopes for a future with this wonderful man would be dashed.

Instead, Jack had pulled her back from the abyss and they'd been granted the gift of tomorrow.

One she had every reason to believe would be filled with happy endings from this day forward.