“You won’t be afraid?” Kimo sighed. “Hell, I’ll be looking over my shoulder for months to come.”
Kimo glanced across at Rex. “I’m ready to go when you are.”
He nodded. “I’m ready.”
They said their goodbyes to Angel, Leilani and Alana and climbed into Rex’s truck.
Rex headed for Kahului. “Did you want to go to your place?” he asked.
Kimo’s brow furrowed. “Did you want me to go to my place?”
With a sharp glance her way, he said, “No.”
Her frown slipping away, Kimo sat back with a sigh. “Then can we go to your little cottage by the beach?”
“I was going to suggest it.” He reached for her hand. “I know you don’t need a protector anymore, but this assignment was far too short. I haven’t had nearly enough time getting to know you.”
“I’ve had enough time,” Kimo said.
The rush of disappointment sank to the pit of Rex’s belly. “You have?”
She nodded. “I’ve had enough time to know you’re special. Enough time to know I’ll never find anyone else quite like you.” Kimo squeezed his hand. “Enough time to know I’m falling in love with you.”
“When you put it like that,” Rex said, “forever will never be enough time with you.” He grinned. For a guy who’d avoided commitment like the plague, in the short time they’d been together, he’d fallen hard and fast—with absolutely no regrets.
Kimo grinned back. “Shall we start our forever tonight?”
“I can’t think of anything I’d like better. In fact,” Rex slowed the truck and pulled it to the side of the road. He reached across the console and pulled her close. “I can’t think of anyone I could love more than you.”
Epilogue
Two months later...
* * *
Kimo, along with Leilani, Kiana and Alana’s cousin Gina, stood on either side of Alana as she stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror.
“Ah…” The collective sighs of her friends made Alana grace them with a shaky smile that disappeared seconds after appearing on her face.
She’d been jumpy and nervous since she’d woken that morning. While Gina and Kiana had assured it was prewedding jitters and that would pass once the wedding began, Kimo suspected it was more, like potentially cold feet and regret that she hadn’t called off the wedding in the first place.
After all that Kimo and Alana had been through with the Lucien Vaughan takedown, Alana had never been the same.
The only reason the large wedding had moved forward was due to the wedding planner spearheading the event like a general going into battle. Vance had taken the lead with the planner when Alana hadn’t been able to force herself to make another choice on linens, table settings or meal choices.
Kimo understood. She found the whole idea of spending tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding to be a colossal waste. When she and Rex married, they would ask one of their friends to officiate, write their own vows and have a party on the beach, surrounded by friends.
Alana would have preferred a similar wedding. Already, the bill was well over thirty thousand dollars, and they hadn’t finished paying the photographer, caterer and bartender.
Alana sighed. “I would rather have donated the money spent on this wedding to the young girls Vaughan stole from their families and sold into sexual slavery to some fat, entitled prince who had to buy fake affection because he couldn’t inspire it on his own.”
“It’s almost time,” Gina said. “We placed your suitcase by the door to the reception hall. Don’t worry. We’ll load it into the limousine before you leave for your honeymoon.”
“Come on, ladies,” Gina said. “They’re playing our song. We have an aisle to walk.” She hugged Alana. “You’re gorgeous. I love you. Break a leg.” Then she was out the door, taking all her positive, chaotic energy with her.
Kiana and Leilani both hugged Alana and followed Gina.
Kimo, Alana’s Maid of Honor, lingered, worried Alana was having second thoughts. “You know it’s not too late to call this off,” she said.
