“I don’t have to find a way, Slade.” She reached up and cupped one side of his face. “Because I already do.”
“Say it.” He knew they were being watched and didn’t care. “I need to hear the words.”
“I love you, too, Slade Matthew Garrison. I’m pretty sure a part of me always has.”
“Awwww…” Rawlin’s voice interrupted the most precious moment of his life.
Reaching up, Slade removed the earbud from his ear. And then, with the lightest of kisses to keep from hurting her, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
EPILOGUE
Rafe Owens’plantation
Somewhere near Charlotte
Three months later…
“Seriously, Alice.”Evie Mitchell, Bones’ fiancée, shook her head in awe. “It might be small, but this is one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to.”
Shadow…no,Alice…was still getting used to hearing people call her by her real name. She’d answer to either, of course. But today of all days, it was good to simply be…
“Alice Garrison.” Nicki McAllister toyed with the sound of the name. “It does have a nice ring to it. Speaking of rings…” Apollo’s wife reached out and lifted Alice’s left hand. “I have to hand it to Dig, the man does have good taste.”
“Of course, I do.” Her husband sidled up beside her.
With his hand around her beaded waist, Slade leaned in and pressed his lips to the top of her veiled head.
“Hey, you.” She looked up at the most handsome man to have ever put on a tux.
“Hey, yourself.” He went in for a more proper kiss.
The women around them all began to croon.
“Awwww…” The group of Tac-Ops wives gave a collective sigh.
Falcon’s wife was next in line to chime in.
“I’ll admit,” Avery Morgan gave the happy couple a big, toothy smile. “I never thought I’d see the day when Slade Garrison would say ‘I do’.”
“You and me, both,” Alice wrapped an arm around her husband.
Man, she really liked how that sounded.
A popular song began to play, and the other women began grabbing each other to dance. But she stayed right where she was, because there was nowhere else she’d rather be. Except maybe in the honeymoon suite at the hotel where they planned to spend the night.
“Rawlins called,” Slade told her. “Said he was sorry he couldn’t make it, but to make sure you knew there was a gift on the way.”
“Oh, no.” Alice chuckled. “Should we be scared?”
“With that man? You never can tell.”
No, you definitely couldn’t. But something told her whatever Baker Rawlins had purchased would be something the two of them could put to good use.
Alice was so thankful for the man and his willingness to step in to help the team. If not for him, she and her father would both be dead. And Michael Stanton and his cronies would still be roaming free.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
Stanton’s lawyer managed to get him a deal designed specifically to avoid the death penalty. With what he’d confessed—and a team of highly trained agents who were truly loyal to their country—there was enough evidence against him to all but guarantee a conviction.
