No way would she return to yet another government agency. Not after Jagger had shared the part about Agent Vaughn helping Julian set her up to be kidnapped.
“I know what I’m gonna do,” Jagger rumbled with a cryptic tone.
The thought of him going back to Chicago without her threatened to steal all the joy she felt at being here, with him…alive.
“Yeah?” She schooled her expression. “What’s that?”
With a gleam in his eye, he smiled and said as a matter of fact, “I’m gonna marry you.”
Natalia blinked, absolutely positive she’d heard him wrong.
“You’re…what?”
“You heard me.” He adjusted the chair and sat back down, his hand still holding hers loosely across her lap. “You and me. Maybe a dog. A kid or two…eventually.”
“A kid?” She chuckled, then winced when the move pulled at the fresh stitches in her shoulder.
“Easy, there, darlin’,” he soothed. “And why not? I was thinking we could start with a girl. One with long, dark hair and big, beautiful, golden eyes just like her tough-as-nails momma.”
“Y-you really…want all that? With me?” His image blurred behind a well of unshed tears.
“More than anything in the world.”
“You seem pretty confident about that.”
“Because I am.” He grinned. “You tellin’ me you don’t want to marry me?”
“I don’t know.” She pretended to give it much thought. “I mean, to be fair, you haven’t actually asked the question, so…”
The same ornery look that used to drive her mad with frustration slowly spread across his rugged and tired face. Jagger stood, and without a word, he rounded the foot of her bed to come around to the other side.
With him at her right, he was able to drop to one knee while keeping her hand held sweetly in his.
“Jagger…”
“I love you more than anything else in this crazy world. You’re strong, brave, beautiful, and can kick some serious ass. And there’s no one else I’d rather have as a partner in life.”
In love.
“You know…” She did her best not to smile from ear-to-ear. “That’s sweet and all, but I still didn’t hear a question.”
Jagger smirked. “Natalia Sofia Foster, will you please say you’ll make me the luckiest bastard on earth and marry me?”
She couldn’t have contained the smile that time if she’d tried. And Natalia didn’t try. She didn’t fight it in the least.
Instead, she finally put him out of his misery with a watery, heartfelt, “Yes.”
EPILOGUE
Two months later…
“I,Natalia Sofia Foster, take you Jagger Theodore Brooks to be my lawfully wedded husband.”
Jagger would never remember the rest of the vows his bride spoke that day. He was too busy losing himself in her stunning gaze and committing every detail of how she looked in that moment to memory.
Talia’s dress was simple yet elegant. Just like the woman herself. Its ankle-length hem offered a peak of her sexy, strappy heels. Jagger particularly liked the thin, white leather that hugged her delicate ankles.
Might have to keep those on later, when I take off that dress.
