Page 78 of Her Loving Hero

Epilogue

Two months Later…..

Emily looked around her house.It was perfect. It wasn’t a Live Oak tree in the back, instead it was a purple Jacaranda, so it was even better. She rolled her eyes. If she had to hear one more time about the invasive root system, she just might kill Wyatt Leeds. But she couldn’t really, because he and Kyle had brought home all the material yesterday to build a tire swing.

“Whatchya thinking?” Wyatt asked as he walked in behind her at the kitchen sink and settled his chin on her shoulder so they could both admire the tree.

“Nothing.” She looked over her shoulder. “Everything.”

Wyatt chuckled, his breath warm against her ear. “Tell me the everything part,” he prompted.

“Well the nothing part is how Carly is going to prevent Kristi from buying out the store today,” she laughed. “The everything part is excitement that Carly and I will start classes together at San Diego State University. I’m also scared about Carly wanting to live on campus, but I’m coming to grips with it.”

“That doesn’t sound like everything.”

Emily rinsed out the dish cloth and laid it out across the sink so it could dry and sighed. “I’m still worried about my parents and the Lancaster’s in Oman. I know you can’t tell me anything, and I know I shouldn’t know anything, but Carly let it slip that Kane is over there.”

“Huh?”

Wyatt turned her around. “How would Carly know something like that?”

“Chris,” she said succinctly. “I don’t know anything more than that. Is it going to be okay? Please tell me it’s going to be okay.”

Wyatt pulled her into his arms. “It’s going to be okay. Kane is amazing, and his team are second best.”

Emily laughed. “Thanks, I needed the laugh, and the assurance.”

“It’s my job to provide you what you need.”

“I really want you, Luke and Kyle to move in here, there’s plenty of room for each of the boys, and my sisters to each have their own room. I bought it so all of us could be comfortable,” she said for the umpteenth time.

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Nope, not going to happen.”

“But we love each other, I want us to start a life together,” she pleaded.

His hand fingered the chain she wore around her neck and drew out the engagement ring that she had nestled between her breasts. “So put this on your finger and agree to marry me.”

Her expression clouded. “Not until I can be sure we can make real love.”

His head fell back, and he looked at the ceiling. “Sweetheart, every single time we touch, we make love. Now you admitted to me once you always wanted to wear your grandmothers white wedding gown. I don’t want to deprive you of that, so we’re waiting until our wedding night.”

Her fingers clawed at his black t-shirt, struggling to find purchase. Words that had been almost a year in the making finally erupted. “But that’s it, I’m not a virgin, not even close. I’m dirty. I can never wear white,” she sobbed. She could barely see him. Barely hear him. Emily swiped at her eyes.

When would she stop crying about that night? Wait his face was wet too.

“In my eyes you are a virgin. You’ve never chosen to give yourself to someone, and you’re my virgin.”

She gave a choked watery, laugh. “You like that word, ‘my’.”

“Wear my ring Emily.”

“Make love to me Wyatt.” Came her tired response.

He licked at the last tear that trickled down her cheek and savored it. “If today, in this beautiful house, I can prove that you can find pleasure as the beautiful, chaste and innocent woman I know you are, will you marry me? Will you let me prove how pure and worthy you are to wear your grandmother’s wedding dress?”

She stopped breathing. Then she sucked in a deep breath. She stared at him for long minutes and finally gave a tiny nod.

“What did I say this time? What did I finally say right?” he asked.