Fields had brought Elliot in immediately and interrogated him. With Evan’s help, he did flip on the whole operation. He started wearing a wire in an effort to get a reduced sentence and keep Evan out of the situation. Fields was able to get the district attorney to agree to parole and rehab, no actual jail time, but it would go on his record.
Thanks to the boys, they’d been able to get almost everyone on tape doing something worth jail time, from the distributors to the assholes who sent people after Ember. Elliot had driven himself right into the heart of everything to shut it all down as quickly as he could, and it worked.
The only person who didn’t offer to help, and in fact hadn’t been heard from once since that dinner two months ago, was Lori.
Ember thought she had finally decided enough was enough, and she ran from Bennett. I thought she knewexactly what her husband was up to and didn’t want to be dragged into the middle of it. Fields still wanted to interview her though, whether she knew anything or not, but that was his job, not mine.
I smiled as Ember leaned down, peppering me with kisses and smiles so much that the next words from my mouth just slipped out without a second thought.
“Marry me.”
She sat up, her hands on either side of my chest, the shock clear on her face. “What?”
“Marry me, Ember Rae,” I repeated. “Marry me so I can finally put your real last name on the end of that.”
I moved, setting her down on the couch and running upstairs to our room and into the bottom of my sock drawer, only to sprint back downstairs where she was still sitting—confused as hell.
Kneeling down in front of her in her favorite grey sweatpants that I owned and a paint-covered black tank, I smiled as I opened the ring box.
“I’ve been thinking about this since the moment I saw you in those woods and even more after our first meeting at the bakery. I wanted so badly for my masked girl and Ember Brady to be the same person. Someone hard-working, intelligent, who could match my spicy wit and would also let me chase her through the woods and tie her up until she was screaming my name. I wanted it all, and the night I found out it was you? All of it? The whole package?” I swallowed, my throat tight as I shook my head.
“I bought the ring that week, Ember. You, little flame, you are the only future I’ll die without. Marry me.”
“Normally I’d sass you for saying that as a command instead of a question, but truly, I don’t fucking care, Wyatt.” She wiped the tears from her face and started nodding. “Iwant nothing more than to be your wife, crazy man. I love you.”
I pulled her down for a kiss—one that said everything I knew my words were lacking. One that said I was beyond thrilled I got to spend my life with this stunning woman next to me for the rest of forever.
When the kiss broke, the smile still gracing her stunning face, she held out her left hand. I pulled the gold band with diamonds encrusted throughout it, the band interwoven to look like vines, and the diamonds set to look like small leaves until it reached the center stone.
It slid onto her finger perfectly, and she let out a deep breath. “It’s beautiful, Wyatt. Absolutely stunning.”
“Just wanted it to match the girl who’ll wear it for the rest of our lives.”
And it would—forever.
43
GOD DAMN WOMAN
Ember
It had beena solid week of celebrating with Wyatt over our engagement, but we decided today would be the day we told the rest of the family. I felt the ring in the pocket of my jeans, my finger feeling so empty and sad without it.
I shook my head, feeling lighter than I ever had before. I was getting married, and it was truly a full-on dream come true for me. Beyond anything I ever imagined being my life.
A set of arms wrapped around me from behind, and he dipped his lips to my exposed neck. “How many more hours until it’s back on your finger?” he whispered.
I giggled, the air from his mouth leaving goosebumps along my skin. “Just a few more. It’s safe in my pocket, don’t worry.”
His teeth grazed over me, and I bit back a moan. “Just the thought of it makes me want to bend you over this counterand fuck you from behind. We haven’t gotten to have any fun in here yet.”
I blew out a huff. “Well no, it’s only been done for three days. We’ve had time for nothing except cleaning it and setting things up.” I turned in his arms, my own locking around his neck. “Thank you, by the way. I know you’ve been busy with Julian and Theo and all that, but I appreciate all your help with this.”
He smiled, that boyish one I loved so much. “Please, you’re a great deal more fun to hang out with than them. I mean this ass,” he said while grabbing my ass with both palms. “Theo and Julian could never compare.”
I playfully smacked his chest and pushed him away before he got any bright ideas that involved me having to be quiet while he fucked my brains out. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I am, but I think I know how we should celebrate later,” he said while waggling his eyebrows like a cheesy rom-com star would.
