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The wives were clearly in a quandary. Yet Kate’s brothers nodded. Charlotte hugged her.
Kate’s father said, “I’ll speak with your mother.”
Who told Kate, “I’m just not sure—”
“It’s okay,” Kate said. “You don’t have to agree or accept this right now, Mom. But maybe someday…”
“Maybe. But I don’t know, Kathryn…”
Kate gave her a lengthy, assuring hug. When she finally pulled away, she said to both her parents, “Just so you know, if anyone could get me to go the conventional route, it’d be Jude.”
Behind her, she heard his tense chuckle. Then he asked, “How so?”
Kate faced him. “Keep the apartment, Jude. Just in case…”
His gaze narrowed on her. “In case…?”
“You ask me to marry you.”
Now, his brow arched. “And if I did?”
“I’d say yes.” She closed the gap between them. “In a heartbeat. Hell… I’d marry you tonight. Right this very second.”
“Kate,” he murmured against her lips. “Don’t tease me.”
“No teasing, I swear. I’m serious, Jude. I love you enough to believe in the whole goddamn fairy tale.”
“How utterly romantic, Kate,” he quietly quipped.
“You know what I’m saying.” Her lips pressed to his. Then she whispered, “We just might be the couple who truly can have it all.”
“I would do anything—give anything—to make that happen, Kate.”
“Me, too.”
He kissed her, passionately. And Kate could care less how it might shock her parents, offend her brothers, scandalize their wives.
Nikki and Charlotte would understand.
That was good enough for Kate.
When they finally came up for air, she told Jude, “I do love you. I would marry you.”
“Not would,” he murmured. “Will.”
“I will marry you, Jude McMillan.” She rubbed the tip of her nose against his and playfully added, “But you haven’t even asked me yet.”
“Prepare to be swept off your feet. Completely and…endlessly…”
He kissed her again. And suddenly, everything in her life that had seemed so elusive was now within Kate’s grasp.
Including the most important thing of all—a life with Jude.
23
Bonus Epilogue
Seven months later…
