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“I’m afraid I’m the last person that should’ve been talking to you about extra baggage,” he admitted. “I’ve got plenty of my own. I had no right to judge you.”
“One thing I’ve learned is that love knocks a person on their ass if they aren’t prepared.”
He smiled at that. “Were you prepared?”
“No. I thought I was, but I didn’t have a clue. It’s hard to explain, but the truth is, I got tired of myself, Logan.”
“Believe me, that concept is easier to grasp than you think.”
“I needed to start fresh, clean house and really get to know me. I guess the panic I felt when you proposed was the realization that I couldn’t go into a long-term relationship with you until I got my own house in order. I had to repair my heart, not just for me, but for you. I’m just sorry I didn’t see it earlier. I could’ve saved us both a lot of heartache.”
“It would appear that everything turned out like it was supposed to.”
“Not everything—I don’t have you.”
Logan’s jaw tightened. “Dakota—”
She held up her hand. “Please hear me out. I know you said that if I didn’t accept your proposal, then our relationship was over, but I’m hoping that you can give us…give me another chance. I love you, Logan. I always have. That’s not going to change, and it’s never going to stop. Whether we’re together or apart, I’ll still love you. Personally, I’d rather be together.”
“There’s only one problem with your whole scenario,” he said.
Dakota’s face fell. “Okay. What?”
“In order for your revised plan to work, you’d have to agree to marry me.”
Her smile was luminous. “Logan, are you sure?”
“I am. I’ve missed you like crazy, and I was an ass the night I proposed. My pride got the better of me. I had no right to pressure you, or make you feel like I did. Once I got over feeling sorry for myself, I came to terms with the fact that I might have messed things up permanently, but I would never stop loving you. I didn’t think we had a strong enough foundation to keep us together, and I thought that we weren’t as committed as other couples I’d seen, but I know now how stupid an assumption that was.” He took her hands in his. “We are solid, Dakota, and we’re stronger together than apart because you are my foundation, and I am yours. I’m so sorry for hurting you. Please accept my heartfelt apology, and say you’ll marry me, Koty, and put us both out of our misery.”
She flung herself into his arms. “Yes,” she said against his lips. “I will marry you. Above any and everything, I want to be your wife, Logan Montague. For better or worse, you’re mine!”
He hauled her up against him and crushed her mouth to his. Logan was certain that this time they would make it work. No more second-guessing each other.
Their love was by design, and would never be broken. No matter what they faced, as long as they were together, he and Dakota would be irie.
Epilogue
“I’m not about to eat some freezer-burned piece of wedding cake,” Dakota Montague announced.
“Come on, it probably tastes fine,” Logan told her.
One year had passed since they were married in Ocho Rios at the Belle Cove resort. They spent their honeymoon in Fiji combining a little business with pleasure. While they were getting to know each other as man and wife, Logan was in the process of acquiring an existing resort on Denarau Island. From there, Dakota would embark on a renovation to bring it up to their resort standards.
Now, one year later, they were seated at a long table in the garden of Belle Cove with their closest family and friends. With a tap of his knife on the champagne glass in front of him, Logan’s father, Charles Montague, asked for everyone’s attention. He stood up and glanced at the young couple.
“Logan and Dakota, to be honest, I think everyone here had their doubts about whether the two of you would get and stay together. I’m happy to say that you’ve proved all the naysayers wrong. Your love is strong and continues to stand the test of time. I know I speak for everyone here when I say that we couldn’t be happier for you both. Cheers. We love you,” his father said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Everyone raised their glasses to toast the Montagues’ first anniversary. His parents had flown the entire wedding party back to Jamaica for the special occasion. Norma Jean was beside herself now that she was the grandmother of a lovely baby girl, Angelica Jean. Tiffany and Ivan’s brood increased as they welcomed a baby sister, Kennedy Cecile, for Gavin. He enjoyed being the big brother, and everyone joked that Norma Jean was already lining up prospects for the Anderson and Mangum progeny.
