It was perfect. Exactly what I would’ve chosen for myself except that I never would have dared to venture into such an expensive part of the jewelry store.
“Is this real?” I whispered.
Montgomery’s grin deepened. “We made it. Our happily ever after starts now. Your dreams are my dreams. We’ll do all of it. Together. Just like you said. I had to go last night for my father, but even if we’d gotten kicked out of the Trial, I was going to do whatever it took to make it right for you if that happened.”
I grinned at him, barely daring to believe all he was saying. I’d understood immediately when he’d explained after getting back. I knew he wouldn’t have risked leaving if it had been anything less than an emergency, but to hear that even in the moment of crisis he was thinking about me…
Light rain began to fall all around us.
I’d spent enough of my life chasing dreams not to grab hold of them when they were right in front of me.
“Yes!” I squealed and then threw myself into Montgomery’s arms, kissing him hard on his mouth and then all over his face, again and again and again. Around us, rain began to fall in torrential sheets, but I didn’t care. “All I want is you.”
A lifetime in Montgomery’s arms would still never be enough.
Epilogue
Sully VanDoren
At least something good came out of this fucked up nightmare of a situation.
Happiness looked good on Montgomery. He deserved it more than most. That man worked hard his entire life for everything he did, and he finally got the outcome befitting of someone like him.
King of his own empire.
With a queen by his side to help rule it.
“I’m surprised to find you here,” Beau said as he walked up to where I stood alone and handed me a glass of champagne. “I didn’t think engagement parties were your thing. Especially with your own Initiation looming so near.”
I took the champagne, seeing that everyone was being served a glass in the room for the upcoming toast.
“It’s good to see they both came out of this shit in one piece,” I said, noticing that my tone came across harsher than I intended. I didn’t want to be the pissed off asshole tonight and ruin a friend’s party, so I needed to check my attitude.
“I heard that Grace turned down the money,” Beau said as we both looked upon the couple at the front of the room as they stood with champagne glasses in hand. “That’s crazy. After all she went through… I guess you could call it love.”
That fact alone was why I stood in this room with my mouth shut. I would’ve found it very hard to celebrate another engagement that I knew was poisoned with Southern money and greed.
Grace seemed different than all the women I knew from around here, and I was happy for Montgomery in finding that rare gem.
A young woman standing next to Grace tapped her flute, the delicate pinging of the crystal getting everyone’s attention. Once she felt the eyes of the room were all on her, she cleared her throat to speak.
“Thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate Grace and Montgomery and their engagement. For all y’all who don’t know me, my name’s Delilah Grace here’s my best friend. I’ve known her a long time, and I couldn’t be happier that she finally found a good man. When she first began this… ah, journey…”
Delilah paused and gave a smirk to Grace, which she returned. “I sure as fuck—I mean, ahem, I don’t think a lot of us thought she’d come out of it hitched and with a new job helping him run his big ass company.” She laughed. “I sure as hell didn’t expect to get hired on either and finally be free of waiting tables.”
She grinned at Montgomery. “But I also didn’t expect to be introduced to such a stand-up, honorable, decent guy. These two belong together more than anyone I ever met. So I ask all y’all to raise your glasses to wish them happy ever after as they plan their wedding and dream about their future.” Then she leaned in towards the crowd. “And y’all, we gotta get on Grace about popping out some babies sooner rather than later, cause look at these two.” She gestured at Grace and Montgomery. “They’d have some gorgeous babies, am I right?”
The crowd tittered with laughter and Montgomery’s mom actually put her fingers between her lips and let out a whistle. Grace’s cheeks were bright red and she was waving at her friend to sit down. Montgomery only sat back and smiled at his fiancée like she hung the moon. I’d never seen the bastard so settled and happy.
Delilah just grinned bigger and raised her glass. “To Montgomery and Grace!”