“How about Madison? I heard she’s here to help Jenna and to help with the opening of the coffee shop.”
He grunts this time. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
I scoot to the edge of my seat. “Why? Huh, that’s weird. I met Madison. She was really sweet.”
He rolls his eyes and grabs the remote off the coffee table. There’s definitely a story there.
Just as soon he flips the TV on, the front door opens, and the sound of numerous footsteps sound across the hard tiled floor. I don’t panic, though, because this place has the best security system. Plus, I’m pretty sure one of the set of feet is Walker. My body knows any time he’s close, and right now it’s buzzing.
The whole team walks in, and all eyes are on me. Walker walks straight to me and leans down to kiss me right on the lips.... in front of everyone. I gasp, and when he pulls away, my hand goes to my mouth and I look at the floor. I can imagine what everyone is thinking.
I’m completely embarrassed, but Walker isn’t having it. He lifts me up and sits down, putting me right on his lap. I look at him, stunned. He just laughs. “Okay, everyone, just so we’re clear. Brooklyn and I are together. If you have a problem with it, you can leave now.”
My hand tightens on his arm, and my face flushes. “Walker, you can’t...”
He nods, and his hands grip my waist. “I can and I will. Nothing is coming between us again, baby. If someone doesn’t like it, they can go.”
The room is silent, and after seeing the sincerity in his eyes, my embarrassment fades. I look up into the faces of the men and the woman that would do anything for anyone in this room. They’re a family... my family, and I know they’re not going to care about Walker and me dating. He’s just wanting to put it out there that I’m his... and he’s mine.
Bear holds his hand out to the others. “Pay up.”
He doesn’t smile, but he does, indeed, break the ice. The others start pulling their wallets out, putting hundred dollar bills in Bear’s hand.
Walker’s confused, so I fill him in. “They all made bets when we would get together.”
He nods then and pulls me back. My hand goes to cover his, and I see the busted knuckles. “Walker, you’re hurt,” I say, pulling his hand up for closer inspection.
He lets me coddle him but explains, “They’re in jail, Brooklyn. They caught them.” He gestures to the room around us.
I go to stand up, but Walker stops me. I pat him on the chest. “I just want to say thanks.”
He kisses me, long and slow before releasing me. I’m dazed when I get up, but I still go around the room, hugging and thanking everyone. As soon as I get to Dylan, the last in line, Walker pulls me back into the circle of his arms. “All right, guys. You’ve seen her, she’s okay. So we’re going to take a few days off. Nash has your next assignments, but it’s been a rough few days, so take some time off. Be in for a briefing on Friday.”
Everyone nods, and before I can even say bye to them all, they’re plowing out the door.
Silence hits when they leave, and Walker is pulling me toward his bedroom. He pulls me to the bed and lies down, pulling me down with him. After feeling him skin to skin last night, I want to feel it again.
“We have on too many clothes,” I tell him.
At the same time, he says, “I love you, Brooklyn Waters.”
“I love you too, Walker... more than anything.”
He hovers over me, inspecting the bruises on my cheek. “Marry me,” he whispers.
My eyes widen in shock. “What? Marry you?”
He nods. “We’ve wasted enough time. Marry me. Be my wife, have my babies.”
I push up onto my elbows and scoot back. He raises up and moves with me. He’s looking at me curiously. “What? Do you not want to marry me?”
I put my hands on his shoulders. “Yes, I want to marry you. But are you sure, Walker? I don’t want you to rush into this and regret it.”
He tunnels his hands through my hair, holding my nape to look up at him. “For five years, you’ve consumed my every thought. You’ve been mine this whole time; you just didn’t know it. I need it official, baby. I need you to be mine for real.”
A lone tear slides down my face, but I’m smiling, nodding my head. “I’ll be yours for real.”
Epilogue
Walker
“I need a few days off,” John says, bouncing from one foot to another.
“Is everything okay with Jenna?” I ask him, referring to his sister, who is married to Dylan and due to have a baby soon.