Epilogue
Jade looked around at the crowded, fancy restaurant. It was the Italian restaurant of the Jewel family’s resort on Condado Beach, Puerto Rico. Joshua kept his arm securely around her as he introduced her to all of his family and some close friends. She’d only invited Teal and Stetson. Her parents didn’t deserve an invite and all she really needed was Joshua.
She was currently trying to memorize all of the Jewel family. His parents were easy: Peter and Madeline, classy and kind people. The siblings got a little tougher. Isaac was the military brother and had the darkest skin and hair. He was thicker and tougher-looking than the other brothers. Luke was next in line and reminded her the most of Joshua. He was an entrepreneur and his blue eyes were lit with intelligence. Seth and Caleb were the twins and their blue eyes were lit with mischief. Joshua explained as teenagers they’d fancied themselves Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter novels. Then there was Rachel, who Jade would always be indebted to for getting her and Joshua back together and Leah, the youngest who oozed sweetness and had a three-year old daughter, Paisley.
“Whew,” she blew out a breath, glancing up at Joshua. They finally had a second to themselves and were sipping on some daquiris.
“What?” He smiled down at her, his blue eyes twinkling.
“I think I’ve got your family down.”
He laughed. “They’re a crazy lot but they’ve all told me at different times how great they think you are.”
“And you’d better agree.” She gave him a sassy wink.
“Yes, ma’am.” He set his drink on a side table and wrapped both arms around her. Jade’s heart sped up as she anticipated kissing him.
“Uncle Josh?”
They both looked down. Paisley was wearing a flowered sundress and a large smile making her chubby cheeks squish almost up to her big blue eyes.
“Hey, there’s my girl.” Joshua released Jade and picked his niece up. “Are you having fun?”
“I got a message for you,” she said.
Joshua chuckled. “Okay.” He winked at Jade.
She put both her dimpled hands on Joshua’s cheeks and said slowly, “You better marry that girl quick or Uncle Luke is gonna steal her.” Turning, she yelled, “I did it, Uncle Luke!”
Luke was a dozen feet away talking to Rachel. He gave her a thumbs up. “Good job!”
Jade laughed, but wasn’t sure she was ready for any pressure to get married.
Paisley squirmed to be out of Joshua’s arms.
“Now you just want to leave me?” Joshua asked.
“Uncle Luke promised me chocolate,” she said.
Joshua laughed and set her down. She turned and ran to Luke who picked her up and tossed her in the air. “Good job, Paisley girl!”
She giggled and then demanded, “Chocolate, please.”
Most of the room was watching Luke and Paisley. Joshua squeezed Jade’s hand and whispered, “Shall we slip outside?”
“Yes, please.”
They hurried out a sliding glass door, through the pool areas, and within half a minute were on the beach.
Joshua turned to her. “This is where it all started. Our magical journey of love.”
Jade laughed. “It was more like a roller coaster ride.”
“As long as it was thrilling.” Joshua wrapped his hands around her hips and drew her close. His voice got huskier, and there might have been a trace of nervousness in it, “Do you think … Luke’s suggestion has any merit?”
Jade’s stomach hopped. “It’s only been a couple of months. I think you might need more time to earn my trust.”
He looked down at her, his blue eyes serious. “I understand. Is there anything I can do, that I’m not doing well, to earn it?”
Jade tilted her head as if considering. No. He was doing everything perfectly and all she wanted was more time with him as they were both busy, her training under Curtis to be the next CEO and Joshua running his myriad of companies.
“The only thing you’re not doing well …” She smiled and bit at her lip. “Is kissing me thoroughly enough.”
Joshua’s blue eyes got that smoldering look in them that she absolutely loved. “Well we’d better remedy that right now.”
He bent his head and their mouths met, quickly getting entangled in a beautiful dance of love and desire.
The truth was Joshua Jesse Jewel was doing everything right, and it wouldn’t take much more convincing for her to agree to marry him. Jade sighed happily against his lips, tightened her grip on his neck, and kissed him again. Joshua was definitely the right man for her.