Page 71 of Jack

Epilogue

Jack had never been sonervous in his life. He’d rather face down a room full of insurgents with a pair of knitting needles than this, but he was also excited. Valentine’s Day had seemed like a long time away when he’d set this plan into action, but it had come around quicker than he’d realised. He guessed that’s what happened when you were truly happy, and after so many years the heavy load on his shoulders was lifted.

Astrid was with her sister who was still in a coma. Each day she stayed that way a little more hope that she’d ever come out of it died. His heart ached for the woman he loved who’d gotten her sister back only to have her snatched away. He’d agreed when she’d decided not to tell her parents anything. Why give them hope when there may not be any.

Jack checked again to make sure he had everything he needed and waited. He didn’t have to wait long before he heard the keys in the lock. Astrid had moved in with him just after Christmas, and he’d never been happier in his life. She was everything to him. Just the thought of her made him smile and a day away from her felt like a year he missed her so much.

He now knew how his men felt about the women they loved. Alex was now a father to a daughter named Liliana, but they called her Lily for short, and Mitch’s wife Autumn had given birth to a son they’d named Devon.

Waggs and Willow had gotten engaged just before Christmas, Blake and Pax had a baby on the way, and the others were enjoying newly wedded bliss. It was good for his team to be back on an even keel, and he was ready to move his own personal life to the next level.

He stood as Astrid walked through the door to the living room, knowing he wouldn’t have much time before the surprise was ruined so he needed to move fast.

“Hey, handsome.” She came straight to him for a kiss, and instantly he was seduced, mind and body by the feel of her lips on his. His hands roamed over the tight black jeans she wore to cup the cheeks of her ass, and she moaned against him.

Jack pulled away, needing to put space between them or he’d lose himself and take her to the couch and forget everything but how she felt and tasted. “I have a surprise for you.”

Her eyes lit up, and he loved how she was such a big kid about gifts. Christmas had been so much fun because he got to watch her get so much joy from both the gifts she’d received and those she gave. Her generosity was one more thing he loved about her and it more than made up for the mountain of shoeboxes stacked in his previously spare room.

“You do? What is it?”

He led her to the couch and made her sit down. “Wait here and close your eyes.”

She did as he asked. “Is it kinky, Jack?”

He smothered a laugh as he lifted the gift gently in his arms. “No, nothing kinky but if you want that later I’m sure I can think of something.” In fact, his mind was now distracted with all sorts of ways he could make her kinky fantasy come true.

Walking over, he knelt on one knee in front of his firefly. “Open your eyes.”

Astrid blinked, and he watched the joy cross her face as she took in the tiny, sleeping, Pomeranian puppy that fit in his palm.

“Oh, Jack.” She took the pup from his hands, not catching on to the extent of things yet. Her hand stroked over the soft fur before her fingers caught on the tags. Her eyes lifted to his as she lifted them to see the diamond ring attached to the collar.

“Astrid, I know I fought it at first, but once I gave up the fight, I realised that you were the most exquisite, beautiful person both inside and out. Your courage and strength are a thing to behold, and I love you more than I can ever express. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and raising a family with you at my side. Will you marry me?”

Astrid grabbed his cheeks and pulled him close as tears poured down her face, and the puppy lay sleeping between them. “Yes, Jack, I’ll marry you.”

“Oh, thank God.” He kissed her softly and held her against him, relief pouring through him that she’d said yes.

Astrid pulled away with a laugh when the puppy squeaked. “Were you worried I’d say no?”

“Not really, but I wanted it to be special, and you never know for sure. You might have changed your mind.” He took the ring from the pup’s collar and pushed it onto her finger as she admired it. It was a beautiful solitaire diamond in a princess cut with a diamond band he knew would look gorgeous on her.

Jack got on the couch and pulled her across him so he could hold her close, settling the newest edition to their family on her lap.

“Never, Jack. You’re never getting rid of me. Not ever.”

“Good because I don’t know what I would do without you in my life every day.”

“Who would’ve thought when we met, we’d end up here.”

“Not me. I thought you were a sexy pain in my ass determined to drive me crazy.”

Her laughter rang through the house they shared and were making into a home where he hoped one day to raise their kids. “I thought you were sex on legs but also a stuck-up asshole who wouldn’t know a good time if it bit him on the ass.”

His fingers trailed over her shoulder, and she shivered at his touch, always so responsive to him. “Is that so?”

“Yep.”