A Miracle for the Flirtatious K-9 Handler (Love in Sweet Bloom #10)

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

“Morning, Emily,” Paul greeted as she entered the sheriff’s office.

“Morning,” Emily replied, her lips curving into a smile she couldn’t suppress.

Every day since they confessed their love for each other, work had become more than duty. He got to spend every shift with the woman who had stolen his heart.

“Ready for another day in paradise?” he teased, playfully winking at her.

“Only if you’re there,” she jested back, giving him a quick kiss on the forehead before they both got to work.

As the days went by, their relationship grew stronger. Paul had brought on another K-9 handler and was training the young man to work alongside him and Maddox. Emily continued to excel as the head dispatcher. They supported each other through the daily challenges, often exchanging encouraging words or sharing a knowing glance during particularly trying moments.

“Hey, Evans,” Deputy Wilson, the department’s newest addition, called out as he came into his office with his own German shepherd, Barrick, beside him.

Paul looked up from his paperwork. “What’s up, Wilson?”

“We got a call about a missing hiker up in the mountains. Sheriff wants us to head out ASAP.”

Paul’s heart rate quickened. This was what he’d trained for. He glanced at Emily, who was already on the phone, likely coordinating with the local ranger station.

“On it,” Paul said, grabbing his gear. “Maddox, it’s time to do our job.”

The German shepherd was at his side in an instant, tail wagging with anticipation.

As they headed for the door, Emily called out, “Be careful out there.”

Paul turned back, meeting her loving gaze. “Always am.”

Throughout their shifts, little gestures and exchanges like these became the glue that held them together, a constant reminder of the love and support they shared.

Outside, Paul and Wilson loaded the dogs into their vehicles. The mountain terrain would be challenging, but Paul felt confident. With Maddox by his side and Emily’s support back at the office, he could handle anything.

That evening, after another successful day at work, Paul pulled Emily close, their bodies swaying gently in the moonlight as they danced beside the wishing well to the music he was playing from his phone.

“Emily,” he whispered, his brown eyes locked onto her green ones, “I know you’ve had your heart broken before, and I promise I will never let that happen again. You’re not just my partner at work; you’re my partner in life.”

“Paul,” Emily breathed, tears glistening in her eyes, “I trust you, and I’m so grateful for you.”

“Me too, Em,” he murmured, pulling her even closer. “Me too.”

“Emily,” Paul began, his voice gentle yet filled with emotion, “I brought you back here to ask you something. When we were here last time, you made a wish and never told me what it was. Are you ready to share it now?”

She hesitated for a moment, but as she looked into his eyes, she nodded. Taking a deep breath, she finally confessed, “I wished to find out if we were meant to be together.”

A warm smile spread across Paul’s face as he pulled her close. “Well, I think it’s safe to say that wish came true, don’t you?”

“Absolutely,” she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes as they shared a tender kiss by the wishing well.

At that moment, Paul knew without a doubt that they were destined to be together. Their love and support guiding them through every challenge life would bring their way.

Emily felt like she belonged in his arms, his heart swelling with love and gratitude for the life they now shared. Even though he didn’t want to, he released her from his arms, taking a step back while maintaining eye contact.

“Before another second passes, there’s something I have to ask you,” he said, his voice soft yet filled with anticipation.

Emily watched as Paul reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Her breath caught in her throat as he opened it to reveal a stunning diamond ring.

He went down on one knee, his gaze never leaving hers. “Emily Ortiz, does this prove it to you? That we are truly meant to be together?”

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn’t contain the joy that bubbled up inside her. “Yes,” she shouted, her voice filled with love and certainty. “Yes, it does.”

Paul’s face lit up with a radiant smile as he gently slipped the ring onto her finger. Standing up, he wrapped her in his arms once more, their love now sealed with an unbreakable bond.

As they embraced, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. They turned to see all of their friends and Emily’s family walking toward them, clapping and cheering for their engagement.

“Congratulations,” Sheriff Hart shouted as he patted Paul on the back and gave Emily an approving smile.

Emily blushed, her hand instinctively moving to touch the new ring on her finger. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

Paul nodded, his arm still around Emily’s waist. “We couldn’t be happier.”

“I’m thrilled for you both,” Cora told them as she gave them a hug.

“You deserve it,” Natalie added.

Next to give their blessing were her parents. “I’m glad to see you followed through,” Emily’s father told Paul.

“My dad knew?”

Paul nodded. “I had to ask for his permission, didn’t I?”

“And your father tells me everything, so I knew too. And let me tell you, it was hard to keep it a secret,” her mother stated with a shudder.

“But I feel completely out of the loop,” her brother grumbled. “You would think my twin sense would have given me some clue what was coming.”

This caused everyone around them to laugh.

Emily playfully punched her brother’s arm. “Come on, Randy. You can’t know everything.”

“I should’ve at least sensed something was up,” Randy grumbled, but his frown quickly turned into a grin as he hugged his sister. “But I’m happy for you, sis. You too, Paul.”

As the group chatted excitedly around them, Paul squeezed Emily’s hand. “I hope you don’t mind the audience. I wanted our friends and family to be here to celebrate with us.”

Emily’s eyes shimmered with tears of joy. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I wanted this to be a night you would never forget.”

“You know,” Emily said softly, “I never thought I’d fall for a guy with a badge again. But you proved me wrong in the best way possible.”

Paul chuckled, pulling her close. “And I never thought I’d find someone who understood both sides of my life—the calling and the man. You’re everything to me, Emily.”

They shared a tender kiss, surrounded by the warmth of their loved ones and the promise of a bright future. Both Paul and Emily knew that they had found their happily ever after in Sweet Bloom.