Control (Harper Security Ops #18)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Ty

Two months later

I finally got it.

I finally understood why I had never felt it before.

The whole time I’d been questioning myself, wondering if I was missing signs, nothing had been wrong.

It was because I hadn’t found her.

Now that I had her, it all made sense. Now I knew why all the guys at work hadn’t needed years to figure out if the woman they were with was the one.

Because I felt it.

I knew.

I had not a single doubt.

And as I sat across from her in a quiet booth on Valentine’s Day at The Ridge, the feeling of certainty moved through me nearly as much as the love did.

Love.

I thought I knew what that was before I met Alana. I hadn’t had a clue. All I knew before I met her was what love wasn’t. She taught me better; she showed me the real thing. And now I was going to make sure I didn’t ever risk losing that or her.

Seeing her in a dress for the first time as I donned a suit for her only made this moment that much better.

I smiled at her, feeling something swell in my chest at just how much I adored her. “A romantic date. You in a dress. Me in a suit. And Valentine’s Day. It’s pretty remarkable, if you ask me.”

It was like I could see the stars in her eyes as she sighed dreamily. “It’s perfect.”

“It’s going to get better, you know?”

She pressed her lips together, smiling, and shook her head. “How? When you take me back to your place or mine and ravish me? You’re insatiable, Ty.”

“Well, yes, that’s definitely going to make it better tonight,” I assured her. “But that’s not what I’m referring to.”

Her brows shot up, silently questioning me.

I hesitated, though not because I was second-guessing myself. I paused just to give myself a moment to take this all in. The table we were at, the look on her face, and the love in my heart.

When I thought I’d done enough to commit it all to memory, I pulled out the box and set it on the table. "I think this might take things up a notch for us.”

The shock and disbelief on her face were clear as day. Her eyes darted back and forth between the ring box and me, ultimately settling on my face. “Ty, is this…”

I took her hand in mine. “I don’t know if I’ve ever made it clear just how much you’ve changed my life, Alana. I want to say I knew you were going to be someone special in my life from the moment I met you, but it seems impossible for that to be the truth. But when I take the time to really think about it, I can’t say it’s not true. There was something about you that pulled me in from the start, and once I had the chance to talk to you in the hospital that day, I never wanted to walk away. It wasn’t that long ago when I told you I feel things for you I’ve never felt before in my life. That feeling is something I refuse to risk losing.”

Keeping her hand in mine, I got up from my seat and dropped to a knee beside her. With the ring box in my opposite hand, I looked into her gorgeous, shining eyes. “Ty,” she whispered.

“I love you, Alana. I love you so much, it hurts to think about you not being in my life. So, I’m not going to do it. I want you to be mine forever, baby. Will you marry me?”

Two tears rolled down her cheeks as she slowly nodded. “Yes,” she rasped. “Yes, Ty, I’ll marry you.”

Until she’d accepted my proposal, I hadn’t realized just how nervous I’d been. But getting her answer was like having a massive weight lifted from my shoulders. Feeling like I was floating, I took the ring out and slipped it onto her finger. Then I stood, urging Alana out of her seat at the same time. She threw her arms over my shoulders and hugged me tightly.

“I love you,” I whispered in her ear before giving her a kiss.

Her arms tightened around me. “I love you, too.” Alana kissed me again. “I can’t believe we’re engaged.”

“Believe it, babe, because it’s happening. I’m not ever letting you go.”

“Good, because I won’t allow it.”

I grinned at her. “Always trying to be bossy.”

“And you love it.”

She was right.

I did.

So, I didn’t argue with her. Instead, I touched my mouth to hers and kissed her instead, feeling so grateful that she’d come into my life.