Page 171 of Renewal After Dark

He felt like a balloon that’d been stuck with a pin as he deflated.

“However… I understand you wanting a family that’s all yours, and it seems I want to give you that more than I want to avoid being married.”

Just that quickly, he was back in the game, breathless as he waited to hear what else she might say.

“It gives me tremendous comfort to know how much my grandmother loved you. There could be no greater endorsement for me than that, but over these last few weeks, I’ve also witnessed how much everyone else on this island loves you. I can’t say your name without someone telling me what a great guy you are or how you helped them out with this or that or how you showed up for them time and again. And during that same time, you’ve shown up for me time and again, giving me a place to live and basically turning your truck over to me and helping with Jax and bringing me coffee in bed every morning and trying—not so patiently—to teach me to cross-stitch and sticking with me even though I totally suck at it.”

A grunt of laughter burst out of him. “You’re coming along very nicely.”

“No, I’m not, but you don’t give up on me.”

“I never will.”

“And I know that, so…”

Duke held his breath as his whole life came down to whatever she said next.

She looked him dead in the eyes. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Duke.”

The burst of pure joy was unlike anything he’d ever felt. It filled his heart to overflowing as he drew her into the sweetest kiss of his life.

“One other thing…”

“What’s that?”

“When Kendall tells Jackass you’re taking the settlement, have her ask him to sign away his paternal rights to Jax so I can adopt him. If that’s okay with you.”

McKenzie blinked back tears. “Of course it is.”

“I’ll get you a ring. Any ring you want.”

“I don’t care about that.”

“I care about it, and it’s gonna happen.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so. I love you, McKenzie. I love you so damned much.”

“I love you just as much.”

“Thank you for having the courage to take a chance on me.”

“A very wise friend recently told me that when you’re with the right guy, there’s no courage needed.”

Epilogue

McKenzie woke the next morning wrapped up in Duke’s arms, her eyes aching from the lack of sleep after a night spent celebrating their engagement.

She was engaged.

To Duke Sullivan.

Her unicorn. Her one-in-a-million. The love of her life.

McKenzie Sullivan.

She liked the way that sounded.

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