Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
She hugged him back, her chest filling with warmth. “How about we try to avoid any more drama for a while?” she suggested.
With a bark of laughter, Aiden pulled back and cupped her face, looking at her like she was precious. “I have a feeling we’ll be out of touch for a while, but once the FBI says we’re free, I think we should do something completely drama-free.”
“Such as?” she asked, glancing up at him, filled with so much love her chest hurt.
“I was thinking about… house-hunting.”
Brooke gasped. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“Well, I’m sure we’ll be doing that in witness protection, but after that? I’m not letting you leave me.”
She arched one eyebrow. “You really can’t stop making decisions for me, can you?”
With another laugh, Aiden pulled her in for a kiss.
Epilogue
One Year Later
After living in a small house in Idaho for eight months, Aiden and Brooke had returned to New York four months ago. While they’d been in WITSEC, Aiden had hired bodyguards in New York to protect the rest of the family, including Lizzie. It cost a fortune for the high-end security company to keep everyone safe, but it had been worth it.
The crazy in their lives came to an end when the FBI and Interpol compiled enough evidence to bring down the criminal organization behind the corruption. During the takedown, the head of the organization had been killed, as had his sons, and the rest of the group had splintered and fallen apart afterward. The arrest of many others involved came next. Those that ran were no threat to anyone.
Aiden was finally safe.
His family was, as well.
Things changed while they’d been gone, and it would take time to get reacquainted with the babies who’d grown, not to mention the family whose lives had continued in their absence. Jared returned to the office, and their dad now worked a three-day week. Alex was no longer trying to push himself too hard, but he enjoyed the stimulation the business provided. Between his father and Brooke, Jared had all the top-level support he needed.
Aiden and Brooke moved into the gatehouse. Brooke jumped back into work, eager to pick up where she’d left off at the office. Aiden, meanwhile, took on the job of house-hunting and setting up his new career, building his own online news magazine.
Turning to his laptop in the home office, he looked through the résumés sent in, excited about the future. No more traveling in favor of time with Brooke and the ability to work from home. He’d had a long eight months to create a business plan and like Brooke, he was ready to hit the ground running. Unlike Brooke, he was creating a magazine from the ground up, and building a business took time.
After about an hour at his desk, he heard the front door open and close. A moment later, the sound of Brooke’s heels tapped on the floor.
“Hi, handsome,” Brooke said from the doorway of the office, looking gorgeous in a flowing pale blue skirt and a cute white blouse.
“Hey, sweetheart.” He closed his laptop and rose to his feet. Walking around the desk, he strode toward her and pressed a kiss to her lips.
“How was your day?” he asked.
She smiled. “Pretty good and better than your dad’s.” Her lips quirked upward in a grin.
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh? What happened?”
“Someone brought donuts into the break room this morning. He thought he could get away with just one.” She shook her head at his father’s antics.
“And you caught him?” Aiden guessed.
She nodded. “The poor man begged me not to tell and to let him have just one.”
“Let me guess. You were strict and mean.”
“Be nice!” Brooke playfully slapped his shoulder. “Someone has to make sure he’s staying healthy when my mom isn’t around. But we negotiated. He said half. I let him have half of his half.” She met his gaze. “And I never promised not to tell my mother.”
Aiden burst out laughing. His poor dad. Someone watched every move he made.
Brooke told him about the rest of her day, chatting animatedly about the job Jared had put her on with a long-time VP. She really loved her work, and while Aiden couldn’t understand why, he was glad. Her eyes lit up as she talked, and a feeling of peace and happiness settled over him. He was so damned grateful she had given him a second chance.
Their time away merely cemented the bond they’d been rebuilding. Brooke was everything to him, and after five long years away, he finally had the life he wanted.
He thought about the ring box in the top drawer of his desk. He’d spent hours with a jeweler picking out the perfect stone and design, then decided to wait until they walked into their new house for the first time.