Epilogue

Yankee Stadium - World Series, Game Seven

The crack of a bat split the air. The crowd—including Dayne and his friends—roared with over fifty thousand other fans jumping to their feet as the Yanks tied the final game of the series with Boston 3-3. The next batter struck out, ending the top half of the seventh inning.

“More beer?” Dayne asked. Everyone nodded or gave him a thumbs-up. They’d all come in two limos, courtesy of Kat, who’d arranged everything.

“Yo, Dayne.” Jaime joined him at the bar, clinking his empty bottle against Dayne’s. “A luxury VIP suite, huh? Not a bad birthday gift at all.”

He pulled another six-pack from the kitchen’s refrigerator and set it on the bar. Nope. It wasn’t. The best part was that his family and all his friends were there to celebrate with him.

His mother and father sat in the exterior cushioned seats, along with Lily and her kids. His friend Matt, his wife Trista, and their little boy, Joe, had driven up yesterday and spent the night in one of the castle’s guest rooms. Nick, Andi, and their little girl had arrived that morning and would be sticking around for a few days. Eric and Tess, along with Tess’s brother, Jesse, had driven in that afternoon and were also staying in the castle. There were as many bedrooms in the place as in a small motel.

Kade, Markus, and Jaime were the only bachelors left in the bunch. Not that Dayne and Kat had gotten married yet. Another thing he hoped to rectify, and soon. Before the seventh inning stretch ended. For that, he needed another beer.

Across the suite, Kat and his friends’ wives were deep in conversation that elicited a round of giggling. Nick and Andi’s baby, Rose, lay in Kat’s arms, fast asleep. Over the baby’s head, she caught his eye and winked.

“Man, you are totally whipped.” Nick slapped him on the back.

“Yep.” He nodded. He totally was, and that was okay with him. More than okay. It was fan-fucking-tastic.

Eric and Matt joined them.

“Happy birthday, pal.” Eric gave him a bear hug.

Matt clapped him on the shoulder. “Another year gone by.”

Yeah, and he couldn’t wait to see what the next year would bring.

His mother, father, Lily, and the kids joined them inside the suite. The kids went for the tray of cookies and brownies, while his mother and Lily mingled with the other women. His father rested his hand on Dayne’s shoulder.

Dayne couldn’t take his eyes off Kat and the baby. There was no doubting she’d make a great mother.

Marriage was definitely in their future, but they were still working through the bumps and hurdles life continually presented them with. Like accepting the extravagant luxury VIP suite overlooking home plate. One of the many compromises they’d each made since Dayne and Remy had officially moved into the castle five months ago.

In exchange for him accepting the suite as a birthday gift, she’d gone camping with him in the Poconos. They’d grilled burgers and dogs then made love under the stars. The guys were more than right. Not only was he totally whipped, but he was 100 percent head over heels in love and couldn’t be happier. He fingered the small box in his pocket.

Kade leaned in. “Does she know?”

Dayne shook his head, unable to speak. His throat had gone as dry as a desert.

“The seventh inning stretch is wasting away, here,” Eric prodded.

“Yeah, bucko.” Jaime nudged Dayne’s shoulder. “She’s not only rich, smokin’ hot, but she loves baseball. If you don’t ask her, I will.”

“The man’s right.” Markus’s amused expression took him by surprise. “What are you waiting for?”

What was he waiting for? He’d bought the ring a month ago, hanging on to it like a big chickenshit, waiting for the other shoe to drop. For someone to shake him awake and give him the bad news that he’d been dreaming. That the most wonderful woman in the world didn’t love him. But she did, and she was standing ten feet away.

His father gave him the encouraging nod he needed to make his feet move.

“Kat,” he said, joining her by the other women. “Can I borrow you for a minute?”

“Sure.” She handed the baby back to Andi then he led her to the center of the suite and knelt, tugging the black velvet box from his pocket and flicking open the lid. Damned if his palms weren’t sweaty.

He took a deep breath and swallowed, but that didn’t do a thing to slow his racing heartbeat. “Katrina Vandenburg. You are my heart and my soul. With every breath I take, I love you more than the last. Will you marry me?”

She covered her mouth with her hands. Her body shook with sobs. Happy sobs, he hoped. He held his breath, waiting for the answer that would forever change his life. She nodded and lowered her hands. “Yes. It’s about time. Yes!”

He didn’t know which was smiling more, his face, or his heart. He plucked the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. Then he stood and kissed her, pulling her against his chest so he could feel her heart beating against his.

A series of aws came from around the room. Dayne caught his friends fist-bumping his dad.

“There’s something else I need to say.” He had to say it now, so there’d be no lingering doubts in her mind. “I’ll sign a prenup.”

“Oh, Dayne.” She blinked rapidly. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t.” He kissed her palm. “I want to. I want to prove to you that I love you for you and nothing else.”

“No, you don’t understand.” Tears spilled from her eyes and he tried brushing them away with his thumbs, but they kept coming too fast for him to keep up. “That’s the one thing in this world I don’t doubt. That you love me for me, and I love you for you. Don’t you see? I don’t care where you came from, and I don’t care where you go. As long as we go there together. That’s all that matters.”

Hot tears welled behind his lids because he’d just learned the most important lesson of his life.

Home isn’t where you come from. It’s where you make it.

In the warmth, comfort, and joy of her loving arms, he was finally home.

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