Epilogue

Grace

I’d never wanted to get married.

Then Jack Murphy hit on me at a gala, and my life had never been the same.

“We should get married,” I murmured, lying in bed next to him and intertwining our fingers.

His eyes widened and I swallowed hard, the fear of rejection sinking in my gut.

“You’re serious? I thought you never wanted to…”

I sighed, rolling onto my back and pulling the sheet over my chest. “I didn’t. But you need to get married for the company, and I love you. We’re practically living together as it is, why not just make the leap?”

He shook his head and slowly sat up.

My chest tightened and I clenched the sheet in my fists.

Crap. I put my heart out there and now he was going to reject me?

He leaned over the bed, riffling through his trouser pockets before sitting down.

Or I thought he was sitting down until I finally looked over. My breath caught in my throat when I sat up and found him down on one knee, holding a small black box.

“I’ve been carrying this thing around since the day you left for the airport. I knew I’d propose to you. I didn’t know when or how, but of course your stubborn arse tried to do it before I could.”

“Jack…”

He shook his head, opening the box to reveal a sparkling diamond ring inside. “We can argue about this forever and we probably will. But you’re the only woman I want to argue with forever.”

Tears stung my eyes and I wiped them away.

He frowned and stood up slowly before sitting on the bed. His hand went to my cheek, brushing a tear away with the pad of his thumb. “Too much, mo chroí?”

I sniffled. “I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m truly happy.”

“So is that a yes? You’ll marry me?”

I smiled, taking his hand and kissing his palm. “I believe I asked you first.”

He laughed, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me close. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re a right pain in the arse? But you’re my pain, and yes I’ll marry you if you’ll have me.”

As if she knew she was interrupting a tender moment, Jane Pawsten barked from the floor, jumping so I could see the tops of her little ears.

Jack leaned over and with one hand, scooped up the little furball, putting her on the bed next to us.

I looked over at Jane, scratching behind her ears. “What do you say, Jane Pawsten? Think we should give up this whole ‘never getting married thing’?”

She barked, turning in a small circle before curling on the bed next to us.

“I don’t speak dog, but I’m thinking that’s a yes,” Jack said, one hand on my waist and the other on Jane’s back.

I met Jack’s eyes, smiling as my heart beat wildly. “We both say yes.”

…

I wanted to call everyone and tell them the good news right away, but Jack agreed it would be better at brunch with my family there, and of course his brother, Sean.

My hands slightly shook as we walked through the long hallway toward the dining room.

“Nervous?” Jack asked.

“A little. I mean, this is a big deal and what if they all just think this is really a ruse or Mum hates me for marrying you or…”

He sealed his lips over mine before I could do any more protesting.

I just wanted to get lost in his kiss and savor the moment, but Jane barked at our feet, prying us a part. And I knew we had to face my family.

And his, for that matter.

As soon as we entered the dining room Granddad’s voice boomed, “And here’s the happy couple. Have something to say to us?”

My eyes widened as I turned to Jack who grinned. “What? Did you really think I’d ask you without getting your grandda’s permission first?”

“You wanker.” I squeezed his hand but couldn’t hide the elation in my voice.

Sean was the first one to stand from the table and give me a huge hug, lifting me off the ground to spin me before setting me back to the floor. “So I guess I get to call you sister now?”

He raised his eyebrows but then lowered them, narrowing his eyes at his brother. “Still stands that if you hurt her, I’ll kill you. Brother or not.”

Jack shook his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Now just to get you married off.”

Sean muttered something under his breath I couldn’t hear before the two brothers hugged. Then we went around the table getting congratulatory hugs from the rest of the family with Mum being the last one.

I held my breath as she slowly approached us.

“I just want to say…I’m happy this is how everything turned out,” Mum said. “Truly. I’m so sorry for any trouble I caused.”

I shook my head, glancing at Sean who stood to the side of us with his brows furrowed in question. “Mum, it’s fine…”

He was looking to play my bodyguard as always. But before he could approach us, Jack lifted his hand as if to say I got this.

Sean glanced at me then looked back to his brother with a curt nod.

“No. It’s not fine,” Mom quipped as I zeroed my attention back on her. “What your father did to this family put me in an awful place, one I shouldn’t have dragged you into. For that, I’m sorry, to you and your future husband.”

Her eyes flickered down then back to us, tears brimming. She’d always tried to hide her feelings from the world. That show of emotion nearly did me in.

Jack smiled, putting an arm around Mum. I had to swipe under my eyes to make sure I didn’t turn into a blubbering mess right there.

“Everything happens for a reason, and all that matters is that we’re all here now. Right where we’re supposed to be,” Jack said softly before kissing her cheek and shooting a wink in my direction.

Sean’s booming voice called over Mum’s shoulder, knocking us out of our happy little family moment. “Since this is a celebration now, does this mean we’re getting out the whiskey?”

Jack rolled his eyes, and I laughed. Each Murphy was more of a pain than the last. But they were my pains.

There were looming deadlines and a wedding to plan, but for once it was just about Jack and me. We had the rest of our lives to worry about the company and the family.

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