Things We Left Behind (Knockemout, #3)

by Lucy Score

I had almost reached her when the opening bars of Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” sounded from a fat spruce on the opposite side of the porch steps. I spotted the torso of Nash’s uniform peeking out from behind the evergreen. He was holding the speaker of his phone up to a bullhorn. This was why people hired professionals.

LOL

“Sloane Walton, I have loved you for so long I don’t remember what my life was like before my heart was yours. It’s changed over the years. But I’ve loved you as a friend, an enemy, a lover. It would be my greatest honor in this lifetime if you would let me love you as my wife.” Tears slid down her cheeks one after the other. “Marry me, Sloane. Be my wife. Let me share your life up close. Let me protect you and love you like I’m ready to.”

“There’s something you need to know.” I held her by the upper arms. “What? I’ll fix it or buy it or destroy it.” “I love you.” Her words, the sincerity behind them, had my stomach throwing itself off a cliff. “Say it again,” I ordered gruffly. Her smile was a sunbeam that warmed the darkest corners of my heart. “I love you, Lucian Freaking Rollins. I always have. I always will.”

“Hang on,” Stef said, waving his hands. “I had a lot of whiskey in a very short period of time. Are you saying you’re okay with us moving in together even if I make you move out of your apartment that smells like diesel fumes?” Jeremiah began to approach slowly. “I’m saying let’s buy a house or a farm or an estate or whatever you want.” Stef was nodding and swallowing. “Yeah. Okay. That sounds…fine.” Jeremiah took Stef’s hands. “I’m saying let’s be a family…with our families.” “Oh my God,” I breathed and pulled out my phone to record the moment. “What are you saying, Jer?” Stef demanded. “I’m saying, let’s move in. Let’s get married. Let’s do the whole damn thing. I’ve been waiting a long damn time for you. Let’s get started already.”

“Don’t you dare start cryin’, Daze,” Knox ordered gruffly. He abandoned Vernon and crossed to his wife. “Oh brother. Now they’re gonna make out,” Waylay predicted, returning her focus to the software update with an exaggerated eye roll. “I’m chargin’ extra for this.”

Family. Just a few short months ago, I’d realized it was what I wanted more than anything. Now, thanks to Lucian and these women, there would be new life in my home. More parties. More holidays. More love. More laughter. I felt the pang. My dad would have loved this. He would have been over the moon, planning engagement parties, writing funny toasts, practicing our father-daughter dance. I missed him so much it hurt to breathe. I love you, Dad, I said silently. Thank you for everything.

“I love you. Now get the fuck out.” “I love you too. Don’t end up in jail,” she whispered.

A tap at the window startled me. I spun in a voluminous pool of taffeta and satin to find Lucian Freaking Rollins crouched on the porch roof in a tuxedo. I ran to the window as he opened it. “I thought it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,” I said even as I half dragged him through the window. He stood staring at me, then slowly shook his head. “I don’t believe in bad luck. Not anymore.” His smile was devastating. “What do you think?” I asked, twirling in front of him. “I think you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen and I’m the luckiest man on earth.”