NYC Angels Flirting with Danger

EPILOGUE



“SURPRISE!”

The lights came on as soon as Chloe and Brad entered the house. He smiled, glancing at Chloe to see how she’d react. The whole Jenkins clan was gathered behind the long farm-style table he’d eaten many a meal at as a troubled teenager. Ben and Jan were smiling, arms around each other’s waists. Jason—sans arm brace after six weeks—wiggled his middle finger to show it was all healed and ready for business.

A shaft of pride went through Brad’s chest. This family had opened its arms to him long ago. He now knew they’d be open whenever he needed them.

“What is this?” Chloe asked, glancing up at him.

“I kind of spilled the beans about what I was going to do tonight. I’d have been in big trouble if you’d said no.”

She looked at the glittering diamond he’d placed on her third finger. He’d forced himself to wait until her divorce was almost final before asking her to start a whole new life.

With him.

She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. “No chance of my saying no.”

Chloe’s mother came over and kissed her daughter’s cheek, whispering something that made her smile. Jan then stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek as well. “Chloe’s a very lucky woman.”

“I’m the lucky one, Mrs. Jenkins.”

Chloe burrowed closer with a sigh. He could hardly believe this smart, passionate woman had agreed to be his wife.

Ben clapped him on the back and held out his hand. “Welcome home, son.”

A mist rose in front of Brad’s eyes, and he blinked a time or two before shaking the elder Jenkins’s hand. “I appreciate that, sir.”

Brad’s real father was still holding his own, his illness seeming to be the wake-up call he’d needed to continue working on his relationship with his son. There was still a way to go. His mother was another story, but Chloe’s sweet spirit was making inroads there as well, surprisingly.

“Come on, people. This is supposed to be an engagement party.” Jason plucked a strawberry from a platter of sliced fruit and dipped it into a fluffy white concoction. “Besides, you guys are over an hour late and I’m starving. Dad has ribs outside on the grill.” He popped the fruit in his mouth and then picked up another piece.

Chloe’s cheeks turned a delicious shade of pink, and Brad knew she was thinking about exactly why they’d been late. She mouthed, “I love you.”

He slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, catching sight of the gold key she wore on a slender chain around her neck—the same one he’d placed in her palm all those weeks ago. He picked it up and fingered it, his eyes meeting hers as a silent promise passed between them. A reminder that love was strong enough to unlock any door, as long as they did it together.