She stared at him in puzzlement.
“During the confrontation with Ian…I realized something.” He struggled to sit up, ignoring the agony that sliced into his stomach. “Teresa was a spectacular liar and she fooled me, just like she fooled Ian. I can either kick myself for it for the rest of my life, or I can let the anger and insecurity go. Right now.”
“Do you really think you can do that?”
“I don’t think I have a choice.” The corner of his mouth lifted wryly. “If I want to start a life with the woman I love, I can’t be harping on the past. I have to focus on the future.”
Jamie’s breath hitched.
“You heard me,” he said with a hoarse laugh. “I love you, Jamie.”
He gripped her hand and brought it up to his heart so she could feel its rapid beating. “And I don’t want you to quit your job,” he added. When she blinked in surprise, he gave her a pointed look. “Don’t tell me you weren’t considering it. I can read your mind, sweetheart.”
“I just don’t want anything to come between us,” she confessed. “I want a husband and babies and a gloriously happy future—with you, Cole. But I don’t want you to think my career or anything else comes first for me. If we’re together, you’ll always come first.”
“I know that now. But I also know your work is a part of you, and I would never ask you to stop doing it.” He suddenly grinned. “But how would you feel if I stopped doing mine?”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“I keep thinking about that offer from Lewis Limited,” he admitted. “Not sure it’s even legit, seeing as Ian was the one who told me about it, but if they’re truly interested in buying Donovan Enterprises…I think I might sell. I never thought I’d ever say this, but I’m exhausted. I’ve worked myself ragged trying to build an empire, but these past weeks, I’ve been in Serenade, and the downtime has been nice…more than nice, actually.”
“So you’re just going to sell out? Give it all up?”
“I only got into the business to spite my father. And the more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t want to be like him. A workaholic, a businessman first.” He sat up higher, the pain in his body fading as an awe-inspiring thought hit him. “I think it might be fun to be a stay-at-home dad.”
Jamie’s jaw dropped. He was actually quite surprised it didn’t meet the floor. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.” He grinned again. “My dad was never around for me when I was a kid. I don’t want to be an absentee father, and since you want to have a ton of babies…”
More tears spilled from her eyes. “God, Cole, I didn’t think it was possible to love you any more than I already do, but now…”
“Now you pictured me as a sexy dad and couldn’t control yourself?”
She laughed through her tears. “Something like that.”
“Good.” He moved a little bit closer to her. “Now come here and let me kiss you. I’m feeling kind of sleepy and don’t want to pass out until we seal this engagement with a kiss.”
“Engagement?” She raised an eyebrow. “Did I miss the proposal?”
“Oh, that.” He paused for effect. “Will you marry me?”
“I’ll need a few days to think about it,” she said primly.
“You’re not serious, right?”
“Of course I’m not serious.” She slid toward him, lowering her head until their faces were inches apart. “And of course I’ll marry you.”
Then she bridged the distance between their lips and sealed it with a kiss.
Epilogue
Finn left the hospital torn between breaking out in a grin or a grimace. He was a tad pissed at himself for being so damn happy that Donovan had survived, but he couldn’t stop the annoying burst of joy. Maybe he and Donovan would never be the best of friends, but the man had taken a bullet to save Finn’s closest friend and that was something Finn would always be grateful for.
As he stepped out into the cool night air, he tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket and stared up at the inky sky. Christ, what a night. Firing his weapon wasn’t something he did often, and his hands still shook with regret as he thought about the life he’d taken tonight. Ian Macintosh hadn’t deserved to die. He should’ve been punished for his attempts on Jamie’s life, but for falling into Teresa Donovan’s web? That was something Finn wouldn’t wish on anyone.
The killer’s still out there.