Terms of Engagement

Epilogue

One Year Later
July the Fourth
Wimberley, Texas

Kira looked across the green lawns that sloped down to cypress trees shading the sparkling river. The air stirring through the leaves was warm, while the water was clear and icy.

Kira couldn’t believe her happiness. Ever since that afternoon in the hospital, when she’d awakened to Quinn and her family gathered around her bed, her happiness had grown a little every day.

Despite the pain in her shoulder and back, she’d seen the love shining in all their eyes.

Love for her.

Had it always been there? Whether it had or not, all her doubts about herself, about Quinn, about her adoption, had vanished. She’d simply known that she mattered—to all of them.

She belonged.

Knowing she was truly loved, her confidence had grown in every aspect of her life, including in her career as a curator. Naturally, Gary had been thrilled that she was to remain Mrs. Sullivan. Quinn had thrilled him even more by being most generous to the museum, stipulating with every donation that his wife be in charge of the funds.

This lazy summer afternoon on the grounds of the Sullivans’ new weekend home on the Blanco was perfect for a July Fourth celebration that included friends, family and business associates. The star of the show was only a few months old.

Thomas Kade Sullivan fulfilled his mother’s most fervent hopes as he sat on his red-and-blue quilt by the water, holding court. He shook his rattle while Aunt Jaycee laughed and held up a stuffed bunny rabbit. With his brilliant blue eyes, Tommy Kade was every bit as handsome as his father.

Off to one side, a band played as their guests took turns swimming in the cool waters or serving themselves barbecue.

Quinn left the men he’d been talking to and walked up to her. Grinning down at her, he circled her with his arms. Contentment made her feel soft and warm as he held her close. Never had she dreamed she’d feel this complete with anyone.

She smiled at the sight of her mother ordering the caterers about. With her illness in remission, her mother was her old formidable self. When Vera had been well enough for Kira’s dad to leave her at home, Quinn had made a place for him at Murray Oil.

“Murray Oil’s too big for one man to run,” Quinn had said when Kira had tried to thank him.

Life was good, she thought as her husband brushed his lips against her cheek. Very good.

“Happy July Fourth,” Quinn said.

“The happiest ever.”

“For me, too. Because you’re in my life,” he murmured huskily. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me…besides Tommy Kade. And you’re responsible for him, too.”

“Stop. We’re at a party. We have to behave.”

“Maybe I don’t want to behave.”

He drew her away from the crowd into the shade of the towering cypress trees. Once they were hidden from their guests, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her long and deeply.

“I love you,” he whispered. “I love you, and I always will. We have a real marriage, now—wouldn’t you agree?”

The most wonderful thing of all was that she knew it and accepted it—down to her bones—because she felt exactly the same way. “I would! And I love you, too,” she murmured. “Oh, how I love you.”