The man gives my neck a concerned look. “Really you should—”
Beck appears and squats beside us. “He’s fine man. Move on.” The EMT gives him a scowl but obeys, standing up and leaving. Beck eyes me. “Did I mention I was on my way here?” He looks at Faith. “I’m Beck. Glad you lived. Sorry your house didn’t.” He looks at me again. “Kasey, Bill, and Jess are in custody. Kasey and Bill are singing like birds. Jess is not. But the bottom line here per Kasey is that Bill threatened Kasey’s sister or so he says. He agreed to set this fire and take a payout a little too quickly for me to buy into that.”
“Kasey set the fire?” Faith gasps.
“You didn’t know?” I ask.
“He said he had a surprise for me and ran downstairs. He told me to wait in the art studio.” The next thing I knew, the place was on fire. I don’t know how it didn’t get to me sooner. The stairs were on fire from the beginning.” She covers her face. “I can’t believe this.” She drops her hands. “Did he kill my mother?”
“Bill says Nick’s father was controlling your mother. He wanted the winery, too, and I assume he knew about the mercury. Per Bill, they both became a problem. Like you did, Faith. And that’s all for now. I need to go hand off Jess to those who shall not be named.” In typical Beck form, he just stands and leaves, without another word.
I turn to Faith. “Your house—”
“Doesn’t matter.”
I cup her face. “I can’t lose you.”
Her lips curve. “Then you won’t.”
I reach in my pocket and retrieve the ring. “Marry me. Be my wife.”
She breathes a heavy breath. “Your hair and skin are scorched and you’re proposing?”
“I’d propose if my entire body was scorched. Marry me. The ring is—”
“Gorgeous. Stunning. Huge. I’ll need a bodyguard.”
“Does that mean you’ll marry me?”
“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”
I pull her lips to mine and kiss her, like I might never kiss her again. And I plan to kiss her that way every day for the rest of her life.
EPILOGUE
Faith
Three months later…
It’s our first morning at our new apartment, Nick and I sit down at a table on the patio with plates of pancakes in front of us, made of course from a mix, because that’s my specialty. I’m still in his t-shirt I slept in last night, while he’s in his pajama bottoms and another t-shirt that fits nice and snug across his chest. That snug fit is exactly why I haven’t stolen that particular shirt just yet. His hair is loose, longer now again, though he tested out the shorter style for all of about a month. Nick just doesn’t do conventional.
He fills our glasses with fresh Mimosas. “How does the new place feel?” he asks.
“Exciting,” I say. “I’m dying for the studio to be done next week. I have orders and shows, and painting to do.”
His phone buzzes with a text and he glances down at it. “Rita made it down to the winery to help Carrie this morning. Rita says that she is impressed. And we both know that Rita is not easy to impress.”
Carrie being Kasey’s long time second-in-charge who is now running the winery. “I like Carrie, too,” I say. “I always liked her but she was just overshadowed by Kasey. And now that the government came in and claimed the mercury we don’t have to fear another problem. I can’t believe Bill and Kasey went to jail and so quickly.”
“A plea deal works that way but he’s still going to be inside a long time while Kasey will be out in a year.”
“I still can’t believe he was involved. And Jess Wild. We’ll never know what happened to him, right?”
“The CIA deal with their own.” He changes the subject. “Back to the winery. No regrets over keeping it?”
“No regrets at all. You know how the fire affected me. I gave myself the freedom to live and to let it go.”
“But you didn’t let it go.
“No. We’ve made it possible to maintain my father’s legacy, while I’m creating my own, at least I hope that I am.”
He holds up the card from my father. “Then you’re ready for this.”
I swallow hard. “Oh.”
“No?”
“Yes.” I firm my voice. “Yes I am.” I stand up and take it from him, walking to a small sofa seat a few feet away. Nick joins me and I slowly peel open the seal and remove the handwritten note. Just seeing my father’s script steals my breath. I start reading out loud:
Faith:
If you aren’t painting right now, it never really mattered to you. It wasn’t your passion. Because when something is your passion, you can’t let it go. You can’t walk away. The winery was that for me and so was your mother. Both had flaws but it’s the imperfection in things that are often perfection. I always assumed that one day I’d tell you how proud I am of you for fighting for what matters to you, for embracing your passion. I just needed it to be the right time. If you’re reading this, I never got the chance to pick that time and the moral of the story, is that life is short. It could end tomorrow. All or nothing, Faith.
I love you forever,
Dad
Tears are streaming down my cheeks and Nick is on his knee beside me. I lean forward and press my hand to his cheek. “All or nothing.”
He kisses my hand and says, “Let’s set the wedding date. We were waiting until things calmed down. That’s now.”
“Let’s elope. Now. Right away. All or nothing.”
Nick smiles. “All or nothing. Name the place.
THE END
BUT I HAVE TWO BONUSES FOR YOU IN THIS BOOK, SO KEEP READING!
Have you read Chris and Sara’s story yet? Start with book one in the Inside Out series, IF I WERE YOU, which is now in development for film/TV—BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS!!
SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!
http://lisareneejones.com/newsletter-sign-up
And just for a teaser, I’ve included Chris and Sara’s infamous, and oh-so-sexy Window Scene—turn the page to read it!
THE WINDOW SCENE FROM IF I WERE YOU
The elevator is right off of the fancy lobby and past a security booth. Chris punches the button and the doors open immediately. I follow him inside, and watch as he keys in a code. The doors shut and he pulls me hard against him.
My hands settle on his hard chest, inside the line of his jacket, and warmth spreads through me. “What just happened?” His hand brands my hip.
My breasts are heavy, my nipples aching. “I don’t know what you mean?”
“Yes. You do. Second thoughts, Sara?”
I scold myself for being so transparent. “Do you want me to have second thoughts?”
“No. What I want is to take you to my apartment and make you come and then do it all over again.”
Oh…yes please. “Okay,” I whisper, “but I think you should feed me first.”
His lips curve into a smile, his eyes dancing with gold specks of pure fire. “Then you can feed me.”