Several restaurant patrons started applauding. Stryker acknowledged them with a smile, then added, “She said yes!”
The entire restaurant broke out in applause and Emerson turned around and waved. “I’m gonna marry this man!” Then, she turned back and kissed him again.
Once seated, she studied the ring. The brilliant radiant-cut diamond was flanked with two halos of small round stones. “This is unbelievable. It’s so incredibly beautiful and big. Wow. How did you know I liked the radiant-cut diamond?”
“Danielle.”
“I’m worried about her. She’s not okay.”
“No, she’s not. I talked to her about losing her sister. She didn’t say much, but that’s nothing new with her. I told her to take off as much time as she needs, but she said working full-time is keeping her mind off things.”
“She’s so angry,” Emerson said.
“I get that.”
“I know. I do, too.”
Stryker leaned over and kissed her cheek. “All you can do is be there for her.”
As their server returned with their appetizers, Emerson admired her ring. When he left, they tried each appetizer, one at a time.
“Can we hire the chef for our wedding?” Emerson asked. “This is delicious.”
“Ready to get married?”
She shot him a smirk. “Not today. What I do need is a cover for my new job. Thoughts?”
“That’s easy,” Stryker replied. “I’ll hire you as my security advisor at TCS.”
“Great idea. That’s perfect. I have one more question to ask you.”
“Okay.”
“What are you doing after dinner, Justice?”
He laughed. “No plans, why?”
“I reserved a room at a spicy nightclub called The Dungeon.” She leaned close. “I bought this latex outfit and I’ve beendyingto crack the whip.”
“I’m all yours, Boomslang,” he replied. “All yours.”
Epilogue
December, Six Months Later
Emerson walked down the stairs and spotted Stryker in the family room. Her heart flipped at the sight of him. He’d pulled his hair into a man bun and was rocking it out in his black tux.
Then, she saw what he was doing, and laughed. He was shining a laser light on the floor and Pima was chasing it like a maniac. He slid his gaze in her direction and let out a long, slow whistle.
She wore a deep violet gown with a slit up the side.
“My God, woman, you are gorgeous. Wow.” He flicked off the laser light and met her at the foot of the staircase.
Standing on the last step, she stared into his eyes. “You look damn hot yourself. You were born to wear a tux and my job will be unwrapping you at the end of the evening.”
He shrugged. “We’ll see.”
“I love when you play hard to get,” she said, before dropping a soft kiss on his lips.