“Shouldn’t we date first?” she asked, smiling through her own tears. “I mean, that’s sort of the thing to do before jumping to the I Do part.”
“Fuck that. I know what I want and it’s you. I want you Emma Winters. God, woman, I want you. What do you say? Destination wedding or a blow-out obscenity with hundreds of people stuffing their faces with lobster and steak on the Buchanan dime?”
She looked into his eyes and said with a grin, “How about an elopement? Just you and me and someone to make it official.”
“We’re already thinking alike,” he said with a wicked grin. Could she be any more perfect for him? “We can be in Tahoe in an hour. I’ll call the pilot to ready the jet.” At that her eyes widened and he dropped her to her feet with a playful smack on the ass. “Honey, there are perks to being a Buchanan. Now get dressed or else we’re never going to get out of here.”
She squealed and ran for the shower, throwing an invite over her shoulder, “You can join me if you promise to keep your hands to yourself!”
Vince grinned and wiped at his eyes, amazed at how things felt so different. It was all because of Emma — the woman who’d walked into his club with the intent to bring him down. Funny how life worked out sometimes. “No promises, baby,” he answered, stripping once more. As he stepped into the spray, Emma immediately going into his arms, he realized Tahoe wasn’t going anywhere…
“Vince!” she gasped and then dissolved into giggles as he proceeded to lovingly worship her body just as he planned to do for the rest of their lives.
-Epilogue-
Married life wasn’t so bad. Hell, who was he kidding? He fucking loved being tied down — and Emma was becoming quite the expert on how to tighten the restraints so she could have her wicked way with him. That was his favorite part — his wicked little wife.
“You look like the cat that ate the canary,” Dillon joked, poking him in the ribs as they stood around the barbecue and tried to appear as if they knew what they were doing. Emma had declared she wanted a good old-fashioned backyard barbecue with burgers and beers, which was fine by the Buchanan men except for the one caveat the girls had thrown in — the men had to cook.
“I don’t understand why we couldn’t have beers and burgers catered in,” Nolan complained, looking at the meat cooking on the grill. “How do we know this will be edible?”
“Cooking a burger isn’t rocket science,” Dillon said, swigging his beer. “You just flip it a few times and make sure it doesn’t burn. Viola, dinner is served.”
“Until we all die of e-coli poisoning because we didn’t cook the meat thoroughly,” Vince quipped dryly. “But hey, my wife wants burgers and beers, and that’s what she’s getting.”
Vince swigged his beer and surveyed their expansive backyard, watching as Shannon and Emma played with Aubrey in the pool while Penny sat with baby Bobby in the shade.
“So…you okay with shutting down Malvagio?” Nolan asked. It was the first time they’d actually talked about the decision to put an end, literally and symbolically, to their old ways and Vince realized he felt great.
“I’m good,” he answered, grinning. “It’s weird. I thought I’d be wrecked about it but I don’t feel anything but relief. It’s like I closed a door and walked away from everything in that house. I don’t miss it. Hell, I don’t have time to miss it. Being a husband is serious shit.”
“Amen to that,” both Dillon and Nolan agreed.
“I do regret not having the opportunity to beat the shit out of Preacher for what he’d done to Emma and her sister. Seems he got off light.”
“I agree. The justice system is fucked.” Dillon flipped a burger, adding. “However, there is a benefit to being who we are. Preacher AKA Scott Pritchard might not be spending much time in jail, but he’s going to find it very difficult to show his face around town, well, at least until it heals,” Dillon added slyly.
Both Nolan and Vince swiveled their gaze to their older brother. A slow grin spread across Vince’s face. “You didn’t…”
“Me? Nah, but someone did. Let’s just say he got everything that was done to Emma and Lana…and then some.”
“Including…?”
Dillon’s laugh was downright wicked. “You know what they say…don’t bend over to pick up the soap.”
“Fuck yeah, that’s what I’m talking about,” Vince said with whole-hearted approval, loving his older brother for taking care of business. “You’re the man, Dillon. Your network is a fearful thing.”
“Yes, it is.” Dillon’s answer wasn’t smug, just matter-of-fact and Vince’s pride in his older brother swelled.
“Hey don’t leave me out. I had something to do with it, too,” Nolan said.
“Yeah? Mr.-I-have-a-family-now? What did you do?”
“I kept you occupied so you didn’t go and run off to commit a felony before Dillon could handle things. You think I wanted to spend all day at the batting cages with your spoiled ass? You cheat more than you play fair and my arm is shot.”
Vince laughed and punched his twin in the arm. “Don’t be such a pussy. Fine. Name the sport and I’ll beat you at it fair and square. Except golf. I fucking hate golf.”
“Whatever man, it’s cool,” Nolan said, grinning. “Just glad to have your cheating, sulking, sore loser — and winner — self back. It was rough, you know?”
“Yeah, I know,” Vince acknowledged, sobering a bit until Dillon rolled his eyes and made a gagging sound.
“Can you guys stop being a bunch of girls for ten seconds? Shit, you’re about to sprout ovaries. Grab your plates these burgers are done.”
They hollered at the girls to grab some grub and as they munched on the very first meal they’d ever made in their lives, Vince realized there was something to this simple but beautiful life filled with family, laughter, and love.
There was no fancy catering company tending to their every need, just good, old-fashioned potato salad, burgers and beers.
And it was sublime.
What had he been so afraid of? Why had he waited so long? The answer hit him as Emma leaned over to press a kiss to his cheek in between bites and his heart tripled in speed as pure, unadulterated love suffused his body. He’d been waiting for her.