Two years later.
The morning sun poured through the massive bay windows of The Daily Grind, illuminating the rich mahogany counters and the vibrant green hanging plants. The scent of freshly ground espresso and warm cinnamon rolls filled the air.
Emma wiped down the pristine counter, humming softly to the jazz playing over the speakers. She didn’t flinch when the bell above the door chimed. She didn’t scan the street for shadows.
Gavin Mercer was currently serving a fifteen-year sentence in a federal penitentiary for fraud, assault, and attempted murder. The trial had been swift. The mountain of evidence, combined with his unhinged attack at the penthouse, had left his defense attorneys with nothing.
Emma had taken the shattered pieces of her life and built something beautiful. With a small, strictly-repaid business loan from a silent investor, she had opened her own cafe. It was thriving.
The door opened, and a man in a perfectly tailored navy suit walked in. His ice-blue eyes instantly found hers, softening into a warmth reserved entirely for her.
“Morning, boss,” Lucian said, leaning against the counter.
“You’re late, Mr. Bale,” Emma teased, sliding a freshly poured black coffee toward him. “A CEO should have better time management skills.”
“I was busy ring shopping,” he replied casually, taking a sip of the coffee.
Emma stopped wiping the counter. She looked up, her heart doing a familiar flutter. “Excuse me?”
Lucian set the cup down and reached across the counter, taking her hand. His thumb traced the faint, faded scar on her wrist—a reminder of a past she had conquered.
“We built this life on trust, Emma. We took our time. You built your empire,” he gestured to the bustling cafe, “and I learned how to stop trying to protect you from the world, and instead, just stand beside you while you conquer it.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, placing it on the counter between them. He didn’t drop to one knee; he looked her straight in the eye as an equal.
“I don’t want to rescue you anymore, Emma. I just want to love you. Every day, for the rest of my life.”
Emma looked at the man who had stepped out of the shadows to save her, and stayed in the light to love her. The fear was entirely gone, replaced by an unbreakable, radiant warmth.
She smiled, a true, brilliant smile that reached her eyes.
“Yes,” she said, leaning across the counter to kiss him. “Always, yes.”
