“He doesn’t want to draw any negative attention to the community, so in this case, yes. I’m sure he’s trying to cover his ass since you’re a cop.”
“Too late.” Levi grinned. “Trust me, it’s just a matter of time before ATF is up his ass again. From the things I heard from my contact at the Eighteenth District PD, Rick and his community won’t be around for long.”
Levi stared at Sarah, his gaze searching hers, as if looking for answers to everything that had transpired last night. He looked nervous, and she understood why. He was anticipating that this morning was going to be the end of them.
She put him out of his misery. “I’m not going anywhere, Levi.”
He didn’t look as reassured as she’d thought he would, and his expression remained tentative. “What does that mean, exactly?”
She gave him a soft smile. “It means that I’m staying right here, with you, despite my fears and hang-ups because of my past.”
“Sweetheart, we all have hang-ups.” He gently brushed her hair away from her cheek. “All I want is for you to give us a chance, and that’s something I’ve never asked another woman to do, and you want to know why?”
The emotion shining in his eyes was unlike anything that had ever been directed solely at her, and it was so easy to bask in his affection. “Why?”
“Because you are everything I need in my life, but didn’t know until you were a part of it,” he stated simply. “For five weeks, I pursued you because there was something about you that I wasn’t willing to give up on. Something so sweet and genuine, and then I discovered how similar our pasts were, and it all made so much sense why I was drawn to you. I’ve shared things with you that no one else knows, not even my brothers. I want to share everything with you.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, wondering if she ought to pinch herself to make sure that this was all real. That Levi was real and not some figment of her imagination. When she opened them, the answer was right in front of her, smiling at her with hope in his eyes and his heart on his sleeve—proving that everything about this moment was real, and she wanted it all with him.
She smiled back at him. “I love you, Levi Kincaid.”
He blinked at her in surprise. “Yeah?” he asked huskily, though there was a distinct happiness in his eyes that warmed her from the inside out.
“Yes.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss, and for the first time in a very long time, everything felt perfect and right.
Chapter Fourteen
One month later . . .
Levi was a man in love. That was something he’d never believed he’d ever have, but one single woman made it all possible. Sarah Robins. She’d changed his life, and as he glanced at her as she sat beside him while they watched Mason and Katrina get married in Clay and Samantha’s backyard, he knew he’d changed her life, too. Somehow, two broken, damaged people with screwed-up pasts had found one another and had managed to make each other whole.
Sarah was watching the ceremony with big, wide eyes, listening as vows were spoken and rings were exchanged. She was stunningly beautiful in a peach lace dress that skimmed the curves gradually filling out her body, thanks to the meals he cooked, and her blonde hair was a bit shorter now, but silky and shiny.
But most of all, she looked relaxed, happy, and content. She was no longer the timid woman he’d originally met at the convenience store. She was more vibrant, more confident, and he loved seeing those changes in her because it only made their relationship stronger, on every level.
He’d gotten a clean bill of health and was back to work patrolling the streets of Chicago. Since he still worked swing shift—something he was trying to change to spend more time with Sarah—she insisted on waitressing at Kincaid’s to help with any expenses even though he’d told her it wasn’t necessary. But at least he knew she was in a safe and protected environment, and she truly enjoyed being around her new friends and family.
But what Levi was proudest of was the fact that she’d decided to go back to school to pursue her nursing degree, which was something she’d wanted to do for a long time. Now, she could, with his full support.
Everything between the two of them seemed to be falling into place nicely, but as he watched Mason smile at his new bride with the biggest, dorkiest, happiest grin on his face when he was announced as her husband, Levi knew that there was still one more thing he wanted in his life. He hated to be selfish when he had so much to be thankful for, but he wanted Sarah as his wife, not just his girlfriend. He needed to give her that promise of forever and reassure her that they were in this for the long haul together. He planned to make it happen, but he was just a little nervous about whether or not she was ready to take that next step in their relationship.
He’d find out soon enough.
The ceremony ended, and Mason and Katrina walked out into the small gathering of people who’d been invited to help celebrate their nuptials. The day’s celebration was an intimate but informal affair, with just family and close friends present—seventeen people in all. Mason had worn a white dress shirt with a purple-hued tie to match the tips of Katrina’s blonde hair, and a pair of dark trousers. The bride had opted for a knee-length, strapless white dress that showed off the colorful butterflies covering her arm. Katrina couldn’t look more beautiful and happy, and Mason, well, that cocky expression on his face said it all.
Everyone gathered around the bride and groom as Mason poured champagne into each of their glasses for a toast, bypassing Levi, who was holding a glass of water for obvious reasons. When Mason reached Samantha, she already had a glass of water in her hand, as well.
Mason frowned at her. “Seriously, Samantha? Are you becoming a teetotaler like Levi? It’s my wedding and the champagne is freakin’ expensive, so have a drink.”
Samantha glanced at Clay, then back at Mason with an impish smile. “I really can’t. It’s not good for the bab
y.”
Mason gave her an odd look of confusion. “The baby . . .” Then it dawned on him and his eyes grew wide in shock. “Holy shit, you’re having a baby!”
“We are,” Clay confirmed proudly.
“Oh, my God!” Katrina squealed happily, clearly not caring that the attention was suddenly on someone else. “This is the best news ever! Mason is going to be an uncle, and I’m going to be an aunt!”