Rogue Devil (The Rourkes #11) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,69

sure were confident,” she says.

“I know my woman.”

“You do. I’ll have to plan something cool for you too.”

“You, Chloe, you’re the only thing I need.”

She frees her hands from mine, grabs my ass, and tugs me closer. I take the hint, sliding deep inside her. Our gazes lock and it hits me this is the first time we’re making love as an engaged couple.

“You’re looking at me all mushy,” she accuses. “Stop it, or you’ll make me cry.”

“Can’t help it.” I lean down and nip the side of her neck. “I love you so damn much.”

It’s different this time, less urgent, but oh-so-satisfying. Our breaths mingle, and we connect on some deep level that’s beyond words, beyond our bodies. It’s the absolute bliss of true love.

It finally happened for me. She was so worth the wait.

Epilogue

Chloe

It’s Labor Day weekend, early September, and I’ve got a few days off med school for the first time in a month. It’s a relief to get away. Not that I don’t love it, but it’s a lot of hard work. I’ve learned to appreciate my downtime. Brendan and I drove down to New York to meet up with his family at a lake house they rented.

“Text Jack that we’re close,” Brendan says as he turns onto Lakeshore Drive.

I send a quick text (all of my new Rourke family is in my phone now) before peering out the window, taking in the cute cottages and larger houses up on the hill overlooking a pretty lake with a few people in rowboats and canoes.

“It’s so beautiful,” I say. “Have you been here before?”

“Yeah. Jack and Riley were engaged here at a lakeside cottage, and they rent one every Labor Day for a family party to commemorate the event. Now that our family’s gotten larger, they rented a bigger house.” He points ahead. “It’s that two-story white house up there.”

“Ooh, look at the deck overlooking the lake. That’s so nice. I wonder why no one’s sitting out there.”

“Probably gathered around the food inside. Jack’s friend owns a restaurant in Brooklyn and caters for them every year.”

“So fancy.”

He laughs and gives my hand a squeeze. “Yeah.”

“Have you ever gone fishing?”

“Nope.”

“Me either. Maybe we could try it while we’re here.”

He pulls into the driveway and turns off the car. “Whatever you want. Jack says there’s bass and trout mostly.”

“No idea what they look like, but I guess I’ll find out.” I get out and meet him at the trunk of the car, where we packed an overnight bag and a six-pack of beer. I take the beer.

Brendan hauls out the large wheeled suitcase, shuts the trunk, and takes the six-pack from me. He jerks his chin for me to go ahead of him.

“Bren, now I’m empty-handed.”

“Bring your biggest smile. Chop-chop. Jack says he left the patio door open on the deck and to come up that way.”

I climb the steps of the deck and wait for Brendan by the large wall of glass, peering inside. “It’s all decorated with heart balloons, flowers, and white streamers.”

“Huh. Sounds like they’re celebrating something.”

I glance over my shoulder at him suspiciously. He sounds a little too nonchalant.

He grins, his blue eyes dancing with amusement. “Open the door for me, please. My hands are full.”

“Is this an ambush?”

He lifts his brows. “As in, the entire family attacks? Sounds about right.”

I laugh. I’m being silly. I open the glass patio door and hold it for Brendan. Everyone stops talking to stare at us.

“They’re here,” someone whispers loudly.

“I thought he was texting Jack when he was five minutes away,” someone else whispers.

“Shoot. My phone’s charging.”

I turn to Brendan, who looks amused and then lifts his brows and nods to his family in a gesture of let’s go.

“Congratulations!” everyone shouts.

And then the horde descends on us. My father-in-law hands me a bouquet of red roses, my sister-in-law Josie settles a bridal veil on my head, and my mother-in-law gives me a blue garter, which Brendan slides on me while I’m still standing in complete shock. Someone absconded with our suitcase and the beer.

I blink, confused. “Why am I wearing a veil and a garter? We got married two months ago.”

Brendan whispers in my ear, “They wanted to celebrate with us here, since we did the small courthouse ceremony. Most of them missed it.”

I turn back to my new family in awe that they’d do all this for us. A party for something they missed out on. “We didn’t mean to leave anyone out of our wedding. We