The guys laughed. The nurse wasn't sure how things had turned into a celebration.
Jeremy pulled me into his lap. I looped my arms around his neck.
"For the record," I said, addressing his friends, "getting shot wasn't what changed my mind. Not all of it, anyway. Meeting all of you did. If a guy has such good friends, he can't be all bad, can he?"
Austin slapped Jeremy on the back. "She's really going to fit in. We like her." He pointed to Cam and Dylan. "Now if Ashley can just find them each a woman who can stomach them—"
Dylan shoved him.
"Boys," Blair said mildly. "We're holding up Jeremy's nurse. He has work to do."
The nurse laughed. "This is more fun."
Austin looked at Cam and Dylan. "Who's taking Jeremy home?"
"They live in the same building," Ashley said to me.
"Home?" Dylan shook his head. "I'm hungry. Who's up for bacon and eggs? Let's celebrate this engagement in style."
"We took my car," Cam said. "Dylan and I have room for both Crystal and Jeremy. I'll go pull it around." He jogged off to get the car.
"Someone needs to call Lazer and tell him he's going to be a best man again." Blair turned to Ashley.
"I'll call him." Ashley grinned. "And tell him he owes me another bonus."
As the party of friends laughed and joked, I turned to Jeremy. "I love you."
He smiled. "And I love you, Soon-to-be Mrs. Marino. I suppose there are some things we should discuss now—"
"How many kids?" I said.
"Exactly."
"Well?"
"You first," he said.
"Two."
He nodded. "My thoughts exactly."
Headlights flashed in the windows as a car pulled around in the patient pickup driveway.
Dylan looked out. "That's Cam." He waved to the nurse to push us out.
I tried to get off Jeremy's lap. "Where are you going?"
I looked up at the nurse.
"Stay where you are," the nurse said. "You're small. This chair can hold two."
And so I rode in a wheelchair on my hero's lap to my awaiting chariot, an engaged woman. And one very happy unicorn hunter. I'd finally found mine.
Epilogue
Ashley
I sat at my desk in my office, waiting for Jeremy, Crystal, and the guys to arrive for the heart-locking ceremony that was a tradition at Pair Us for all of our matched couples. Lazer was out of town again. I hated that he would miss it. He was missing a lot lately.
The Pair Us lock is beautiful—about one inch in size, engraved with Pair Us on Lake Union and our logo and catch phrase, Find the key to your heart. Room is left for the couple's initials on the back.
A single one of those locks sat in a plush velvet box on my desk in front of me engraved with Jeremy and Crystal's initials. Only clients get locks, not members. In theory, most clients will connect with a member, not another client—one lock, one couple, easy and uncomplicated. In this case—two members, two locks, a lock and a spare. This lock was Jeremy's. He'd insisted.
I was particularly proud of Austin's and Blair's lock, which was prominently placed. My own lock, which was solid gold, was engraved with Lazer's and my initials and placed at the center pinnacle location of the bridge. Ours had been the first lock to grace the bridge.
Our lock had been on the bridge now over six months and we were still no closer to setting a date for the wedding than we had been then. I loved Lazer. I did. But…
Damn those buts. And this was a big one—I wanted to get married again soon. I wanted children. I'd expected to have two or three with Ruck by now. I was getting older. Lazer was great in every way, but…
I couldn't rush him. He had to be ready to walk down the aisle, too.
I slid open my desk drawer and pulled out another plush box. It contained Knox's heart lock, engraved so far with just his initials. I was meeting him for lunch tomorrow. I planned to give the lock to him then. Why did my heart flutter at the thought of seeing him?
I felt disloyal. And yet I knew the answer—there had been a flicker of something between us. If I had reconnected with Knox before meeting Lazer, what would have happened? Was it only that Knox reminded me of Ruck and was a man who would commit his heart and commit fully? Or was there more?
My assistant Lottie knocked on my door and poked her head in.
The box with the lock burned in my hands. I shoved it back in the drawer and closed the drawer as if caught in the act.
Lottie didn't seem to notice. She was beaming. "They're here!" Lottie loved the guys almost as much as I did.
"Excellent." I smiled.
"Everything is set up for the ceremony and looks beautiful. Lazer sprang for the most expensive champagne."
"Being friends with the billionaire owner has its perks," I said.
Lottie clasped her hands. "It's very romantic. I think this is a record for the fastest engagement that we've had. At least since I've been with you."
I nodded. "Since ever."
"You're not worried, are you?" she said. "About it being so fast?"
"No more than I worry about any of my couples." I stood and smoothed my skirt. "I know they belong together."
Lottie was acting a little funny, which made me suspicious. She was blocking my view of something outside the door.
I gave her my thin-eyed look. "All right. What's up?"
She laughed. "Someone's here to see you."
"I don't have time—"
She stepped out of the way, revealing a stunningly hot guy. My guy, grinning in the way that always melted my heart.
My mouth fell open. My eyes went wide. I pushed my chair back and ran to him. "Lazer!" I threw myself into his arms. "You made it! I'm so glad you're back. You're just in time." He had no idea.
His eyes danced as he wrapped his arms around me. "Damn, I've missed you."
"Is the only way I can get you to come home to me is to get you another best-man gig?" I basked in his gaze. "If so, I'm running out of cards to play. I only have two more of your friends left."
"The most challenging two." He held me tight. "It's going to take a brave woman to take on Dylan, particularly."
"I don't know about that. A lot of women like the strong, silent type."
"You mean the giant type."
"A gentle giant. You'll have yet another best-man gig in no time and will have to run home to me again from wherever you are."
"Best-man gig, hell. This lock ceremony is just an excuse for what I wanted to do. How can I ever stay away from you long? I love you." He lowered his lips to mine.
"I love you too." I meant it with all my heart. But that didn't mean I was any less impatient.
* * *
Thank You!
Thanks for reading Mr. Accidental Hero! I hope you enjoyed it!
If you liked Mr. Accidental Hero you’ll want to read the next book in the Jet City Matchmaker Series—Dylan’s story, Mr. Cowboy! Can the strong silent type find love with a woman from his past?
Also by Gina Robinson
The Jet City Kilt Series
Almost Jamie
Almost Elinor
Simply Blair
Simply Austin
The Billionaire Matchmaker Series
Lazer Focused
Harte Strings
Pair Us
Dating Lazer
Match Point
The Billionaire Duke Series
The Billionaire Duke
The Duchess Contest
The Temporary Duchess
The American Heir
The Switched at Marriage Series
Part 1—A Wedding to Remember
Part 2—The Virgin Billionaire
Part 3—To Have and To Hold
Part 4—From This Day Forward
Part 5—For Richer, For Richest
Part 6—In Sickness and In Wealth
Part 7—To Love and To Cherish
The Billionaire’s Christmas Vows
&nb
sp; Gina Robinson’s Contemporary New Adult Romance Series
The Rushed Series
Rushed
Crushed
Hushed
The Reckless Series
Reckless Longing
Reckless Secrets
Reckless Together
About the Author
Gina Robinson is the bestselling and award-winning author of the popular Switched at Marriage, Billionaire Duke, and Billionaire Matchmaker romantic comedy series, featuring a billionaire in a surprising marriage of convenience, a billionaire who inherits a British dukedom, and a billionaire who partners with a matchmaker, the Reckless and Rushed contemporary new adult romance series, and the Agent Ex series of humorous romantic suspense novels. Her books have delighted readers and received praise in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Romantic Times Book Reviews.
She writes romance and women's fiction across a wide variety of subgenres--romantic comedy, new adult, contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense. Her love stories are infused with a blend of romance, adventure, a bit of mystery, and humor. Readers are drawn to the light touch she gives even serious topics and the fast, fun, easy-to-read pace of her books.
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www.ginarobinson.com
Mr. Accidental Hero: Jet City Matchmaker Series: Jeremy Page 16
