“I just did.”
My vocal cords froze. He’d quit?
“I told them I got married two months ago, and living apart wasn’t worth the paycheck.” He waved ahand toward the window. “Then I packed my things and bought a pickup to drive here.”
He’d bought a pickup. I couldn’t read into that. So he had a mode of transportation. Most people did.
The guy rarely left Silver.
But he was here.
“I stopped to talk to Dad first,” he said softly. “Or I’d have been here earlier. But I couldn’t see you until I cleared a few things up with him.”
The ache in my chest lessened. He’d called him Dad instead of Hank. No. I was reading too much into this. His life was in upheaval. “What about the other job offer?”
“I told Harold I’d be interested in investing with him on smaller projects, but first I have some playground equipment to buy for a school in my hometown. I am otherwise unemployed.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter anyway. We’re millionaires.”
Another laugh burst out of me. Yes, I was financially comfortable. When my family’s companies depended on the economy, grain prices, and taxes, we tended to be savers and not spenders. “I’m not rich, Mr. Casino.”
“You’re my wife. We’re rich. My lawyer’s going to make the postnup go away—unless you’re afraid I’ll have some say on your property. It doesn’t matter to me because we’re never getting divorced.” He swung his gaze across my family members. Seemingly undaunted by their presence and the still quiet bar, he continued, “All that money is what I saved to buy Percival. Now it’s what I can live on. If you don’t mind having a househusband.”
I stared at him. Rich. Househusband. None of this was making sense.
He glanced back and forth between Teller and Tenor. They moved aside finally and I was exposed.
“I’ve missed you.” Gideon crossed to me. “I’ve done nothing but miss you and regret that I couldn’t be the guy that you want. Then I saw that damn email. I can’t lose you, Autumn. The month I had with you was the best of my life. I want more. I want forever with you. I want kids. I want more cats. A dog. Maybe a bigger house, but our current home will do until our family grows.”
Fear tore through me, got smothered by hope, only to turn to disbelief. “Are you sure?”
“I’m so goddamn sure. The talk I had with Dad cleared a lot of things up. I grew up being told everything in my life revolved around Percival and that’s not what my mom wanted for me. Dad knew it and that’s why he wouldn’t sell to me.”
“Oh, Gideon.” I put my hand on his hard chest. He was so warm. So real.
“It was the best thing he could’ve done for me. I thought I was losing my legacy, the only place I thought of as home, but you’re my home, Autumn. Wherever you are is home.” He dug in his coat pocket and dropped to one knee.
Stunned, I could only watch. What was happening?
He opened a small black velvet box. “I know you already have a ring, but this was the one I was going to buy you in the first place.”
The five-carat diamond from the wedding chapel. “Gideon.”
“I know you won’t wear it, but I needed to do this. I have to be the husband I wasn’t during our first month. Ilove you so damn much. So, Autumn Kerrigan. Will you stay married to me?”
My fantasy was on his knee before me, offering me everything I wanted. “Oh god, yes.” I flung myself at him. He caught me before my knees hit the floor. I was in his arms again, his mouth pressed against mine, and I no longer felt empty. “I love you too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Gideon
I wanted to take Autumn into the storeroom and shut everyone out. We’d be locked in and I’d have her naked and against the wall in less than a minute. But that’d have to wait. I was behind the bar with her. She was tucked against my side, where she belonged. My ring was on her finger and I’d put mine back on.
Her family had congratulated us, then the various employees of the distillery. Christmas decorations hung in the corners, snowflake lights were around the windows, but the decor didn’t annoy me now that I was with my wife.
The claps on the back had been extra hard from her brothers, but I deserved it. They were my brothers now too. My family had grown from me and Dad to a large, thriving crew that had accepted both of us when we’d been less than our best. The Baileys turned their Christmas party into a celebration.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” This was the third time she’d said it.
I lifted her hand, the one with the giant diamond she was almost too paranoid to wear. Her sisters had made her leave it on instead of putting the ring in the box and locking it up for the night.
