He appears from the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, looking more relaxed than I’ve seen him in days. “Welcome home.”
“What’s all this?” I gesture to the transformation around me. Six weeks of frantic searching, six weeks of dead ends and disappointments have worn us both down. This feels surreal, like stepping into someone else’s life.
Hunter crosses to me, takes my hands in his. “I wanted to do something nice for you. You’ve been so strong through all of this.”
“But Liv?—”
“Is still our priority,” he assures me, brushing hair from my face. “But watching you check your phone every two minutes during dinner last night with your friends reminded me that we need moments to breathe too.”
I hadn’t realized he’d noticed my distraction during dinner. My friends had practically forced us out, insisting I needed a break from the penthouse and our constant search.
“You’ve barely slept. Barely eaten.” His thumb traces my cheekbone. “I know how much you’re hurting, how worried you are about Liv.”
I lean into his touch, exhaling. “Any news?”
“Grayson’s team found something promising in Colorado. It’s early, but...” He hesitates. “I think we’re getting close.”
Hope flutters dangerously in my chest. We’ve had promising leads before.
“Tonight is just for us,” Hunter continues, leading me toward the table. “Tomorrow we will keep fighting. But right now, I need you to sit down and let me take care of you for one evening.”
Hunter serves roasted lamb with rosemary potatoes, and I can’t help but be impressed. “You made this yourself?”
“Don’t sound so shocked.” He smirks, pouring red wine into my glass. “I’ve always been capable in the kitchen. I just rarely have a reason to show off.”
We eat in silence for a few minutes, but something feels off. Hunter keeps glancing at me, then away. His knee bounces beneath the table, a nervous tic I’ve never seen from him before. Hunter Reed—always in control, always three steps ahead—seems... anxious.
“Are you okay?” I finally ask, setting down my fork. “You seem distracted.”
He takes a deep breath, something unreadable crossing his face. “I’ve been thinking about what Jax took from us. The time. The trust. Almost you.”
“Hunter—”
He pushes back his chair abruptly and moves to my side of the table. My heart stutters when he drops to one knee beside me—not like before when he begged forgiveness, but with clear purpose.
“This isn’t how I envisioned this moment,” he says, voice rough with emotion. “Before everything happened, I wanted to do this properly. Somewhere special, with everything perfect.” His hand slips into his pocket, emerging with a small velvet box. “But if I’ve learned anything these past weeks, it’s that we don’t have the luxury of waiting for perfect moments.”
He opens the box, revealing a simple solitaire diamond set in platinum. Beautiful in its understated elegance.
“Almost losing you...” His voice cracks, and he clears his throat. “When Jax took you, I realized I’d spent my entire life not caring about anyone but myself. Then suddenly, the thought of a world without you in it was unbearable.”
Tears blur my vision as he takes the ring from its box.
“Aurora Harrison, I know we still have battles ahead of us. I know we’re both broken in ways that may never fully heal. But I never want to be without you again. Will you marry me?”
My heart thunders in my chest as I look at the ring, then back to Hunter’s face. Despite everything, I know my answer with absolute certainty.
“Yes,” I whisper, then louder, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Hunter’s hands tremble slightly as he slides the ring onto my finger. He pulls me into his arms, and I cling to him, thisdangerous man who somehow became my safe harbor in the storm.
“I love you,” I murmur against his neck.
He cradles my face, thumbs brushing away tears I hadn’t realized were falling. “I love you too. More than I thought possible.”
His kiss is so painfully gentle, almost reverent. When we break apart, I stare at the diamond catching candlelight on my finger, feeling a bittersweet ache.
“I just wish Liv could be here,” I say, my joy dimming as I think of my sister, still out there somewhere with a madman. “This should be a moment we share together.”
