I chuckled and reached down for her hand. “Wanna ride?”
Her eyes narrowed and I could see the wheels turning. “Sure?”
With one good tug, she was up, riding side saddle in front of me. She snuggled into my chest and I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“So you don’t think I’m normally schmexy?” I asked right against her earlobe, eliciting a tiny shiver.
“I mean, you’re always sexy.” Her voice was husky. “But something’s going on, isn’t it? Anna and Silas were acting weird.”
“Just going for a ride.” I clucked my tongue, spurring Maisy forward, my heart racing.
As we loped toward the hill where it was all going down, Itook the opportunity to love on my future wife. A kiss to her cheek, a tickle up her arm, my nose against her neck.
“How was your last day as assistant principal?” Somehow, Alvarez had suckered some big-city school in Richmond into hiring him. The Seddledowne School Board had happily hired Christy as his replacement. So as of tomorrow my girl was the new Athletic Director. I couldn’t have been prouder.
“Good. But I have a feeling it’s about to get better?”
I laughed. “Nice try.” I steered Maisy to the left, across the pasture. Every gate was open, waiting for us. So far, so good.
Christy rested her arms on top of mine and it was heaven letting the late spring sun warm us. There was a four-inch scar where the doctors had repaired her arm. But the break had long since healed and the bruises were nothing but a memory. The scar was a constant reminder that she was here, she was breathing, and she was mine to love. And Amber would be behind bars until she was an old lady.
I’d spent so many years under the stress of not knowing when Amber would pop up, that I hadn’t realized just how anxiety-ridden things had been. But in the last seven months with Christy, the peace that had teased me for so long had found a permanent home in my heart. There were still times when the voices in my head tried to take me down, but they were getting fewer and farther between as I continually worked at it.
“Mmm,” Christy murmured, eyes closed, face to the sky. “I could get used to this, Clark.”
I chuckled at the nickname. Clark, as in Clark Kent. She’d been calling me that ever since the day Amber tried to run us over. Said I was her own personal Superman.
But really, she was mine. A real life Superwoman.Because her love had saved me when no one else’s ever could. And today, I was going to make sure she knew I’d spend the rest ofmy life repaying that love tenfold. Christy was not going to regret taking a chance on me. I’d make sure of that.
“You better,” I whispered. A kiss to her temple. “’Cause this is your life now.”
I slid a hand across her waist and pressed kisses up her neck. She swiveled her head and kissed me hard and long and raw. And I wished, for a split second, that we weren’t headed for the hill.
Then someone cleared their throat from behind a bush and I remembered real quick what we were doing. Christy’s head snapped up and she glanced around. But then she must’ve thought her mind was playing tricks on her because she leaned back in for another kiss. And dang if I didn’t have to deny her.
“We’re already here.” I smiled.
Her eyes lifted to mine one last time, full of questions. “Where?”
“Our hill,” I said simply. This is where we were building a house. The contractor had it staked. Excavation for the basement started in a week.
She looked around and let out a little gasp. It was kind of obvious, what with the large leather chair set neatly on the grass inside a heart-shaped bed of lavender rose petals. I’d never tell her how much those had cost. And the massive light-up letters “H & C” set up as a backdrop. Mom had insisted on renting them. And the twinkle lights that a very pregnant Lemon had insisted on adding. Yeah, it was pretty clear what was happening.
I slung my leg back over Maisy and hopped down. Then I turned and, hands around her waist, lowered Christy in front of me. Once on her feet, she smiled, eyes already damp. I pulled her to a stop.
“Don’t you cry already,” I whispered. “How am I supposed to get through it if you’re crying?”
She rolled her shoulders back. “Okay. Yeah. No tears.”
“Good. Now eyes straight ahead.” I put my hands on her hips, guiding her toward the chair. As we walked across the grass, Ford, perched on a stool off to the right, began to strum. My nerves ticked up with every chord, wondering if Christy, or worse, her parents, would be able to tell he was smashed. But we made it without him messing up.
I peeked over my shoulder to make sure everyone was in place. Ashton must’ve drilled them well. Because they’d tiptoed up so slowly, I hadn’t even heard them.
I helped Christy to the chair and turned her toward me. As she sat, her eyes lifted. The look on her face was going to be one of my favorite memories from today. I already knew it. It was full of joy and surprise. Then she started blinking.
“No crying,” I reminded her.
She beamed and blushed at everyone. “Hey, Mom. Hi, Dad.” She gave them a little wave.
