Diesel looks like he might pop an artery.
Caleb… he just sort of softens.
“You got the horses?” Caleb asks Diesel who replies with a grunt as my brother climbs over the fence, like a he’s hypnotized.
By Rae Lynn or the beer? I’m not sure.
I turn and gasp. Diesel’s all up in my space, looking down at me with the kind of protective ferocity I haven’t seen in month.
Christ he’s big. And with his hat and boots on, he looks seven feet tall.
He plucks my hat off and kisses me. A swift attack that makes me sway. But he’s got his hands on my hips holding me tight to his body.
“You’re coming with me,” he rasps against my lips, and a kick in my heart accelerates my pulse. Something’s up.
Maybe it’s that he doesn’t want to see my brother and Rae Lynn doing whatever they’re doing.
“Where are we going?”
He settles my hat back on my head, never taking his eyes from mine. Lord, when he looks at me like that, it feels like he’s tattooing my soul.
“You’ll see.”
I’m boosted off the ground into the saddle on Shasta’s back.
He swings up on his horse and wheels Volt around, motioning for me to follow.
“You okay?” I ask, frowning at the breadth of his back.
“I am now.”
We ride out past the barn, toward the eastern end of the property. Not unusual. Especially on a day like today when the weather demands you enjoy it. The wind is soft, the trees parting to show the clearing ahead.
After a few more minutes, the field opens wide in front of us, full of wildflowers and sun. It’s one of my favorite spots. I fell in love with it when Diesel and I were ranch shopping.
Diesel swings down and helps me off Shasta. Only he doesn’t let go of me, he holds on. His hands tight on my hips as if I might run away if he lets go.
“I love you,” he murmurs.
“I love you too, honey. But you’re making me nervous.”
He grins, clears his throat. “I’m nervous too.”
Then he steps back and drops to one knee.
I freeze. “Diesel?—”
He doesn’t say anything right away. Just looks up at me, heart right there in his eyes. Raw. Open.
To see a big, hard man like that does something to a woman.
“I didn’t plan anything big,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean this isn’t important. It’s the most important moment of my life.”
Oh my goodness. My brain finally catches up. Diesel is down on one knee. He’s nervous. He’s going to propose!
Diving two fingers into his pocket, he pulls out a ring. I nearly fall over on the spot.
The sun hits the diamond, shooting sparks of fire.
