In my jeans pocket, I feel the ring box pressing. It’s been there for a month now, but we’re not even living together yet. After that first time, I’ve been reluctant to push her.
“So, this is where it all ended,” she murmurs, looking at the property. “In my head, it’s always so much bigger.”
“I’m proud of you for coming here,” I tell her.
“It’s where so much ended,” she murmurs. “But it could be where everything begins, too…”
She turns to me, squeezing my hands firmly. There’s so much meaning in those lion eyes of hers.
She’s ready. Not just to be here but to face her past.
She’s ready for us, for more than just love. She’s ready for commitment.
“Elle, move i?—”
“You can do more,” she whispers, licking her lips. “I mean, if you want…”
My heart pounds. Has she seen the ring? Or perhaps I’ve given it away somehow.
I don’t care.
She’s ready!
“Elara,” I say, my voice husky and choked up. “I love you so much. You’re talented, funny, kind, and stubborn. More than anything, you’re strong. And if you say yes, I’ll count myself the luckiest man alive. Hell, say no and I still will, because I got to be with you.”
I reach into my back pocket, take out the ring box, then kneel and open the box, showing a thick, gorgeous diamond glittering in a white-gold band.
“Elara Vance,” I say, “will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she yells, smiling widely.
As soon as I slide the ring onto her finger, I stand. She collapses against me, crying happy tears, as we find each other’s lips.
EPILOGUE
ELARA
Five Months Later
My engagement ring glistens in the sun as I sit on the back porch, watching Mira and Rhett practice with the bow and arrow. Mira has absolutely loved moving in with Rhett, especially because it gives them so much more time to shoot.
Rhett is shirtless, the sun dancing off his sculpted body. As he draws the bow, I see the bullet scar tightening on his arm, drawing my mind back to those crazy, chaotic days.
But my mind never stays there for long. And I won’t let it get trapped there today. Life is too good that there are butterflies dancing in my belly.
“Wait,” Mira says, as Rhett steps forward to collect the arrows. “I want to shoot one first. Can I? I’ve got a special arrow.”
“Aspecialarrow?”
“Yeah-huh.”
“Okay, then…”
Mira turns, gives me a wink, then walks over to the arrows and searches through them. When she finds the right one, she takes her shot, hitting the bullseye.
“Nice shot!” Rhett says, and Mira beams.
Rhett goes to collect the arrows, his muscles shifting with each step. He pulls the arrow loose, tilts his head, then holds it to the sun. When he sees Mira has strapped a pregnancy test to it, he spins.
