I’m not sure where I’m going to come up with the money, but I’ll figure something out.I always do.
“I won’t let him near Dylan again,” I say, more to myself than to Maddox.“Not after what he’s done.”
Judy places a comforting hand on my shoulder.“You’re doing the right thing, honey.
I take a moment to process everything, waiting for the relief to hit me.The nightmare is over.I survived, Dylan is safe, and it sounds like Della will be okay.Everything can go back to normal, but it’s that thought that makes my stomach knot.
Before the explosion, my normal looked a lot different.With the threat eliminated, I’m not sure where things stand with Maddox and I.Am I supposed to just pack up all mine and Dylan’s belongings and go back to my apartment?It wouldn’t have been a question a couple of days ago, but now the thought of leaving here feels so wrong.How am I going to go back to sleeping alone now that I know how good it feels to sleep with him?
Maddox reaches across the table and lays his hand over mine.“Hey, can we talk?”
Those words slam into me.I’ve heard them before—right before he broke my heart the last time.“Why don’t you go rest?”I suggest, pulling my hand away.“You’ve been up all night.We can talk later.”
Silence fills the kitchen as my thoughts spiral.I stand abruptly, needing to move, and carry my mug to the sink.It drops with a clatter; the sound vibrating across the quiet kitchen.I stare out the window at the ranch stretching out before me, and tears start to fill my eyes.
I don’t want to leave here.I don’t want to leavehim.
“Judy,” Maddox says behind me.“Could you give me and Amelia a moment alone?”
I hear the rustle of Judy untying her apron, then her footsteps fading from the kitchen.I can feel Maddox approaching, and I brace my hands on the edge of the counter, dragging in a deep breath to steady myself.
“Amelia—” he begins.
I spin around suddenly, cutting him off.“I love you,” I blurt out.
My eyes go wide and I clap my hand over my mouth.“Oh my God, that just flew out of my mouth.”I lower my hand slowly, my heart pounding.But now that it’s out there, I can’t stop.“I love you,” I repeat, more deliberately this time.“Fuck, I did it again.”
I take a deep breath and gather my thoughts, feeling my cheeks heat as I lift my eyes to his.
“No, you know what?I’m not sorry I said it.I love you, Maddox, and I don’t want to end whatever this is between us.”The words tumble out faster now that I’ve committed to them.“If it’s safe for me and Dylan to leave, we’ll go back to our apartment, but our relationship doesn’t end just because we’re living apart.I want...”My voice catches in my throat as I search for the right words.“I want to be with you.I want?—”
“Amelia, I was going to ask you to marry me,” he interrupts, his voice low and serious.
I stare at him blankly, sure I heard him wrong, but when the intensity in his eyes doesn’t waver, I realize I haven’t.
“Marry you?That’s crazy.It’s too soon.”
“Is it, though?”His eyes hold mine.“It feels long overdue to me.”He steps forward, lifting his hands to cup my face.“Not really a fan of you saying it first, but I need you to know I love you.I love you so fucking much, and I don’t want to go a day without waking up and having you be the first thing I see.Say yes, baby.Say yes, and let’s make that dream of yours come true.You and I working this ranch, raising Dylan, making more babies.”
My heart thrums inside my chest, and the tears I was holding back slip free.
“You’re serious.”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.If you need time to process, I’ll give that to you.You can take as long as you need, so long as you don’t go.Stay with me.Please.”
I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience.Maddox’s words echo in my ears—marry him, stay with him, have more babies with him.It’s everything I told myself I could never have.Everything I’ve been to afraid to even want.
“I...”My voice breaks, and I swallow hard.“I’m terrified.”
His thumbs stroke my cheeks, wiping away tears I didn’t realize were falling.“Of what, baby?”
“Of how much I want this.Of how right it feels when it should feel crazy.”I take a shaky breath.“A few weeks ago, my life felt as though it was being held together with duct tape, and now...you’re offering me everything I gave up on.”
“I’m offering you what I should have given you years ago,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
I press my forehead against his chest, my fingers gripping his shirt.
“Yes,” I whisper.
