“Why are we stopping?” I call out, but there’s no answer. He sits in the confined space with his head forward, not paying attention to anything I say.
That’s strange.
Rotating back to Elena, my breath is expelled from my lungs. I blink, and sure enough, she’s gone.
Poof.
Just disappeared into thin air like she was never there in the first place.
Adrenaline transfers through my bloodstream, shooting straight to my head and racing heart. I hurriedly stand up, cautiously strolling to the end of the trailer to hop off and walk on solid ground. As I make my way around the side of the trailer, something comes into view in front of the tractor in the distance. The ceiling of lights continues, glowing amongst the apple trees and guiding my way.
When I get next to the tire, nearly as big as I am, I freeze.
Holy shit.
When a gut feeling tells you something is going on, you’re probably right. But in this case, I’m glad I didn’t think too hard about why everyone was acting so strangely today.
Blinking a few times doesn’t rid me of the breathtaking view in front of me.
Colten is in a navy suit that stretches across his muscles with a burgundy tie, the ink from his tattoo peeking above the collar. Standing on a circular carpet, his hands are clasped in front of him, with large jars of sunflowers decorating the perimeter around him.
It’s almost been a year since we found ourselves sitting in that truck, making promises that we never wanted to let go of. But this smile—the one on his face right now—makes me breathless. Because with this one look, I know what’s ahead is a sweet, sweet, sweeter life.
But it’s not just him. Behind him, making a half circle around the carpet, are Cameron, Brennan, Jessica, Tristan, Elena, and Rossco. The family who took me in, who I now consider my own. They stare at me with grins on their faces as I stare blankly from nerves.
I wanted this. Knew I wantedhimfrom nearly the beginning when he sucked me up in this whirlwind life. And though every nerve ending in my body crackles and bursts like vibrant fireworks exploding against the night sky, I already know my answer.
“Yes.”
The grins on the twins’ faces show me that I didn’t say my response in my head like I thought I did. Crap.
Colten smirks. “I didn’t ask you anything yet.” His teasing tone sends sparks flickering between my thighs.
Stepping onto the carpet, he holds his hand out, palm up, waiting for me. I place my hand in his as he tugs me forward, my chest crashing into his with the impact of two waves in the sea colliding with each other. I expel a sharp breath.
“Well,” I stutter. Come on, Taryn, get yourself together. “Whatever you ask me, my answer will be yes. I always seem to say yes to you.”
He lifts a hand, his thumb caressing my cheek. “I can be very persuasive that way, can’t I?”
I hum in agreement, nodding.
I purse my lips, trying to hide my smile, glancing at the Lindenvale kids. Elena can barely contain herself. Cameron has his arm around Tristan, and Jessica and Brennan are staring atme like they never thought Colten would be here, experiencing a moment like this.
“So, if I ask you to stay here forever, with us.” He pauses, waiting for my answer.
My eyes flit to his. “I would say yes.”
“If I told you that someday, I want to see you have my children…”
“I would say yes, because I dream of that too.”
He groans. “If I ask you if you’ll let me love you until we both cease to exist—”
“I would say living a long life with you is all I want,” I say honestly.
His fingers move to the skin below my jaw, tilting my face higher. “If I asked you to marry me, right here, right now, what would you say?”
The heart encased inside my chest flutters, the butterflies in my stomach with wings of fire burning me from the inside out. My anxious body shakes at his question, and I wonder if the vibrations are transferring through the ground because his frame is damn near trembling as much as mine.
