Chapter Thirteen
Jasper
Iknow Sarah is up to something as soon as I walk into the kitchen to find her standing on the counter, prowling through cabinets.
"Baby girl," I growl, stepping up behind her.
She squeals and loses her balance, falling directly into my arms. I haul her up against my chest, swatting her on the ass.
"Jasper! You scared me!"
"Why the fuck were you standing on the counter, baby?" I flip her over and set her on the island. "If you need something, ask."
"I wanted to surprise you."
"You did," I grunt, tipping her head back to kiss her. "I walked in to see your perfect ass in the air. Damn near had a heart attack."
She laughs softly and then groans. "That's not what I meant. I wanted to cook for you, but the pantry is way up there." She points at it. "I couldn't reach."
"We'll move it to a lower cabinet."
"We will?"
"Mmhmm. You're going to be living here, too. I can't have you climbing the counter every time you need something."
Her eyes go wide, her mouth parting in a little O.
"I bought this place with you in mind, you know," I murmur, stroking her cheek. "You used to tell Olive you wanted a big farmhouse with lots of land." Back when I bought it, I didn't think we'd ever be here right now—with her in my arms, staring at me like I'm her world—but I was always a hopeful motherfucker.
"I…I…"
"Just say yes, baby girl," I breathe, fisting my hand in her hair. "Tell me that I get to wake up to you every day from now on."
"Yes," she whimpers.
My dick presses against my fly.
I fish in my pocket, my fist closing around her ring before I pull it out. "You going to do it wearing this and my name?" I ask, turning my hand over so she can see the diamond ring sitting in the center of my palm.
She makes the sweetest little sound—not quite a gasp, but not a sob either. It's that thing in between, the one that tells me she's so happy, she can't form words.
She's been making that sound a lot lately. Ever since she knocked on my door a few days ago, ready to spill all her secrets, she's been at peace in a way I don't think she ever has been before. She's been happy in a way I don't think she knew she could be, as if sharing her fears finally took away a little of their power over her.
I know there will be setbacks. Healing is rarely a linear journey. But she's on the path now, and she's got me and Olive to help her through it.
I held her hand while she told Olive about the fire that killed her family. I've never seen my sister cry so hard. I've never been more proud of her, either. As wild as she is, she's exactly what Sarah needs in her life.
I think it broke Olive's heart a little bit to realize just how much Sarah had never said, but she gets it. Sometimes, the hardest thing you can do is talk about what hurts you, even with the people who would happily help carry it for you.
But Sarah's talking now. She's going to be okay. I'll spend my entire life making sure of it. That's the future I want—one where my job is filling her life so full she forgets what it felt like to spend so many years alone.
"Give me that voice, baby girl," I croon, sliding the ring onto her finger. "You know how much Daddy loves to hear it. You going to marry me?"
"Yes!" she says, her voice strong and clear, tears shining in her eyes. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Fuck.
I scoop her off the counter into my arms, my mouth crashing down on hers. Her back collides with the fridge, knocking magnets to the floor as she wraps around me.
