“Wow,” I whisper.
The main building of the vineyard is off in the distance. There are a few lights on in the place, but for the most part it cuts a black shadow against the navy sky. Stars twinkle above our heads in the hundreds, even with the full moon out, and it makes me wonder what the sky out here would look like without any moon in the sky at all.
I bet there are thousands of stars in the sky on those nights.
“Lia.”
“Hmm?” I hum as I whip around to face Walker.
“May I?”
He extends his hands, and I don’t hesitate. I take his hands and he brings mine to his lips. He presses one kiss on my knuckle. Then two. Over and over again, until he’s kissed every single knuckle on my hands.
“Walker?” I ask.
He holds my hands against his chest, and I feel his heart rapidly thumping.
It makes my brows pinch together. “Walker, what’s wrong?”
His forest-brown gaze holds mine as he draws in a deep breath. “When you’re figuring out what to do with the rest of your life, I want you to remember this.”
I swallow hard. “What… do you mean?”
“I mean,” he says before he huffs the breath out of his lungs and draws in another breath, “I know the city is tempting. Even a place like Hollow Mill Junction. It’s flashy, and loud. Lots of foot traffic, which is great for any business. I wholly understand that.”
I want to say something, but I don’t know what. So, I listen.
Something tells me he just needs someone to listen to him.
“But when you’re figuring out where to go and what to do next, I want you to remember all of this. Tonight. This day. Your time with Eli and Knox. The peace that sits here on this vineyard. The stability that Honeysuckle Grove could bring to your life, if you let it. I want you to remember all of this and factor it into your decision-making.”
Oh my god.
He’s asking me to choose him.
“Walker, I?—”
He shakes his head. “No, no, please let me finish. I’ll never get it out otherwise.”
I flatten my hands against his chest. “Then hold me while you say it.”
I barely get the words out before his arms sweep around me, pulling me against his body. He yanks me so close that I have to stand on the toes of his boots just to keep my balance. My hands are splayed over his chest, and his heart rate ratchets up, thundering against my palms.
“Breathe,” I whisper up to him. “I’m right here.”
“Lia, my great-great-grandfather built this vineyard, back when Honeysuckle Grove was first established. He was the head of this pack, and he took a great deal of pride in making his Omega happy. It’s been that way for generations in my family, taking over this vineyard and providing for the families we create.”
“I think that’s honorable.”
He nods. “It’s something I wish for my life as well, one day. So please understand: if you choose me, if you choose to stay, I will make sure you want for nothing. Your bakery will be successful no matter where you put it because I’ll make sure it is. I’ll protect you, and care for you, just as an Alpha should. And in return, all I’d want is you at my side.”
I have to bite down onto my lower lip to keep it from wobbling. “Oh, Walker.”
He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “That’s my promise to you, beautiful.” He forehead touches down against my own and his voice lowers, as if he’s speaking a dirty rotten secret. “But if you decide this place isn’t for you, that I’m not for you, I won’t stand in your way, either. You’ve had enough Alphas in your life dictating what you should do. I won’t become one of them.”
I can’t help the tears that rise to my eyes. “Walker?”
“Yes, Lia?”
