Page 89 of A Texas Hero

No talk of how difficult it might be to get out of an airport with violence or dissension. These ladies didn’t watch the news and could afford to be positive.

“Did I really remind you of Archer?” Tee asked, head cocked, wide grin on his face.

Both ladies gave Tee such a glare that he slowly backed out of the store with his palms in the air. Eventually, after more uplifting talk from the two women, who focused on the positive, Zoey felt a bit better. But the entire ordeal made her realize the awful feeling of worrying that someone you loved could be in real danger. It must have been so difficult for her poor father, worrying about Zoey being so far away, where he couldn’t protect her. Love was a funny thing. When you truly loved someone, you didn’t want to let them go. But the catch-22 was that you couldn’t really love someone without letting them go. Because love wasn’t possession or fear or control. Love was having confidence and faith.

Zoey glanced at her phone, still seeing no reply from Archer. It was okay. She pictured him in his happy place, under the stars with her, as she went about closing up the shop. She emptied the till, swept the floors and rolled down the blinds. She said good night to Ophelia. Tonight, she’d go home and binge-watch Frasier until she laughed so hard she cried. Of course, she’d try not to watch the news, but no guarantees there.

Zoey heard a rap on her shop door and glanced at the time. It was 9:00 p.m., way past her closing. She peeked through the blinds and there he was, looking worn and exhausted. But he was alive and in one piece.

“Archer.”

She rolled up the blinds and hauled open the door, tugging him inside.

“I saw the news! Are you okay?”

He was actually disheveled, his tie loosened, hair mussed, his shirt half untucked at the waist. She’d never seen him like this.

For several seconds, he didn’t say anything, just tugged her into his arms and held her tight, his face buried in her neck.

“I came straight from the airport. Actually, I had them drop me off. I’m home,” he said. “That’s all that matters now.”

“Did everyone get back okay?”

“Yes,” Archer said. “We made sure of it. It wasn’t easy.”

“I missed you so much,” Zoey said. “I have something to say to you.”

“Let me go first,” Archer said.

“O-kay but mine really can’t wait.”

“Neither can mine.”

Archer dropped to one knee. “Maybe you think this is too soon, but—”

“No, I don’t think it’s too soon!”

“Facing life or death has a way of clarifying your priorities. I could take a lot of time to get to the same place, or I could just do what I know is right and cut to the chase. I’ve known since the moment I laid eyes on you that you would be everything to me, and I love you, and I’m in love with you. I never want to be apart again. Zoey, would you marry me?”

“I was going to tell you that I love you!” Zoey said, pulling him up off his bended knee. “That was my big news.”

“So, is that a yes?” He grinned.

“Yes, yes!” Zoey jumped into his arms.

“Hang on,” Archer said, taking her hand and leading her to the jewelry counter. “We need something.”

“Aw. This is where we first met,” Zoey said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“Yes, that time I was speechless. I want you to know I’ve never been speechless—before, or since then.” Rummaging through the jewelry, he pulled out the sapphire ring that sparkled with color. It was the same one she’d shown him the night they met.

Zoey held out her finger and he slipped it on. “I’ve always liked that one. It’s gorgeous.”

“I will replace it with something real,” Archer said, lifting her hand to brush a kiss across the knuckles. “Whatever you want.”

She looked down at her finger, then at him, her dark eyes shimmering.

“Well, that’s what I like to hear, because what I want is you.”