Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“About damn time they did something useful with their money.” I shake my head.
“Don’t be a dick. They’ve been supportive.”
Yeah. And I’ve mostly forgiven Dad’s blistering reaction to the fallout after the hell video of Lena leaked.
Mostly.
Still, I’ll admit, he’s been working hard to make up for years of mistakes, ever since he broke down and showed a little emotion and a lot of humility.
For Lena, it’s like the old man’s freak-out never happened.
“How’s the project coming along?”
She beams. “The carpenter just started this week. We’re gutting it and building fresh from the ground up. A full remodel. The dogs are going to have a heated pool, Brady.”
“Shit, that’s amazing.” I can’t help laughing, imagining her chasing after half a dozen crazy dogs splashing their hearts out all winter.
“All thanks to you. Nowhere near as many people would’ve donated if you hadn’t done that live stream.”
“Hey, I brought people’s attention to it, just like my dad. You won them over.” I remember the video she made, where she wears the bravest face as she speaks about the little clinic she loves so much and the heartbreak if it shuts down.
The donations pouring in blew our expectations through the roof.
“You picked a day for the reopening yet?” I ask, stopping to let Queenie sniff at a rock a marmot was standing on as we climbed the hill.
“Mm, it’ll have to be October. When we get back home, I’ll make a final decision. As long as we’re coming back bigger and better than ever.”
“You will,” I assure her. “No chance you’ll fail. Not after you fought like hell to save your clinic.”
“Dr. Ezzie still can’t believe it.” She sounds like she can’t believe it either. “When we were in crisis mode, she really thought we’d have to sell and shut down.”
“I never would’ve let that happen.”
She leans up and kisses my cheek. “I know. But this is my fight.”
“As long as you don’t forget I’m always there for backup.” When she fake pouts, I lean over and kiss her forehead.
Ahead of us, the trail curves to the left, hugging closer to the sparkling lake on one side with the mountain cast in purple light.
Best of all, there’s no one in sight.
It can’t get better.
“Let’s take a breather,” I say, letting Queenie stretch out the long leash on the tie-down and head into the trees for a bathroom break. Never a problem when she has amazing recall. “Your future’s bright as hell, Sass. Only question is if you’ll let me make it blinding.”
Go time.
I pull the box out of my pocket as I drop to one knee, popping it open so the ring sparkles in the afternoon light.
It’s the same one as before, though I had it resized for a perfect fit.
When I first gave it to her, I didn’t miss the way she looked at it—like maybe it was the kind of ring she’d have picked for herself.
She never asked about it after she flung it back to me in anger.
Of course, I kept it. After the strange bliss of watching her wear it before, my mind was made up. Nothing else will ever be a better fit.
Not when it screams a truth from a lie.
“Lena Joly, will you marry me?” I whisper, clear and sure, even as sharp rocks dig into my knees. “For real this time. Not because we have to pretend, but because we can’t live with anything less.”
She gasps so loud I swear it bounces off the mountain.
Her hands clap her cheeks.
Her eyes flash like amber gold, all swirling glitter.
“Oh my God! Holy fuckeroo, are you—oh man. You are. You’re serious.” She swallows hard.
For a second, I hesitate. Is this too much, too soon?
“No joke. I fell stupid in love with you before I could even figure out what was happening. There hasn’t been a moment since where I haven’t wanted to make you mine in every way that matters.”
“Y-y-you are serious. Oh my God.” Here come the tears, and they’re so happy my grin digs into my face.
“I hiked all the way up here with this ring, didn’t I?” I push it toward her again. “And I’m asking you properly, like a true gentleman. You can skip hanging the medal around my neck. Just give me a yes.”
“Yes!” she screams, shaking like a leaf as she throws herself into my arms. The Lena missile knocks me onto my back, and we go down together, laughing. “Get up, get up, you lunk! Of course I’ll marry you. I’ll pick you every time.”
I take the ring as she holds out a finger, then I slide it on.
“Oh, wow. You kept it and . . . did you have it resized? It fits better,” she whispers in awe.
“Told you once, I’m doing this properly this time.”
And then, because I can’t wait a second longer, I kiss my fiancée hard, fingers in her hair. She tastes like salt and the rest of my life, and when I pull away, resting my forehead against hers, I think a few of those tears on her cheeks might be mine.