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“Too excited.” She kisses me five times before she can find her words again. “Thank you for this, Grady. Thank you. I couldn’t have even dreamed up this place.”
“Woman, I couldn’t have dreamed you,” I growl back, bringing her hand to my lips, fighting back the urge to press my mouth to every inch of her.
There’ll be plenty of time for that later.
She steps back. “What are you doing in here, anyway?”
I grin and kiss the tip of her nose.
“Just telling Bruce to behave himself today. Nothing like making a great first impression, right?” Taking her hand, I lead her to the door. “Let’s get this crazy tiger show on the road.”
We leave the barn and climb into the new side-by-side ATV I bought to make driving to the rescue easier. We chose an area over a mile away from the house where the main facility begins, and the public areas are even farther, so we’ll still have plenty of privacy.
The crowd is bursting at the seams, and a list of distinguished speakers, including the mayor of Dallas, holds the crowd’s rapt attention for over an hour. I think they’re getting restless as hell for the real guest of honor.
I know I am.
He finally shows up looking more regal than ever, standing taller than a Saint Bernard with his green-gold eyes flashing, the white tufts on the sides of his face fluffed like a proud Viking.
Bruce the Magnificent.
All hail the king.
Willow just has to smile and wave, and he stays rooted to his spot in front of the main entrance, perched inside a large flatbed trailer with a huge cage fixed to it, rumbling forward.
Bruce is totally relaxed. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he’s enjoying the attention.
Hank parks the ride next to the speakers’ platform.
I smile at Willow as Sawyer and Avery take the stage. They each give well-practiced five-minute speeches about large cats, their endangered plight, and Bruce specifically.
I’ve never been prouder of them in my life.
Peter, our host, steps up to the podium next with a flurry of compliments for my girls before he looks at me.
I nod.
“It’s my honor to introduce you to the owners of The Dallas Exotic Learning and Rescue Center,” Peter says.
Willow frowns at me, leans in, and whispers, “What’s this all about? We aren’t scheduled to speak, right?”
The worry in her eyes says she’s second-guessing herself.
I smile. “Relax, darlin’. This is something your dad and I decided. Just let me do the talking.”
I escort her onto the stage, where Peter and the girls are still standing behind us.
Once the rowdy clapping and cheering dies down, I thank everyone for coming and name several people specifically for their donations and assistance. When our story hit the national news, money came pouring in from all over. Donors as big as HeronComm in Chicago and as small as a fire chief in Heart’s Edge, Montana, who said he couldn’t resist after hearing about our mess and always mixing up lions and tigers as a kid.
That’s not even touching our resident billionaires, the Barnets and Larkins, who dug deep in their vast pockets and gave generously. This sanctuary might be the most well-funded little-big animal rescue center ever thanks to their help.
It’s enough to bring a tear to the hardest man’s eye—only I’m too damn nervous to get choked up.
Nothing to do with standing here in the spotlight speaking to all of these fine folks. You get used to that when you manage the town gossip mill and watering hole.
But it feels like there’s no human way to express how fucking much Willow means to me.
How deep my love goes.
How intently I want it to last.
When the noise dies down, I squeeze her hand, flashing her a quick look for courage.
“You know, it was just a few months ago...” I start slowly into the mic. “That’s when I first met this incredible, adventurous lady. I was closing up the bar and saw an old truck in my lot with a stock trailer, just pulling in with no headlights. I went out to see if she was lost, and can you imagine my surprise when I saw—” I point to Bruce. “That in the stock trailer?”
The crowd erupts with laughter.
“Gotta tell you, folks, I’ve been surprised several times since then because of her.” I look at Willow and chuckle along with the crowd. “Turns out, I’ve started liking those surprises, and I’ve made a big decision today. I’ve decided I don’t ever want ’em to end.”
Willow stops laughing and looks at me, her eyes bright-blue gems, wondering what I’m doing as I step away from the mic.
Let’s roll.
I wave the girls over next to me, then pull the box out of my pocket, kneeling down on one knee.
The crowd falls silent, half the womenfolk staring with their mouths hanging open.
