“And I thought you might want this,” Merrick said, handing me a paper bag.
A smaller cut was folded within it. I pulled it out and turned it over to read the bottom rocker across the back. “Property of Hatchet.”
“You’re OK with this?”
“As Kenna has reminded me many times over the past few days, Merci’s romantic relationships are ‘none of my fucking business.’” He used air quotes as he mimicked Kenna’s voice. “And you’re better than the one she almost married. So, there’s that.”
I slipped my cut over my shoulders. “Thanks for the glowing review. Better than Luca. The bar was pretty low. But speaking of married …” I trailed off.
Merrick raised a brow. “You? You want to get married? To my sister?”
I ran my hand over my beard. “If she’ll have me, yeah. I don’t think you understand how much I love her.”
Merrick’s gaze shifted through the window, where Merci laughed at something Kenna said, one hand over her stitches. “You’re wrong. I get it. When it’s the right woman, you know.” Merrick’s eyes flicked to mine. “Don’t hurt her. If you do?—”
“I won’t,” I promised. “I saw what she did to the last guy. Nothing’s left standing when Hurricane Merci moves through. Do you want to stay for dinner?”
Merrick hesitated, glancing back through the window. His shoulders loosened a fraction.
“Yeah,” he said finally. “Yeah, we’ll stay.”
We stepped back inside, and Merci’s eyes locked on the leather immediately. Her gaze flicked from the patches to Merrick, then back to me, a soft happiness breaking through the pain.
“You gave it back,” she said to her brother, voice thick.
Merrick shrugged. “Don’t make me regret it.”
She reached out a hand toward him, and he crossed the room to take it. “Love you, bro,” she said, squeezing his fingers. “Even if you’re still a controlling alpha-hole.”
Merrick huffed a laugh, squeezing back before letting go.
Dinner felt almost normal. For the first time since I’d fallenfor Merci, it didn’t feel like I was waiting for the other shoe—or a fist—to drop.
Kenna helped Jessa set the table while I made a plate for Merci. She shuffled to the table with my arm around her waist, cursing under her breath with every step.
I sat beside her. “Keep your hands to yourself,” I whispered in her ear.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Only for tonight.”
Merrick sat across from me, fork in hand, watching his sister more than his plate. He’d lost too many people over the years. I didn’t understand how he’d held it together when Merci was missing.
After Merrick and Kenna left and Jessa headed to bed, Merci and I sat together on the front porch swing. Fireflies blinked in the yard, and a sense of peace washed over me.
But there was one thing missing.
I couldn’t wait another day.
“I’ll be right back.”
I rustled through my dresser and pulled out the small velvet box. I opened it, eyeing the jewel as I considered how to pop the question.
When word came that they were discharging Merci, I’d wandered into a jewelry store on impulse. I’d eyed the diamonds at first. But they were too flashy. Too traditional. They didn’t fit her. Then I saw it. A gem that reminded me of the lethal but sweet and sharp woman I’d fallen in love with the second she’d thrown crystal wine glasses against her ex’s wall.
I slipped the box into my pocket and picked up the cut with my property patch.
The swing creaked gently as I sat. “Got something for you,” I said, holding out the folded leather first.
Her eyes told me she knew exactly what it was. She held it up, light from inside the house highlighting my patch. Her eyes lifted to mine, loving, thrilled, and a little defiant.
