Dakota had been rendered speechless, her jaw nearly hitting the dirt as she exited the truck and took in what I’d done.
The area surrounding the old cherry tree had been decorated with bouquets of white calla lilies and deep red roses, all fresh cut and arranged earlier this morning. I spared no expense in making this moment perfect. Marking this day as one she’ll never forget.
“And one more thing…” While Dakota stood beside the passenger door, I walked around to the back, uncovering a jet black leather cowboy hat with a bright red underbrim. As I crept up behind her, I placed the hat on her head, smiling widely at just how even more perfect it made her look. “There. Now a part of our cherry tree will always be with you wherever you go.”
Taking my bride’s hand, I led her over to a large black and white blanket that had been laid out on a soft patch of grass near the tree trunk. Before she had a chance to sit down, I fell to one knee, pulling a black velvet box with gold metal trim from the pocket of my denim jacket.
“Rhy, you’ve already—”
“The way I proposed to you was wrong. I knew I’d wanted to ask you to marry me, and it just happened in the moment, but my execution was poor. So now I’m going to do right by you, and ask for your hand in marriage the way I should’ve from the start.” Opening the box, I presented the ring to her. Black tungsten carbide, inlaid with nude diamond chips accented by twenty-four-carat gold and raw obsidian fragments. “So, Dakota Wilde, will you marry me? Make me the happiest man alive and let me call you mine?”
“It’s perfect…” Her eyes had started to water at the sight of the ring, hands clasped over her mouth, muffling the adorable squeal that came when she attempted to speak.
Giving me her left hand, she eagerly nodded, gaze glued to the ring as I placed it on her finger, then kissed the back of her palm.
“Like you.” We echoed, and she lowered to sit beside me on the blanket, while I continued to hold her hand with mine.
“And with this ring, I promise to be everything you’ve ever needed in a man. To love you unconditionally through thick andthin. To treat you with the respect you’ve always deserved, and give you the control you desire to hold.”
There was so much I wanted to say, and as I professed my heartfelt vows, I realized that I’d have to tell her everything, and not just about the MUR,but about me.
“Not a day will pass that I won’t look at you and see the most remarkable woman in the world, reveling in the fact that I get to call you mine. You bring light to the dark just as stars do at night, guiding me home like a north star whenever I feel lost.”
I’d have to confess to the years of stalking; how I knew her like the back of my hand, and why I bribed the city planning department to permit the opening of Vortex directly across from her studio.
“I’ll be your home, your protector; fighting your demons alongside you as if they were my own.”
I didn’t do any of those things to hurt her, and I hoped that when I revealed the truth, Dakota would understand instead of pushing me away all over again. That she’d know just how deep my love ran, and that no matter how hard I tried to stay away, I always came back to her.
“With this ring, I promise to heal your beautiful soul and be the reason you wake up every morning with a smile on that pretty face; no exceptions.”
I have to tell her tonight… It’s the right thing to do.
Insteadofreturningtothe city, Dakota suggested spending the night on the ranch, in our home.
While my wife made herself comfortable on the daybed swing, watching the sun set in the distance, I poured us each a glass of her favorite red wine and joined her, bracing myself for the band-aid I was about to rip off.
“You sure do know how to spoil a girl, Rhy.” She took a deep inhale, savoring the aroma before sipping her wine, visibly melting at the taste of wild raspberry, red cherry, and pomegranate, accented by a hint of rose petal. “Chelsea Goldschmidt, Alexander Valley Merlot… Oh my god, how did you know?”
“Dakota…” Clearing my throat, I tried to think of a way to ease her into my honesty without blowing the door completely off its hinges.
“Uh oh, notdarlin’orWildcat? Are you about to confess to another murder I don’t know about?” There was a bubbly giggle of sarcasm in her tone as she went in for another sip. I was afraid of nothing—except losing her, and this might just be the reason why I would. “Whatever you’re about to say, it can’t be any worse than knowing you’re a murderer by trade, and I’ve already come to terms with that. Hell, I said yes and signed the certificate. We’re officially married.I’m married to a murderer!Yee-fucking-haw!” She held up her glass to cheers, and I left mine where it was, resting on my thigh as I sucked in my lower lip.Fuck…
“How long do you think we’ve known each other?” Starting off small. A simple, easy question.
“Umm… I don’t know? Maybe a couple of months? Maybe less?… I’m well aware that we’ve moved fast—really fast—but everything with you just feels so perfect…so right. I mean, it’s like you’ve known—”
“Because I have… Dakota.” My throat felt dry like sandpaper as I swallowed. “I’ve known you since high school…”
“That’s—” Her brows furrowed as she stared at me, utterly confused. Her eyes ran over my face several times, trying to place my features and match me to someone from her past. “Not possible… I would’ve remembered meeting someone like you. Especially if we ever—”
“Shared classes? We did. Quite a few, actually. But I wasn’t your type at the time, or worth your interest.” Those days play on repeat in my mind. How she never gave me even the slightest bit of attention. But she was popular, and I was entirely off her radar.
“And you never thought of making yourself known? Of doing something—anythingto get me to notice you?”
“I was a jock with no time for a social life. I wasn’t about to put you through hell trying to hold my attention while my father forced it elsewhere. That wouldn’t have been fair to either of us, and so it was better that I remained distant,unknown.”
Dakota pressed an index finger to her lips as she recalled her high school days, finding that ‘ah-ha’ moment within a few seconds.
