Page 65 of Abandoned

He had such great ideas for this house. It was old and massively outdated, but the bones were good. He had yet to finish updating even a single room, and it had been seven years. He had all the doorknobs laid out in the rec room—which should be called the wreck room. Right next to all the gallons of paint.

“I’m going to run to the bathroom.” Zara set down her water bottle and pointed in the direction of the bathroom. “Back there?”

He nodded. As she disappeared, he set his Bible on the shelf in the den then went to the kitchen, with its 1970s cabinets, and searched for lunch items. He pulled out deli meat and cheese.

Zara came back in laughing.

He turned to her. “What?”

“Your bathroom. Pink tile? So manly!”

He chuckled. “One day I’ll get to that one. But I don’t use that bathroom much so … I have some awesome ideas though.”

“Always the idea man. Follow-through. You really have a problem with that, don’t you?”

His chest grew tight. “I finished painting the master bedroom. That wallpaper was a bear to get off so, trust me, that was a task. I can finish something.” Would this scare her off again?

“Cool your jets. I’m teasing, silly.” She wrapped her hands around his arm.

“Not funny after the fight we had last week.”

“Probably.”

He pulled his arm out of her hands and draped it around her. “I may be great at starting things, but this”—he pointed back and forward between them—“I’m definitely following through on.”

“Good.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Now, what’s for lunch?”

They grabbed condiments and other sandwich toppings along with the bread and built their sandwiches.

As Will twisted the tie back on the bread, he was struck with an idea. He took the tie off and knotted the bag instead. He turned to Zara and propped his side up against the counter. “This might be rushing things a little, but I want you to know how serious I am about us.”

She set her plate back on the counter and rested her hip against the counter in front of him.

He manipulated the twisty-tie into a ring with a little bow on top and held it up between them. “It’s not much of a ring, but let it stand as a promise from me to you. I love you. I promise to seek God and pursue you unless He says differently. And if it is His will, which I really hope it is, and I’m feeling pretty certain it is, I’ll replace this with an engagement ring.”

Her cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink as her eyes pooled with moisture. She lifted her left hand and offered it to him.

He slid the twisty-tie onto her ring finger.

“I love you too.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He raked his fingers into her hair and drew her face to his. Her watermelon lip balm was sweet just like her kiss.

Her fingers made a trail around his middle and up his back. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. He loved this woman, and he wanted her to know and understand the depths of that love. He’d die for her, but more than anything he wanted to live for her. He never wanted her to doubt that he’d be by her side regardless of what happened in life. He’d keep her safe.

But that started with drawing out of the kiss.

He pulled his lips away but kept his face close to hers. “How about those sandwiches?”

She sank against him and laughed. “Eating is definitely a good idea. I love you, Will Cooper.”

“Good. You believe me that I love you too and want to prove it to you for the rest of our lives?”

She nodded and rested her head against his shoulder.

He held her close. Thank You, Jesus. Help me to do right by this woman. Help me to love her like You love her.

Chapter Eighteen