AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I enjoy walking,” Hayden said. “Now, at least.”
“Did you not before?” I asked.
“I think it was one of those things I took for granted. Like most things in my life until they were taken from me.”
“Or when you pushed them away,” I said.
I looked up into Hayden eyes and found a sense of sorrow there.
“That was supposed to be a joke.”
“It was more of a hard truth. I should have never pushed you away like that. Physically or otherwise.”
“It’s in the past. And I think the walk will do us some good. That restaurant was wonderful, but eight courses is a bit much for anyone. No matter the portions.”
“Feeling a little stuffed?”
“Beyond belief,” I said..
“Tomorrow will be another long day at work for me, but once I walk out of my office it should be the last time.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked.
“More than anything,” he said. “I want to help people. Like you helped me. People like me need help, even if they can’t see it. People in recovery need assistance in ways they can’t imagine. In ways they don’t see that will impact them long after they’re healed.”
“You want to provide nurses for people in recovery to flirt with?” I asked with a grin.
“I’m a businessman. Not a pimp,” he said coyly.
“So you really want to do this,” I said as my heels clicked along the sidewalk.
“I really do. I’m excited about it.”
“So am I, to be honest. I’m so impressed with what you’ve decided to do with the rest of your life.
“It’s all because of you, you know.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t pawn your success off on someone else.”
“I’m not. I’m simply stating the truth. Had you not come into my life and done everything you had for me while I was recuperating and being an insufferable asshole-”
“Your words, not mine,” I said with a grin.
“Then none of this would be happening,” I said, chuckling. “I’d still be trapped in that headquarters telling myself I was contributing something to the world by building hotels in other countries. Who the hell cares about that?”
“People who travel.”
“Besides them,” he said. “What type of impact does it really make? I mow down trees, I dig up dirt, I put buildings up and slap four-figure prices on them. What good does that really do for people?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
But before I could take another step, I felt Hayden drop beside me. Panic rushed through my veins again. I thought he was hurt. That his hip had given out or that he was in pain. I whipped my head around as he let go of my hand and I prepared myself to carry him on my shoulders the rest of the way to his place if I had to.
However, when I saw him down on one knee, tears flooded my eyes.
“Oh my God,” I said breathlessly.
“Grace Hunter,” he said as he pulled a ring from his pocket, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, without a shadow of any doubt. You mean the world to me, and it is because of you that I want to help it. To save it, in any way I can. I want to make it better for you, and us, and my family, and the children we might have someday. You came into my life and put up with the worst of me. Saw the best in me, even when I was barely living. You took care of me during the darkest moments of my life, and I want to spend the rest of my life standing by your side and taking care of you. Will you let me do that? Will you let me marry you, Grace?”
