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“Me, neither.” She ran her fingers over the stubble of his jaw. “I love you, too.” The words were so simple, yet they opened the floodgate of tears. She drew in a shaky breath and blinked as her tears fell.
Holt used his thumb to soak up the tears on her cheeks. “Then marry me, my darlin’.”
She covered her mouth to stop the sob that threatened to break through.
Holt leaned in and kissed her jaw, then he moved her hand and kissed the edge of her mouth. “Whenever you’re ready. But promise me that you’ll be mine.” His lips brushed against hers.
Macie’s eyes fluttered shut, and he kissed her again. Lingering this time. “I don’t want to wait that long,” she murmured.
“So, only a year then?” Holt whispered, then kissed each of her closed eyelids. The scruff of his chin rasped against her cheek.
“More like a few months,” she whispered back. “I never got a wedding dress the first time around, so I need time to shop. I don’t want a quick ceremony again. I want something real with you.”
Holt’s hands were back to cradling her face, and his mouth crashed down upon hers.
Macie curled her hands around his shirt, holding on as she lost herself in this man who was better than anyone she could have ever dreamed up.
Holt’s kissing slowed, and his hands skimmed over her shoulders, then down her back to her waist as he anchored her against him. She threaded her fingers into his hair, relishing his warmth, his scent, his solidness. Goose bumps raced along her skin as Holt continued to explore her mouth, sending darts of fire throughout the rest of her body until she was pretty sure her feet were tingling. When Macie was forced to catch her breath, she released her hold on Holt bit by bit.
“Does this mean you’re coming home now?” Holt whispered against her mouth.
“You don’t want to commute to San Antonio to see me?”
“Hell, no.”
Macie laughed. “And here I thought you were being the hero and being patient.”
“Hmm.” Holt kissed the edge of her jaw. “That was then, this is now.”
She couldn’t stop the grin spreading. He continued to trail kisses along her jaw, the stubble of his chin tickling her.
“What am I going to do with you, Holt Prosper?”
“You’re going to marry me.”
She laughed again. “Okay.”
He lifted his head to gaze at her. “Is this official then, darlin’?”
She nodded, her eyes pricking with tears. “Yes.” Her chest felt like it had expanded so much that it was hard to take a full breath.
Holt pulled her into a bear hug and buried his face against her neck. Macie clung to him, her heart soaring.
Macie wasn’t sure how long they spent at the arena, but eventually, Holt reminded her that there was a household full of people who were probably wondering where they were.
“Should we return to civilization?” he asked, his voice rumbling against her ear.
“I guess.”
Holt chuckled, then he linked their fingers, and they walked back to the house. A few of the vehicles had left, and a rendition of “Happy Birthday” was being sung inside the house. Holt squeezed her hand as they walked up the porch steps.
“Ready?” he asked, pausing before opening the front door. He was still holding her hand.
Macie looked down at their intertwined hands, then back up at him. Walking into the Prosper household, hand in hand, would be making a statement. Loud and clear. “Ready,” she said.
Holt leaned down and brushed her mouth with his. Then he straightened and opened the door. Together, they walked inside, still holding hands.
