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“Not a chance, little bird.”
“Is he okay?”
“Riker has a broken leg and is cut up pretty badly, but he’ll be fine. He’s a tough guy.”
“Just like you.” My voice cracked.
He chuckled, but his eyes were filled with anguish as he rubbed his thumb through my tears. “Yeah, maybe a little bit like me.”
“Why didn’t they provide any updates? Nothing. They said nothing.”
“I had a hard landing, which destroyed the communications system. I had a few seconds to get him out of the chopper before it exploded. We were in the middle of a damn firestorm, so no one knew anything. I got him out of there, but it took time.”
“You’re his hero.”
He took my hand, kissing my fingers. “I’m no hero, just a man doing my job.”
“You can keep telling yourself that, but we all know better. Your friends. Your family. They know the truth, even if some of them don’t want to admit it.”
“I need to say something, Wren, so please listen to me.”
“O-kay.” I was still in shock, unable to think clearly, my heart pounding. But fear remained, his eyes distant and haunted.
“I’m really not a good guy, no matter what you think. You need to know that. I’m too old for you. I’m pigheaded and set in my ways. I don’t understand how to be romantic or even a good boyfriend, let alone a husband, but I can’t see spending another day without you in my life permanently. I know it’s too soon and we barely know each other. Hell, a lot of people will call us crazy, but I know what I feel. There was a moment I was almost sucked into the fire because I was taking a risk. I did so because I thought that’s what I needed to do. That’s all I was good for as a person because life meant nothing to me. Not really. Until you.”
I pressed my fingers across his lips, stopping him from continuing. “Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”
Laughing, he pulled my hand to his cheek, rubbing it back and forth. “You can tell me that anytime.”
“What are you trying to say?”
He took a deep breath. “This ain’t romantic and not the way you deserve, but will you consider becoming my wife? I don’t have a ring, but we can get one, whatever you want. Money is not a problem and—”
This time, I crushed my mouth over his as I wrapped my fingers around the back of his neck. I’d never known such a rollercoaster of emotions. This man was everything to me. When I pulled away, I took shallow breaths. “Let me answer.”
“Okay.”
“Yes.”
There were moments that would be forgotten because of time, but this wasn’t one of them. This very moment I would remember for the rest of my life.
Shared with the man I loved.
And not even death could tear us apart.
* * *
Phoenix
“Hello, Father,” I said, trying to keep my tone even.
“Riggs. My God, son. How are you? I heard about your little mishap all the way here in Texas.” The fact my father laughed after faking concern answered a few of the questions I was seeking.
Including an admittance of his guilt.
“My name is Phoenix, Pops, something I’ve told you a dozen times. Let me get to the point of my call. I learned about your attempt to invoke the codicil of my grandfather’s will while I was away. It’s funny how you didn’t have the nerve to tell me that once I returned.”
He paused, half laughing. “I’ll be damned. You can’t trust anyone nowadays, can you?”
