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“That’s something anyway.” I’d been grilled by the Feds for my part in Giovanni’s death, but in the end, I hadn’t been charged. Even if I had been, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
“I heard you asked her to marry you,” Wren said, her smile another attempt at cheering me up.
“I didn’t have a chance.” Would it have changed the outcome? I doubted it.
“Did you buy a ring?” Chasity piped in.
Huffing, I looked away before nodding.
“You have it with you, don’t you?” Phoenix pressed. “We want to see it.”
“Why? So all of you can have a good laugh at my expense?” The bitterness I felt was shining through like a beacon of the disgruntled man I’d turned into.
“Come on. One look,” Snake chided.
I gave him an evil glare. Why the fuck were they pushing this? They kept their eyes pinned on me and I had a feeling they wouldn’t let it go. I yanked the box from my pocket. I’d been carrying the damn thing around with me for some crazy reason. As if I honestly expected she’d suddenly drop back into my life. I’d lost my mind if I really believed that tall tale.
After fingering the stupid black velvet, I opened the box and set it on the table.
The oohs and aahs were about ready to push me into overdrive. They didn’t want to see me explode tonight. I was ready to snatch it when some asshole decided to put their hands over my eyes.
I froze, ready to react. I’d get my chance to beat the shit out of someone.
Then I heard her voice and shuddered.
“I wasn’t gone that long and you’re asking another woman to marry you?”
Amelie.
What. The. Fuck?
When she eased her hands away, the first thing I saw was all the shit-eating grins on my friends’ faces. They’d been in on this.
I turned around, issuing a husky growl, shaking my head as my woman laughed. Then I wrapped my arms around her, sweeping her off her feet.
And wouldn’t you know it, every person at the table and others close by started clapping.
Within seconds, all sound was drowned out. There was no one else in the room but the two of us. I cupped her face as she wrapped her leg around mine, barely able to breathe or think clearly.
“You’re here. You came back. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“You’re not so smart then, my sexy mountain man. This is my home. You and Sam are my family. I’m never leaving again.”
As I captured her mouth, I lost every ounce of rage and remorse, guilt and hatred. There was nothing more important than the woman who was in my arms.
Right where she belonged.
The taste of her was even sweeter, the feel of having her in my arms the best in the world. When she pressed her hand against my chest, breaking the kiss, the mischievous glint in her eyes was exactly the same as before.
“You’re right,” I told her. “You’re never going to get out of my sight again.”
“That’s just fine with me. Do you think you can handle me, cowboy?”
“Oh, I’ll handle you just fine, baby. Including keeping you in line. That might be my full-time job.”
“I have other things for you to do in mind.” Her purr almost drove me crazy. “So, are you going to ask me?”
“Ask you what?” I eased her down and she cocked her sweet little head, giving me a pouting look.
