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He stood near the end of the bar, still wearing his fatigues and looking bone tired but happy. I jumped off the stool and ran to him as the crowd parted to let me pass. I launched myself into his arms, savoring the warmth and feel of him against my skin.
Six months he’d been gone. Six long months. I hadn’t been expecting him for a few more days, though. I buried my face in his neck and greedily inhaled his scent—soap and sweat and something indefinably him.
Our lips met and I kissed him more deeply than I should’ve given that everyone in the room was watching us. Someone started clapping and I could feel him smile against my mouth. It took all of my strength to pull back to meet his gaze. “What’s going on? What are you doing here so early? We’ve missed you like anything.”
“I missed you too,” he said, flashing me a crooked smile that made my heart ache and my knees wobble. “The mission went faster than anticipated, and my CO released me early.”
I bit my lip, almost afraid to say the words for fear I’d jinx it. “So you’re done then? For good?”
His smile grew into a full-blown grin. “Yep. I’m done. I’m home. I’m finally home for good.”
We hugged again, this time to more applause and cheers from the crowd. I couldn’t seem to let him go. I’d spent so many months wishing for him to be there, and now he was, and it was amazing. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time from all the happiness shimmering inside me. We kissed and then kissed some more.
When he finally let go of me down people swarmed around him, slapping him on the back and welcoming him home. He took the kindness in stride, bobbing his head politely but never taking his eyes off of me. He finally untangled himself from the crowd he pulled me to a more secluded corner.
I cupped his cheeks, running my thumbs over the shadow of stubble on his jaw, by the spot where there was still a faint scar from his battle with Elijah Harris. I wondered if he’d always have the reminder of his struggle to keep us safe. I kissed him once more, just because I could, then asked, “When do you start your new job at Matt’s security firm?”
“Well…” He shrugged, his firm chest brushing against my long-neglected breasts and causing a whole different kind of warmth to ignite inside me. “I didn’t actually tell him I was coming home early, so...” He picked me up and grinned even wider, if that was possible. “I’ve got a few extra days before I start my new boring nine-to-five.”
It took a moment for that to sink in past the growing want inside me, but once it did, I was grinning too. “Okay. First off, I think we both know your new job is going to be anything but boring. And second, I can’t wait to have some time with you to myself, mister.”
Gabe’s expression shifted. He didn’t say anything as he pulled me towards the door, then outside into the moonlight. We were alone in the parking lot since no one seemed to want to leave the bar.
“Hey, I want you but I’m not into exhibitionism,” I said, tripping along behind him. “Especially not at my job.”
Gabe smiled and looked at me but didn’t say anything, and a shiver ran through me from the intensity in his eyes. We came to a stop and he turned to face me, taking both of my hands in his.
“What’s … what’s going on?” I asked, looking around in confusion.
“I wanted to get you alone, so I could have your full attention.”
“Well, you’ve got it,” I laughed nervously. He was acting weird. “But why?”
“I need to tell you something.”
Another shiver rolled through me. What now?
Gabe cleared his throat.
“I haven’t had a home in forever,” he started in a low voice. “Harpers Ferry used to be my home, but that changed when I lost my family. I learned to love the road, and after a while it became my way of life. But then …” he cleared his throat again. “Then I met you. And you showed me that home isn’t just a place, it’s afeeling. It’s a feeling of connection, of giving yourself over to someone completely, even if it scares the shit out of you.”
I smiled at that, despite the tears pooling in my eyes. He tightened his grip on my hands
“I never imagined myself with a family, but once again, you showed me what was possible. That I didn’t need to be afraid of the depth of love I felt. I earned that loving others could free me from some of the ghosts that held me back. I spent too many years running away from any thoughts of family, and now all I want to do is run headlong towards it. Because now you and Savannah have given me the one thing that was missing from my life.”
His voice cracked so I squeezed his hand. The tears were now flowing down my cheeks, and Gabe let go of me to reach up and gently swipe them away with his thumb.
“What I’m trying to say here is that you’ve made me happier than I ever thought I could be. Charlotte, you and Savannah have made me whole. And that’s why I have to do this.”
He took a half step backwards then lowered himself to one knee. I choked out a sob as he reached into his pocket.
“Charlotte Rhodes, will you spend the rest of your life with me? Withus? Will you marry me?”
It didn’t feel real, that all of my dreams were coming true. I shut my eyes and threw my head back, overcome by shock and surprise. I tried to fight off the sobs but finally had to surrender. When I opened my eyes and looked down at Gabe his face was a mask of worry.
“Yes!” I laughed as his expression transformed into relief. “Did you have any doubt? A million times yes!”
I threw myself at him and he fell to the ground with me on top of him. I kissed him hard on the mouth, despite the tears flowing down my cheeks.
“Are those happy tears?” he asked in between kisses, sounding bewildered.
“The happiest,” I laugh-cried. “Because you’re home, with us, forever.”
“That’s exactly right. I’m home, forever,” he agreed, then kissed me again.
