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He pulls the Jeep to a stop and climbs out, then hurries around to open my door for me, and with our coffees in hand, he leads me to a little spot that already has a blanket spread out on the grass.
“When did you put this here?”
“About an hour ago,” he replies with a satisfied smile before taking a sip of his coffee.“I couldn’t sleep last night, so I came out to set up something nice for you.”
“Why couldn’t you sleep?What’s wrong?After that wild party yesterday, I slept like the dead.”
“Nothing’s wrong.”He kisses my fingers, and then we sit on the blanket, snuggled up together.My coffee is delicious, and the sky is starting to turn pink as the sun climbs up behind the mountains.“I wanted some alone time with you in a special place before the sun comes up.”
“I’m glad your parents came for Holly’s party,” he says and sips his coffee.“It’s convenient that we’re only an hour’s flight away from Seattle.When I spoke to your dad yesterday, he said he’d never miss his granddaughter’s birthday party.”
The words start to sink in, and I turn my gaze up to his.“I know I haven’t had much coffee yet, but?—”
“I love you,” he says, his voice perfectly calm.His amazing eyes are full of happiness and hope as he stares down at me.“I never believed in love at first sight, but I took one look at you at that coffee shop, and I knew I was a goner.Why do you think I went in every single day?I can get plain black coffee at home.”
I press my lips together, determined to soak in every word of this and not ruin it with questions.
“I’ve done the marriage thing before, Erin.”He sighs and brushes my hair back behind my ear.“I’m not sure that I was any good at it.I made a lot of mistakes, and I can be a bear to live with sometimes.Just ask my kids.”
“You’re not selling this very well.”
He taps the tip of my nose with his finger and grins.“I know that I’m a lot to take on.I have two children and a ranch that demands a lot of my time.But I want to make a life with you here.I want to marry you, share my home and my kids with you.”
He pulls a ring out of his pocket and offers it to me.It’s a simple solitaire diamond, but it has to be at least three karats.
“Whoa.”My heart leaps into my throat, and I’m swamped with emotion.
“Will you marry me, Erin Montgomery?”
I search his face and eyes, and I can see the love there, radiating back at me.And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I want to marry this man, and be the mother to his gorgeous kids.I want this life with him.
“Without hesitation.”He slides the ring onto my finger and then kisses it.“I love you and the kids and this place more than anything.When I came to Montana, I was so lost.I didn’t know for sure what I wanted or even who I was.But I found it with you, and with Holly and Johnny.This is absolutely where I’m supposed to be.And the kids are champing at the bit to call me Mom, which just melts my heart every time they ask.They’re the sweetest, and I love them with my whole heart.Not just because they’re a packaged deal with you, but because of who they are as people.I hope their mom would approve of me stepping in on her behalf.”
Remington swallows hard and nods.“She’d like you, Doc.And I know my kids are crazy about you because they’ve also been houndingmeto ask you to marry us so you can finally be their mom.”
“So, you gave in to peer pressure?”I giggle and then moan as he kisses me, soft and slow.
When we finally come up for air, he whispers, “Look at the mountains.”
I turn my head and gasp.The sky is on fire, in red and orange, as the sun is just starting to come up behind the peaks.
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Heart stopping,” he agrees, and I glance to him and find him looking at me.
“There’s that swoon again.”
“This is only the beginning, Doc.”He kisses my nose and pulls me closer to him, and I know that this is just the beginning of an incredible life here in the wilds of Montana.
Epilogue
Chase Wild
Ihate the Fourth of July.Not because I’m not patriotic, but because as a cop, I spend the entire week responding to disturbing the peace calls because people can’t seem to understand that lighting off fireworks is against the law within the city limits.
Kids like to get into trouble on this holiday, as well, stealing fireworks, drinking…pretty much any trouble they can find.
And I should know.Once upon a time,Iwas that kid.
