AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, I think it’s great,” Ella hurried to assure him. “Reading is a way for us to escape. I think more people should be doing it.”
He shook his head. “I don’t need to escape. I like it here.”
Her brows creased. “You mean in Copper Creek?”
Mason closed his book with a nod. “Sure. This place is home. I don’t think I will ever want to leave.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Well, you should,” he said. “I don’t have any reason to leave.”
“Not even if you had money? Just to go travel a bit and then come back home?”
Mason’s expression turned unreadable. But then he stared at her like she had asked him if he would consider eating a bug. “Where would you go ifyouhad money?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’d like to see parts of the world that I would never get a chance to see. There’s so much out there that’s worth exploring.”
He frowned, glancing down at his book. His fingers traced over the image for a moment and then he shook his head. “Nope. I think I would prefer to stay here. I have all the adventure I would ever need in my books. Besides,” he said and glanced up at her, “you never know what kind of adventure waits around the corner when you’re a cowboy. Just the other day, I had to dodge a snake when I went riding. Didn’t want the horse spooked.”
Ella lifted a single brow. “You’re serious.”
“As serious as I’ll ever be.”
“Not even one trip?”
He shrugged. “I guess I can’t say never. But right now? I’m happy to just read.”
Footsteps drew their attention, and they glanced up to find Lucas, red-faced and out of breath. He’d come from the barn, which was strange seeing as they hadn’t been working in there.
Ella got to her feet and crossed her arms. “Please tell me you weren’t goofing off in the barn. We have work to do.”
He shook his head, still breathing heavily. “I wasn’t goofing off. I’d never goof off.” He grinned at his brother. “I had to practice.”
“Practice? Practice for what?” she asked with exasperation. “Didn’t we already figure out that singing isn’t going to be in your future?”
Lucas’s hand flew to cover his heart. “You wound me.”
She rolled her eyes and pointed to the trailer. “You assured me you’d bring some drywall. It’s time you deliver on your promises.” She turned toward the house and got two steps away when he said her name. She turned around and a gasp tore from her throat. Mason stood off to the side, his book in one hand, and Lucas knelt on one knee at the base of the stairs.
“I know we haven’t been dating long, but I knew back at that party you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. You’re it for me, Ella. You’re my life and my light. You bring me joy and make me want to be a better man. I want you.” He held up a ring. “Forever.”
Her mouth hung open, probably making her look more like a fish than the woman he loved. Time slowed down, ticking mercilessly along until it suddenly sped up and she felt like she was thrown through it at an alarming speed.
Before he had a chance to utter a single syllable more, she rushed down the steps and threw her arms around his neck, nearly toppling them both to the ground. Ella peppered his face with kisses, slowing only when her heart had enough.
Framing his face with both of her hands, she stared firmly into his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“How can you even ask me that?” He pulled her into a seated position on his knee. “You were meant for me. You always were.”
Ella swooned. There was no other way to describe it. Lucas was right. They fit together better than either one of them could have ever predicted.
“Oh, just put the ring on her finger and kiss her already. You said we were going to leave at five and it’s already ten after.”
Lucas chuckled at his brother’s statement. When Ella glanced over to him, she found him giving her an encouraging smile followed by a nod.
A soft laugh burst from her throat. “I guess that settles it. Never in a million years would I have predicted this would happen, and yet here it is. I’m going to marry Lucas Keagan.” She placed her hand to his cheek. “And we’re going to live happily ever after.”
“Don’t I know it,” Lucas said with a smile before she cut him off with a kiss.
