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The thought had crossed my mind more times than I cared to admit. I reached over, placing my hand atop hers in an attempt to offer comfort. “It’s a possibility. But them being detained gives us some peace on that front, at least for a little while. We should take advantage of that and focus on us. On our future together.”
“Right. Our future.” Her fingers intertwined with mine. She seemed to be trying to find reassurance in our touch just as much as I was.
I lifted her hand to press a gentle kiss against her knuckles. “We will face whatever comes our way together. I promise you that.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and relief washed over me. She squeezed my hand. “You’re right. We have each other, and that’s all that matters.”
“Exactly,” I said, the ring box burning in my pocket once more. Now was not the time to dwell on potential threats. Tonight was about us, about making our bond official and unbreakable.
“Besides,” I added with a teasing grin, “I don’t think the Greenthornes know what they’re up against when it comes to you.”
Tori chuckled. “You might be right about that.” Her grip on my hand tightened ever so slightly. “They have no idea who they’re messing with.”
God, I loved how fiercely protective my mate could be. “Damn straight.” We would face any challenge head-on.
For now, though, I needed to focus on presenting Tori with the ring and asking her to be mine forevermore. The uncertainty in her eyes, the lingering doubt that clouded her expression—those were the things I needed to banish tonight. And I was determined to do whatever it took to make that happen.
“Let’s enjoy our dinner, and then we’ll take a walk through town,” I suggested, trying my best to sound casual despite the pounding in my chest. “And then a run under the stars?”
“Sounds perfect.” Her smile looked more genuine this time. “Just what I need after all this chaos.”
“Then it’s settled.” I forced myself to return my attention to my own meal. The anticipation threatened to overwhelm me, but I had to remain focused. This night had to be perfect for Tori. For us.
As we finished our dinner, my heart raced like a caged wild animal. Soon, I would present her with the ring, ask her to be my mate for eternity.
“Hey, Ridge,” Tori said, suddenly thoughtful as she swirled her wine in her glass. “I have been thinking about getting some equipment to do a couple of simple tattoos for Kyle and Audrey. What do you think?”
My mind leaped at the idea. It sounded like the tattoo parlor I’d bought would be a good gift after all. “I think that’s a great idea, Tori. They’ll love it.”
“Thanks,” She smiled, taking a sip of her wine. “I just want to do something special for them, you know?”
“Absolutely.” I intertwined my fingers with hers. “They’re lucky to have you.”
Her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink, and I could tell she appreciated the compliment. We continued chatting and laughing together until we had finished our wine.
“Ready to go?” I asked as I stood up, offering my hand to help her from her seat.
“Definitely.” She slipped her slim fingers into mine. As we left the restaurant, the nerves crept back up on me. The ring boxnow felt like a lead weight in my pocket, reminding me of its presence with every step.
We hadn’t gone far before we were stopped by a group of nosy townspeople. Their gaze stayed on us, scrutinizing our every move as they tried to get a glimpse at the mayor and his fiancée.
“Evening, Ridge,” one woman called out, waving enthusiastically. “How are you two lovebirds doing tonight?”
“Fine. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.” I did my best to keep my smile in place despite my growing impatience.
“Isn’t it such a beautiful night for a romantic dinner?” Another man smiled slyly at Tori.
“Indeed.” I wanted nothing more than to escape their prying eyes. “We were just on our way for a walk.”
“Enjoy yourselves,” Mrs. Thompson called after us, and I couldn’t help but detect a note of curiosity in her voice. She was likely wondering when we would tell the town about our wedding plans, when the invitations would go out, or if our engagement was nothing more than a sham.
“Thanks, we will.” Tori gave them a polite wave as we continued on our way. The moment we were out of earshot, she groaned. “I don’t know how you deal with being the center of attention all the time.”
“Comes with the territory.” I tried to sound casual. “It’s not so bad when I have you by my side.”
Tori blushed again, and I smiled. She truly was stunning, inside and out, and the thought of spending the rest of our lives together left me both exhilarated and terrified.
“Let’s just enjoy our walk, all right?” I suggested, needing to fill the silence that had fallen between us. “And when we’re nice and relaxed, we can go for that run under the stars. There’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight.”
