Page 136 of Running Winter

"Rafe—"

"Heather, you drive me fucking crazy. Four years of being with you taught me that I don’t want anyone else. You're end game, baby. Be my wife."

Heather turned around, her eyes wide as she studied Rafe.

He wore a light blue shirt; the sleeves roughly pushed up to show his heavily tattooed arms which circled her waist. He had a deep tan from their recent holiday to the Caribbean, and she felt butterflies in her stomach when he stroked her cheek softly.

She never considered that Rafe Deacon would settle down, least of all for a girl he fucked on the third time he met her.

She knew he was volatile and unpredictable at times. But he was by far the most incredible man she had ever met, and he made her insanely happy. He understood her as no one else did, and they were compatible in so many ways beyond the bedroom.

Their past was just that; their past. They needed to accept that their history was behind them.

Heather loved Rafe with every fiber of her being, despite the eternal rift between him and her brother.

This would only incense Jared further, but Heather didn't care. Rafe was end game.

"Fucking hell, Herrod, answer me," Rafe drawled as she nodded wildly, tears blurring her vision.

"Damn straight. I’ll marry you," Heather breathed as Rafe pulled her in close, kissing her deeply. No one around them noticed them. They were just another hot couple making out at the bar.

"Even with my crazy ass family?"

Heather glanced over Rafe’s shoulder, her hands resting on his hard biceps as she saw Raven, Chase, Leigh, and Rayna watching them from the opposite side of the bar.

Raven gazed at her, and Heather couldn't quite read the look.

Raven unnerved her, but she had never done anything to upset her.

Chase was busy chatting with Leigh, who had a loose arm around Raven’s waist.

Rayna was staring at Heather too, and her look was clear.

She hated her.

Heather knew why. She had been with Chase before Rayna woke up and realized they were meant to be together, then Rayna had seen Heather and Rafe fucking.

She understood the hatred, or was it jealousy?

Had Rayna ever held a torch for Rafe?

Either way, it was pointless—Rafe had captured Heather's heart, mind, and soul. She had tried to resist him, even throwing herself at his cousin simply because he was everything she tried to avoid.

"You know your problem, don't you?" Rafe whispered in her ear, his hand dropping to her waist.

Her hands caressed his, and she leaned against him.

"What?'

"You care too much."

Rafe shrugged, kissing her shoulder as he lifted his eyes to meet those across from them.

"My sister hates most people, so don't take it personally. Chase and Leigh think you're great, and Rayna is just an oddball sometimes. My parents love you. Most importantly, so do I."

Heather dragged her attention away from the others, smiling as she gazed up at Rafe.

"As long as you do, that's all that matters."

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