Page 121 of Never Fall Again

He stopped on the barely-there path and turned around to face her. “What’s the rush?” He stepped closer, slid his arms around her, and kissed her. She melted into him, and he savored the feel of her body against his. He pulled back but didn’t release her. Instead, he rested his cheek against the top of her head. “Better?”

She snuggled closer. “Yes.”

Landry had come close to having a panic attack when she learned that Cal had been buried alive. They’d decided it was best if Eliza didn’t know that part of the story, but the weight of it had threatened to crush Landry. They didn’t talk about it much, but they’d both experienced moments when they simply needed to be held. They needed the reassurance that they had survived.

Maisy had outdone herself with her attempts to keep themboth comforted. She was happiest when they were together and she could snuggle between them or lie at their feet. They’d left her at home for this adventure. Cal didn’t know if hiking was bad for pregnant golden retrievers, but he didn’t want to risk it. After the trauma she’d experienced when he was buried alive, it only seemed reasonable to make sure they kept things as easy for her as possible.

“It isn’t much farther.” Cal squeezed Landry tight, then released her. He would have kept her hand in his, but the trail only allowed single-file passage. “I promise it’s worth it.”

Landry’s smile held no fear, only trust. “I believe you.”

Five minutes later, the path emptied them onto the rock-strewn edge of a waterfall basin. “Oh, Cal! This is...” Landry shook her head in wonder as she stared up at the cascade. The spray bit against their cheeks, and the roar was enough that they had to yell to be heard. “Does it have a name?”

“Papa calls this Nina’s Falls.”

“Why Nina?”

“You won’t hear it often, but Nina is his nickname for Granny Quinn. Every now and then he’ll say, ‘Now, Nina, leave them be,’ and it’s like some kind of magic. Granny Quinn isn’t known for backing down, but when Papa calls her Nina?” Cal shook his head a little. “Honestly, I try not to read too much into it. It’s special to them. That’s what matters.”

“It’s lovely.” Landry’s eyes shone “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Cal opened his backpack and spread a waterproof blanket on the ground. From the thermos he’d packed, he poured a cup of hot chocolate for each of them, then they settled on the blanket. Her back to his chest. They sipped their drinks and enjoyed the peace of the space. There were no cars, no voices. Cell phones didn’t work here. It was a place that, for Cal, had always been somewhatsacred. He knew others in the family came here, but it was as if this spot was private for each of them.

After he’d returned to Gossamer Falls, he sat by the edge of the pool and screamed at the top of his lungs. He hadn’t been back since.

But today, he planned to reclaim these falls. Not as a place that held his pain, but as a place that birthed his future.

He brushed a few strands of hair off Landry’s cheek and tucked them behind her ear. “I need to talk to you about something.”

She shifted so her face was inches from his. “Okay.”

“Now that we’re done with Favors, your house is the next thing on the construction schedule.”

“Right.” Did she sound less enthusiastic than she’d sounded previously? That was a good sign.

“I was wondering if you’d consider postponing?”

“Postponing?” Landry frowned. “Why?”

Cal tucked a finger under her chin and pulled her close for a quick kiss. “I own thirty acres across from your three.”

“I’m aware.”

“And I was wondering if you’d consider building your house on my side of the river. And making itourhouse. I wouldn’t want to change much. I love your design. But I think it would need to be larger. Have a few more bedrooms, a bigger kitchen, that kind of thing. We could build your studio on your land, and I’ll even agree to that ridiculous bridge across the river that Meredith designed.”

Landry’s skin had gone bright red. Her eyes were huge. Her body trembled in his arms. “Cal?”

“If you think it’s too soon, I understand. But I want to marry you, Landry. I want you to be mine. I want to adopt Eliza. And I want to live with you forever. I understand if you can’t say yes now. But please wait to build your house. Give me a chance to convince you that we can build something better if we build it together.”

Landry smiled. “Callum Shaw. Are you asking me to marryyou? Because I think maybe you think you are. But I haven’t heard those actual words come out of your mouth yet.”

He scrambled around so he was kneeling in front of her. Forget one knee. He was on both knees. He held her hands in his. “Landry Hutton, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise to love you every moment of every day. I promise to take care of you and to let you take care of me. I promise to play with you and to annoy you. I promise to tackle every decision—easy or difficult—with your heart and happiness at the forefront of my thoughts. I love you.”

At some point during his speech, Landry had removed her hands from his and slid them to either side of his face. His hands now rested on her hips, and he felt the slight motion that settled her lips against his.

“I love you.”

He knew she did. That wasn’t up for debate. But he hadn’t planned to go through with the full proposal today. He didn’t want to force her to make a decision before she was ready.

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