Page 75 of One Last Stand

“I don’t know. It’s just so fast.”

He held up a hand. “I get fast. What I don’t get is . . . a different direction. I thought—” And he should just stop talking, because she stiffened.

“Just give me a minute to live in freedom, okay?”

Freedom. As if he might bechainingher to him.Nice.

Mandy returned with the box. He pulled out his wallet and handed Mandy a card.

She took it and went to the cash register.

“Don’t you want time, now that the lawsuit is over, to figure out what’s next?”

He looked at Tillie and just . . . yeah, fatigue had him laying it all out there. “I know what’s next. You. You and Hazel. At least for me.” He shook his head. “So I guess now’s not the time to ask you to marry me.”

He met her eyes, and she drew in a breath. Swallowed.

Way to go, Moose.

Mandy returned with the card. He took the slip and signed it. Handed it back. She glanced at Tillie and walked away.

Tillie’s mouth had tightened. But still she didn’t answer.

He got up. “I’ll be in the truck.” Five minutes passed as he sat in the cold cab, terribly afraid that this was the end. Staring out at the Alaskan sky, so dark but riddled with pinpricks of light, as if hope were trying to break through.

And then his driver’s-side door opened and Tillie stood there, her eyes filled.

Aw.“I’m sor?—”

She took his face in her hands and kissed him. Sure and deliberate. And she tasted like apple pie and coffee and all the hopes and dreams he had for them. Beauty and strength and compassion and everything this woman had become for him. Oh, he loved her, and he didn’t care what might be going on—or that he didn’t understand any of it, really—he just curled his hand behind her neck and kissed her back.

She didn’t pull away, just stepped closer as he turned in his seat, tucked her into his embrace, and deepened his kiss under the blinking stars, giving her his tired, way-too-raw heart.

Yes.Yes,he’d wait for her.

She finally broke their kiss and touched her forehead to his before backing away and meeting his gaze. “You are what’s next, Moose. I’m just trying to keep up.”

“I can slow down.”

She gave him a soft smile. “Don’t slow down too much.” She put her hands on his chest. “Truth is, you make me, and Hazel, feel safe, and I trust you. So ask me again.”

“Right now?”

She gave him a look. “Maybe give me a day or two.”

Fine.He’d give her as much time as she needed. As long as the answer was yes.

Which brought him to today, tonight. Hewouldn’tbe a coward, despite the memory of the crash and burn. Although really, his first try hadn’t been an actual, decent, official marriage proposal.

Next time, however, it would be perfect.

He turned off the highway toward her house in Eagle River, running the words through his brain.

Tillie, you are smart and amazing and beautiful?—

No,he should start with her courage. Or maybe her compassionate heart. Or maybe the way she listened to him, calmed the terrible whirring constantly in his head.

Or perhaps,I love you, Tillie. I would give my life for you, and Hazel. . . .

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