Page 52 of Forever Mine

Liam laughed. “Well, okay. Wanted his opinion too, but guess it'll wait.”

He didn't explain further as he backed up and drove off. We were only on the road for about two miles before he veered off on a side road, followed by a couple more turns. The last one ended in the middle of a large field surrounded by woods. He got out of the car and walked around to lean up against the hood. I joined him.

Liam wrapped his arm around me and leaned in close, practically whispering in my ear and causing the butterflies to take flight in my stomach again. My heart raced from his nearness.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“It's beautiful,” I said, and he smiled happily.

“Okay, now you'll have to use your imagination a little,” he said, pulling out a piece of paper from his back pocket. He released me long enough to unfold it and pass me a hand drawn sketch of a house. Two stories, a large garage, and a big wraparound porch. Off to the side he had even added a swing set. I didn't need to use my imagination to know it would be an amazing house.

He used his left arm to point out exactly where he thought everything should be. “So,” he finally asked. “What do you think?”

“It's gorgeous. Who wouldn't want to live in a place like this? And the lot is so isolated, but only a few miles into town. It's perfect.”

“But would you want to live in it? Is it perfect for you and Oscar,” he asked and I felt his nervousness for the first time, “and me?”

He looked so hopeful and I finally realized what he was asking.

“You want to build this place? Here? For us?” I said “us” so effortlessly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I don't want us to live with my parents forever. Hell, if I'd known finding my mate would feel like this, I'd have built it a long time ago in preparation of your arrival.”

He was still nervous and I saw the vulnerability in his eyes. He was nervous about me. Somehow that thought breathed new life into me. He wanted me and Oscar in his life. We weren't going to be some obligation to him. He was choosing us. Before I could speak, he was talking again.

“I'm not going to pretend to know everything. I don't know how we will ever be able to fully bond without your wolf, but I don't care.” He was standing in front of me know, his hands on either side of my face, caressing my cheeks. “Maybe our life won't be normal. Maybe our son will be a tiger.” He said “our son” and my heart nearly leapt from my chest. “Those little details don't matter. What I do know with absolutely certainty is that I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Oscar. I want to help erase all the bad you've faced in your life and fill it with nothing but happiness. And the rest doesn't matter. We'll figure out the details as we go along.”

He paused, staring into my soul, making me feel complete and vulnerable at the same time. “Madelyn, I've loved you my entire life, for as long as I can remember. You are my one true mate. So, I'm asking, will you and Oscar move in with me? Build this house together? Share a lifetime here? Stay?”

He was holding his breath, awaiting my answer as I started at him in awe. The only boy I'd ever loved was confessing to loving me. There was no way I could pass up on a lifelong dream in the arms of Liam Westin. I nodded as happy tears fell from my eyes.

He relaxed, looking happier than ever. He kissed me, but it wasn't the passionate kisses we had shared earlier; it was a hopeful kiss filled with love. He picked me up and swung me around. We laughed.

“You've just made me the happiest man alive. Now come on, show me where you want your front door. I plan to have them break ground this week. The sooner the better.”

We ran around hand in hand, dreamed aloud, lay in the grass staring at the sky as the sun started to set and planned for a future together. It was arguably the greatest moment of my life. When I started to yawn and my stomach began to rumble loudly, we decided to head back. Realization struck that we hadn't really eaten all day, and I was suddenly famished.

Liam called his mom to check on Oscar without me even asking him to. It was the little things like that that made him truly exceptional. We swung by a place called The Crate for dinner. There were a lot of people there, but few gave me a second glance. We made it through dinner and were waiting on dessert when that started to change.

A tall, dark-haired man with bright-blue eyes approached us. He was strong and handsome, his arms covered in tattoos. I had no doubt many women swooned over this guy, but he didn't hold a candle to Liam for me.

“Liam,” the man said, approaching us and shaking hands with my mate. I held in a giggle, letting it sink in. Yes, he was definitely my mate. All mine.

“Cole. It's good to see you.”

“Thought Patrick said you wouldn't be back till tomorrow.”

“That was the plan, but plans change.” He grinned, reaching across the table and taking my hand. “Cole Anderson, this is Maddie Collier, my mate.”

I blushed, unable to believe he'd just broadcasted it so clearly. A quiet fell across the room as people strained their necks to get a look at me.

“Collier? As in Madelyn Collier? The girl who's been missing for . . .” He seemed to struggle for the timeline.

“Eight years,” I filled in for him.

Whispers started up throughout the room. It wouldn't get any easier trying to hide from it. I was going to have to put my big girl panties on and own it. I could feel my nerves rebelling as I fought back the panic trying to settle inside me. Liam squeezed my hand, helping to ground me and not let me succumb to the darkness threatening to pull me back under.

I liked Cole Anderson immediately, because the next thing out of his mouth wasn't “Where have you been?” or “What happened to you?” No, he turned his attention off me entirely and back on Liam. Clapping him on the shoulder, he said, “You lucky son of a bitch. She looks like a keeper.”

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