Page 65 of Jake

Heather froze for a moment, then used her arm to wipe soap suds from her face.

“Does that mean what I think it means?”

“It does if you think it means that having to look over your shoulder for someone out for the reward is over, for good.”

“Are you sure?”

“As sure as I can be. I heard the same news from the Tucson chapter, and I called Hex to be sure.”

She rinsed her hair and applied the conditioner, moving on auto pilot as she processed the news.

“I could go back if I wanted,” she said, not sure she could believe it.

“You could.” He fell quiet while she rinsed her hair and body. When she shut off the water, he stepped in with her towel, gently blotting her dry, a habit they’d gotten into over the last couple of weeks. He didn’t always join her in the shower or in the bathroom, but when he did, he didn’t let her dry herself, but took care of her. “Do you want to go back?”

Heather turned and looked at him, searching his face for any sign of what he wanted. But she saw nothing. He’d carefully schooled his expression to blankness.

“No.” The words came out as barely more than a breath. She watched his face a moment longer. “Not unless you do too. I don’t care where I am, as long as you’re there too.”

“Thank God.” Aaron lowered his head and covered her mouth in a searing kiss that stole all thoughts of being anywhere but here, from her mind. All that mattered was the two of them, here and now. “I have something I need to ask but wanted to make sure you wanted to be with me first.”

“What?” She frowned at him.

“Marry me. I want you to stay forever. I’m trying to convince your cousin to sell me the trailer, or I’ll pick up another somewhere else, but I don’t ever want you to leave. I want you with me always. I can’t imagine anyone else I want to ride through life with.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her against him as he gazed down at her.

Her heart thundered in her ears. Had he really just asked her for forever? To be a permanent part of her life? She’d hoped for this, but hadn’t dared think he might want the same thing.

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be. As stupid as it sounds, I’m glad Mitch turned out to be as stupid as he did.”

Aaron growled.

“I know you don’t like me talking about him and I won’t even disagree that he got what was coming to him. But if he hadn’t done what he did, I never would have come north and found you again. And I’d go through a lot more than I did to have what I have now.”

“You still haven’t answered me.”

“I did, but not in the way you wanted.” She smiled and lifted one hand to cup his face. “Yes, I’ll stay with you. I’ll take your growly moods and cranky scowls, because you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m not going to walk away from that, ever.” She stretched up and placed a peck of a kiss on the end of his chin. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she’d missed lunch. “Now I’m hungry, so let me get dressed. After we eat, I’ll let you drag me to bed so we can celebrate.”

“Put your clothes on, woman. I’m making plans for that celebration already.”

Heather shook her head and smiled to herself as she pulled on her clothes and combed out her hair. She never would have guessed things would end up this way as she’d fled Alabama, but she wouldn’t trade a single moment with Aaron for anything. This was where she was meant to be and where she intended to stay.

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