Page 100 of Wilderness Daddy

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a silky scarf. Yanking her close, I wrap the scarf over her eyes and tie it behind her head. I lean closer, my lips an eighth of an inch from hers.

“Remember when you blindfolded me and took me to the lake?”

“Daddy,” she whispers, a breathy sigh following to caress my lips. “You wouldn’t.”

“Let’s go, little one. Time to follow my directions. Don’t make any mistakes now or we’ll have to stop and remind you what happens when you don’t listen to Daddy.”

I guide her with just my words to the lake. It’s not far, but we’re going slow. When the lake comes into view, I smile. I’ve decorated a little grassy area where we’ve sat before watching the clouds or chatting privately during taping.

The camera’s followed us everywhere for a few weeks, but when we came to this spot they stayed back. Far enough away that our words don’t reach their microphones, but they’d still be filming us.

Today the camera is still on us. Akari just doesn’t know it. I got it ready while she slept this morning.

Midsummer now, the grassy places on the mountain are filled with wildflowers, so I’ve picked armloads to bring to the place I’ve picked to propose.

A blanket, a picnic basket, which is actually a bear-proof container, and flowers decorate the patch of green by the lake. Champagne chilling in a bucket filled with ice water from the glacier-fed river a mile beyond our camp awaits as well.

I admire the setup. With butterflies fluttering and the sky filled with puffy white clouds, it’s damn near perfect.

“Okay, here’s where we stop,” I say. She obeys and waits for my next instruction. I admire her now. Surrounded by the beauty of the wild, the luxuries I’ve brought at her feet, she looks mesmerizing.

“I’m going to take off the blindfold but you’re to keep your eyes closed, yeah?”

She nods, a beaming smile growing on her face as I remove the silky band of material. My eyes roam her from head to toe again before I pull the ring from my pocket.

Getting down on one knee, I hold it up.

“It took trust to get us where we are, both figuratively and literally. And although neither of us knew this was where we’d end up, I think we’re both happier because of it.”

She nods, her eyes still closed, the gentle curve of her mouth hitching a little higher.

“I’ve never felt so utterly complete—so at peace and so free and that’s because of you. Maybe I became the Wilderness Man on my own, but you made me your Wilderness Man Daddy and that’s better than anything I could have done on my own.”

Kari smiles.

“Akari Takahashi, you’re my whole world and I want to spend my life being yours. I love you so much and there’s only one more thing in this world I need.”

“What’s that, Wilderness Man Daddy?”

“A Wilderness Woman Wife. Marry me?”

Her eyes burst open and find my face as she launches herself at me, knocking me flat on my back. I’m still finding my breath as she plasters my face in kisses.

“Well?”

“Well, what?” she asks, making me growl and swat at her ass.

“You want this or what?” I hold up the ring. Her face beams as she reaches to snatch it out of my hand. I grab it away, shaking my head.

“Yes!”

“It’s Daddy’s job to put it on.”

She gives a wiggle of excitement and holds her hand out to me.

“Good girl. Up you get.” Once I’m on my feet, I slide the ring on her finger. “Fits perfect,” I say. “Your mom gave me your size after I asked your father for your hand.”

She sniffles, staring at the ring. “You really asked him?”

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