Page 38 of Jack Raider

“I’m always weird.”

“True, but this is a new level. What’s going on?”

I reached into my pocket and held out a small, velvet box. She froze, eyes locked on mine, wide and glassy.

“You make my world make sense,” I said quietly. “You made this place feel so much like home. You mademefeel like someone worth loving. And if you’ll let me, I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you never forget just how loved you are.”

I opened the box.

She gasped.

Inside was a simple, gold ring with a diamond that caught every flicker of light from the sunset.

“Eloise Hayes…” I dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me?”

Her hand covered her mouth. Her other hand gripped mine.

“You know I said I’d only marry someone who’d wrestle a bull for me,” she said, voice shaking.

“I watched you give a bull an enema, just for you,” I reminded her. “At least I was involved in that. I think I qualify.”

She laughed through her tears. “Yes. Of course, yes.”

I stood and wrapped my arms around her, lifting her off the ground in a spin that made Wolf bark and the screen door slam open behind us.

“I told you she’d say yes!” Nate shouted, holding up a phone he recorded the whole thing.

Eloise groaned into my chest. “Please tell me he didn’t stream that live.”

“He tagged your mom, your dad, and the rest of your family, plus Mable,” I whispered.

“I love you,” she said, still laughing. “Even when our proposal is sponsored by Nate.”

“I love you too,” I said, kissing her like she was my whole future.

Because she was.

Untitled

The End

Epilogue

Eloise

I always said I wouldn’t have a big wedding.

Then again, I never imagined falling in love with a former Navy SEAL who practically collected people and wolves like mismatched socks—and every single one of them showed up for us.

“Do you, Jack Raider, promise to protect, adore, and remain reasonably obedient to this woman for the rest of your life?” the officiant asked, grinning.

“I do,” Jack said, his eyes locked on mine. “I absolutely do. Even when she makes me eat vegetables.”

Laughter broke out across the mountain.

When it was my turn, I barely made it through the first line without tears.

“I didn’t know what I was missing until you entered my life. I was happy, I had family and friends, and then I saw you that night and knew my life was missing something. My life was missing you.”

---