Page 166 of Where We Bloom

“Are you telling me you’ve found them?”

I lean on the doorway of Connor’s office in the Galway house and cross my arms over my chest as I listen in. There’s no need to eavesdrop.

Since returning to Montana several weeks ago, Connor has made it perfectly clear that he won’t hold anything back from me.

It’s only made me fall more in love with him.

He flips the phone to speaker and sets it on his desk, gesturing for me to join him. Rather than sit in the chair opposite of him, I round the desk and settle in his lap. Connor kisses my cheek and hugs me against him.

“We found most of the members of the extremist group,” a voice says on the other end of the line. “They weren’t eveninSweden.”

“Where were they?” Connor asks.

“Alaska.” The man snorts. “Apparently, they like tocause trouble in the name of saving the trees, or the fish, or whatever the fuck, but they do it from their hideout in the wilderness of Alaska. Or they did. They’ve been wanted for a long time, and we have them in custody. We’re still tracking a few members, but it won’t take long.”

“Good.” I feel Connor relax behind me. “And the arsehole who was in Montana stalking my girl?”

“In jail,” he confirms. “The police force there apprehended him quickly, as you know, and he’ll go away for a while for stalking. He was also wanted on other warrants, so he won’t be a problem for anyone but the federal government for a long while.”

“Excellent,” Connor says. “As always, I appreciate your help. I’ve wired your money.”

“It’s a pleasure.”

The man hangs up, and I twist to look Connor in the face.

“Did you just bribe an official?” I ask him.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about or who that man was.” His face is calm, but his Irish eyes are full of mischief.

“Uh-huh. I don’t believe you.”

He leans in and plants his magical lips against my neck. “Let’s go for a walk,mo chroi.”

“That sounds nice.” I hop off his lap, and he follows me through the house to the front door. After snatching up his hoodie, which is nowmyhoodie, I pull it over my head, and we make our way outside to the path that leads us to the cliffs.

We do this every day. We’ve been here for two days already, and we always make time to come out here to stare at the raging sea, breathe in the salty air, and just be here together.

It’s my favorite time of the day.

With my hand firmly in Connor’s, we walk down the path, and I point out the birds that never fail to make me grin.

My man stops and tugs me into his arms to hug me close. I love how physically affectionate my billionaire is. Maybe it’s becoming one of his love languages, too.

“I love you,mo rúnsearc.”

Grinning up at him, I reply, “I love you too.”

Connor licks his lips, his gaze floating over my face. Stepping back, he suddenly kneels before me, and my heart stops beating as tears threaten.

“I can’t go another minute without telling you how much I love you, Billie. There aren’t words to explain the love that fills me up whenever I look at you. You take my breath away. I’m proud to be by your side. You’re such an incredible woman, so smart, full of so much fire. You inspire me.”

A tear escapes and drifts down my cheek, and he reaches up to catch it with his thumb.

“No world exists where I can live without you. You are my life force, the only thing that makes sense. And you showed me what real love is, and that I’m capable of it.”

“You love me so well,” I tell him with a trembling voice.

“Marry me,a ghrá. Build a family with me. Let me show you, every day, how much I love you.”

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