Page 86 of The Sweet Spot
“Ask you to marry me tonight? I was. During a romantic, candlelit dinner at Mama Rosa’s. But, obviously, the universe had other plans for us tonight.”
As I stare at that blue box, the significance of its contents hits me like a ton of bricks.
Chris wants to marry me.
I think about the dream I’ve had so many times—the one I thought was completely out of my grasp—and it’s right here. Within reach. “Ask me,” I say abruptly, my voice shaking.
“Right now?” He looks shocked. “In a parking lot? This is hardly the most romantic setting. Honey, are you sure?”
“Chris, I don’t need a romantic candlelit dinner. All I need is you. Ask me, please.”
He opens the box and shows me the contents—a gorgeous engagement ring with a lovely slim gold band and a perfect diamond solitaire.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.
To my surprise, he gets down on one knee, on a gravel parking lot, and says, “Jennifer Lopez, would you please make me the happiest man on the planet? I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy.”
And I believe him. “Yes.” I’m shaking so much I can barely utter an intelligible word. “Yes, of course.” I reach down and pull him to his feet.
He takes the ring out of the box, slips it on my ring finger, and pulls me close for a kiss. The kiss goes on and on until we finally break apart to get air.
Just as Chris is about to say something, his sat phone rings. He grabs it and takes the call. “Nelson here, over.”
“Chris!” It’s Killian. “We found them on the connector trail. Other than having a broken leg, the man is stable. The child is borderline suffering from hypothermia, but she’ll be all right once we get her warm. Micah is on his way with the chopper toextract the man. I’ll take him up into the helicopter, and we’ll take him to the hospital in Estes Park. The others will bring the girl down to you. Please radio for EMT.”
“Roger that,” Chris says. “Good work, guys. Who found them?”
“Who do you think?” Killian asks with a chuckle. “Scout did.”
I waste no time racing over to Lynn Atkins to give her the good news. “Your husband and daughter have been found, and they’re both in stable condition.” She breaks down in tears and mutters a prayer under her breath.
While I do what I can to comfort the mom, my gaze keeps returning to my hand.
Lynn notices my ring. “That’s a beautiful ring. How long have you been engaged?”
I smile. “About five minutes.” I point to Chris. “To that man over there.”
“The sheriff?”
“The one and only, my childhood sweetheart.”
Epilogue
One month later…
Jennie
It’s just like my dream, only this time, it’s real. It’s actually happening. I’m not going to wake up a blubbering mess in a few minutes. I’m tempted to pinch myself to double-check I’m not dreaming, but since a roomful of people just turned in their seats to watch me, I refrain. Instead, I focus on the sight in front of me—Chris Nelson at the head of the room standing between his best man, Micah, and Reverend Jones. Dressed in a black tuxedo, white dress shirt, magenta tie and cummerbund, Chris takes my breath away.
My Chris.
My best friend.
Now my lover.
And soon-to-be my husband.
As I meet Chris’s gaze, I can’t help thinking about that life-altering moment seven months ago when this man literally risked his life to save mine. I could have lost him that day, and my dream would have been permanently shattered. But fortune was on our side that day, and he survived a gunshot.
