Page 142 of Nothing But Air

“Noah Wilde.” She was laughing now, tears already gathering in her eyes. “You’re insane.”

“You’ve mentioned that before. Usually while patching me up.”

“Because you keep getting stabbed and shot at.”

“And yet you stick around.” He opened the box, the diamond shining in the dim light. “Meg, will you marry me?”

She stared at him. One heartbeat. Two.

“Are you serious?” Her voice cracked.

“Absolutely. Real question. Real ring. Real me, on my knee, in front of witnesses who will absolutely never let me live this down if you say no.”

“Yes.” Meg dropped to her knees in front of him, her professional composure completely shattered. “A hundred times yes.”

He stood and pulled her up with him. His hands were steadier than he’d expected as he slid the ring onto her finger. The simple band with its small diamond settled perfectly into place.

“How long have you been carrying that around?” She held her hand up, watching the diamond catch the light.

“Long enough.”

Meg laughed—the sound pure joy—and pulled Noah’s face down to hers.

The kiss was everything. Relief and promise and the fierce certainty that this was right. That she was right. That they were right together. His hands cupped her face. Her arms wrapped around his neck. She tasted like dust from the canyon and salt from her tears, and he never wanted to stop.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathing hard, he rested his forehead against hers.

“I love you.” His voice came out rough. “You know that, right?”

“I know.” She smiled, radiant despite the exhaustion and the dirt and the chaos of the night. “But feel free to keep saying it.”

“Every day, Dr. Lewis.” He kissed her again, quick and fierce. “You’re stuck with me now.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

She pulled back, studying his face with those sharp blue eyes that always saw too much. “You realize this means you have to actually take care of yourself now. No more getting stabbed. No more almost dying.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Your best is historically terrible.”

“Good thing I’m marrying a doctor.”

She swatted his arm, but she was laughing. “Come on. Let’s go.”

They ran the rest of the way to the Black Hawk, hand in hand. Noah helped Eden aboard first, supporting her injured wrist as she climbed into the cabin. Then Teague, who moved carefully with his ribs as he hauled himself up. Meg climbed in after them and immediately pulled out supplies to treat their injuries during the flight.

But Noah noticed she kept glancing at her ring. Holding her hand up to catch the cabin lights. Smiling every time the diamond sparkled.

Noah grabbed a headset and handed one to Teague.

Teague settled into his seat, the safety harness clicking into place. “Congratulations. I’m happy for you two.”

“Thanks, man.” Noah gripped his shoulder. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”

“The proposal? Pretty sure you handled that on your own.”