Page 66 of Apple of My Eye

“Lying on a cottage floor will do that.”

“Surgery too, apparently.” We chuckled together. “Last night, running Operation Daisy felt right in a way I haven’t felt since before I left the service.” He glanced away, out the window. “I love the ODRR. What Ash and Chris built out there, what the ranch does for the guys, I’ll always be grateful for it. But I think I’ve known for a while that it wasn’t the complete story for me.”

I waited, trying to figure out where he was going with this.

“I was born to serve, Daisy. It's been underneath everything I’ve ever done. I served my country. I was good at it. They called me a hero. Last night, running Operation Daisy, I realized how much I missed being a part of something bigger than myself. Of course I enjoy working with horses and being on the ranch, but I think I need to be doing something more. That’s why I want to apply to the deputy training academy in Billings. I’d be away for a few months, but I’d return here and work for Sheriff Patrick, and continue to be a part of this community.”

My mouth opened and closed, both proud of him and scared for him at the same time. “If you feel you were born to serve, then do that.”

“I see it clearly now,” he said. “My future. This county. Patrick’s department.You.I just need to know you’ll be by my side through all of it.”

My chest ached to be the woman who could give him what he wanted and more. Could that really be me? “I’m proud of you, Knox. I genuinely am. After last night, though, the idea of you in the line of duty is going to require somegetting used to on my end. What if you get hurt worse next time? The risks?—”

“Are real. I won’t pretend otherwise.” He squeezed my hand. “But I couldn’t be anyone’s hero without some risk involved. You know that better than most.” His eyes held mine, full of hard truths. “What I can promise you is that I will be as careful as possible for a man in that line of work to be. Every single day. Because I intend to come home to you every night for a very long time, Daisy. A good woman like you is a significant motivator for caution.”

I chewed my cheek and considered everything he said. In the end, I’d never want to hold him back from doing what he loved.

“You'dbetterpromise me you’ll come home every night.” I pointed sternly.

He brought my hand up and pressed his lips to the back of it, his eyes on mine over our joined hands. I leaned forward and kissed him properly, full mouth, plenty of tongue, careful of the shoulder, careful of the monitor leads, not particularly careful of anything else, like my heart.

“I can’t wait to get out of here. I miss being inside of you,” he murmured.

“I miss you too.”

“I love you, Daisy.”

“I love you, too.” Saying those three words became our new thing.

“By the way, how big a ring should I buy you?”

“What?” My heart skipped a beat. Knox asking me to marry him from a gurney with a bullet wound in his shoulder was something I was certain he’d have forgotten. I chalked it up to the pain medication. The shock. Men said things inextremity that they did not always mean. I wouldn’t hold him to it.

“You were shot,” I said.

“I’m aware.”

“You’re on pain medication.”

“Still am, a little. But one hundred percent, I meant the proposal.”

“Knox, you can’t seriously be thinking we’d get married this soon.”

“You don’t want to marry me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Life is too short to wait another year, to be patient, to tell you what I want. When I am positive, all I want is you.”

I took in a shaky breath, but forced the air right out. “Oh, Knox.”

“When I look into your face, into your pretty eyes, and all the time I’ve studied you and gotten to know who you are, I see a woman who can stand strong on her own two feet. You probably don’t reallyneeda man in your life. But I think you could use a friend, a lover, a protector, a partner. Someone who can guard your heart from the worries of the world when you need it, and strong enough to help you share in carrying the load. And definitely someone who can put up with your stubbornness and push back a bit. All of that, that’s the man I’ll be for you, Daisy, if you’ll say yes.”

Tears filled my eyes, and I didn’t stop a single one from falling. To think that I went from a hideous man like Trevor, objectifying me and marriage for his own cruel obsession, to Knox, offering me a loving relationship built on trust and mutual respect.

Some time ago, I told him I didn’t want a relationship. I’dvowed to see my sisters settle down and put them first ahead of myself. But they claimed they’d rather seemefind happiness.

I had bills and responsibilities to the orchard, to keeping things afloat at home. But thanks to Dad’s notes, I think I finally cracked the code on what it took for a plentiful, healthy harvest each year.