Page 87 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

She laughed. “What can I say? She brings out the best in people.”

“She really does. I just . . . I wanted you to know that you don’t owe me anything. For the house here or anything. I didn’t buy them out of charity. I don’t want you to feel obligated or indebted or—”

“Brody.” She cut me off and smiled. “I know. This isn’t necessary.”

“You work hard.”

“I’m grateful for all you’ve done for August and me. But that’s not why I work hard.”

“You’re sure?”

“I promise.”

I sighed. “I’m glad I’ll have you as my sister.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Sister?”

“If she’ll have me.”

Clara rushed me for a hug. It was short but strong, and when she stepped back, she pressed a hand to her heart as her eyes lit up. “Thank you for loving Aria.”

“I will until the day I die.”

“I know.” Tears flooded her eyes as she waved goodbye, leaving me alone in the office.

After an hour of returning emails, I went to see if Aria was still asleep, but when I walked into the room, the bed was empty and the patio doors open.

“There you are.” I found her wrapped in a blanket, standing beside the pool. Her eyes were cast to the horizon. “What are you doing out here?”

The sun was slowly setting and the temperature dropping. Even though it was spring, the nights were cool.

“I like the sunsets here.” She leaned into my side. “In a way, they remind me of the sunsets we used to watch at the junkyard. When you don’t have TV or video games or smart phones, you look to the world for something to watch. I’ve missed that since leaving. I haven’t appreciated the world enough.”

I guess that was true for all of us. So we stood together, watching as the colors shifted. When a layer of orange coated the sky, I dug the ring that I’d pulled from the safe earlier out of my pocket.

“Aria Saint-James?”

“Yes, Brody Carmichael?”

I grinned and turned her to face me. Then I dropped to a knee, the ring in hand. “Marry me.”

“W-what?” She did a double take at the five-carat Harry Winston.

“Will you marry me?”

“Seriously? You just promised two hours ago not to buy me anything for a year.”

“I said anything new. This isn’t new. I’ve had it for a week.”

She blinked. “You have?”

“Can we focus, please? I asked you a question.”

“I kind of like seeing you on your knees.”

I shook my head and the ring. “You’re impossible.”

“Someone has to keep your ego in check.”