Page 137 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

Her eyebrow quirked. “Really?”

“I love you. I want you to be my wife and for us to be a family. Marry me?”

She nodded, a tear sliding down one cheek. “Yes.”

Yes. Fireworks exploded in my chest as I slid on her ring. As soon as it was nestled against her knuckle, she dropped to her knees, nearly tackling me in a kiss.

I smiled against her lips, stroking them gently with my tongue. When she opened for me, I slid inside slowly, savoring her taste and the feel of her in my arms. It didn’t take long for the spark to ignite and the two of us to get lost in a kiss I’d never forget.

We poured everything into that moment. Love. Passion. Hope. Excitement for the unknown we’d face together.

When we finally broke apart, I looked up to the sky and said a silent thank you to the angel who’d led me into her hotel bar all those years ago. The same angel who’d brought me to Montana and back to Thea’s side.

“I can’t believe it,” Thea whispered, studying her ring. I’d gotten the best solitaire in Manhattan and set it in a diamond-studded gold band. From here on out, Thea would live a life full of sparkles. “I just . . . I can’t believe it.”

“This is real, baby. Me and you and Charlie. It’s as real as it gets. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her forehead furrowed as she met my eyes. “Are you sure? What about your job? And your family? I can’t ask you to give it all up.”

“You didn’t. I made this decision bec

ause it’s the right one. I’d never be happy without you or Charlie, so if this is your home, then it’s my home too.”

“What about the firm?”

I shrugged. “I quit.”

“You quit?” Her jaw dropped. “How can you quit? You love your job.”

“Yes, I did. I loved working hard. I loved the challenge. At the time, I needed that in my life. Now, I don’t. I don’t want a job that keeps me from you at night. Or makes me miss breakfast and bedtime with Charlie. Being a lawyer isn’t at the top of my priorities anymore.”

My first priority was watching her and Charlie shine.

I’d finally realized what mattered.

The dock planks were digging into my knees, so I shifted Thea, moving us so we were seated and looking out across the water.

“So what are you going to do?” she asked.

“I’m sure I won’t be bored. Nolan and I are juggling some responsibilities around at the foundation so I can play a more active role. I’m going to spend some quality time on my new boat. And I’m taking over coaching for Charlie’s soccer team.”

She laughed. “Are you now?”

“Next year, we’re going all the way.” I put my arm around Thea’s shoulder, tucking her close. “I’ll be able to do ninety percent of my work from home here, but there will be times I’ll have to go back to the city for family things and such. Foundation meetings I can’t miss. But it won’t be often.”

“I can live with that.”

“Maybe one day, you’ll want to come with me. I understand it might take time, but I’d love the chance to show you the part of the city I love. We can make our own memories there, good ones to overshadow the bad. If it takes ten years, then I’ll wait. If it never happens, then that’s okay too.”

She thought about it for a moment. “I think I’d like that. One day. What does your family think about all this?”

“They’ll come around.” And if they didn’t, then it wasn’t my problem. If I had to give up the Kendrick family responsibilities to ensure that my Kendrick family was happy, then I’d do it every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

“You’re sure?”

I kissed her hair. “I’m sure.”

We sat there for a while, watching as a flock of birds flew over the water. Across the bay, a woman was walking her dog. A few houses down, someone was mowing their lawn.