He took me by the waist when we were in the hallway. “Spreading lies to my kids, are you?”
I grinned. “Who said that story was about you? Maybe some other man stole my heart in the past.”
“No,” he said, eyes blazing. “Your heart is mine. I worked too damn hard to share it.”
I laughed. “I’m pretty sure you don’t get to decide if I share my heart or not.”
“Wrong. As long as you’re mine, so is your heart.”
“And who says I’m yours?”
Greyson swallowed, then searched my eyes. He looked suddenly serious.
“What? Is something wrong? Please tell me you’re not about to say something mean and scare me off again, because no apology is–”
“I wanted to save this for a big cheesy moment, but I can’t wait.” He fell to one knee and pulled a small box out of his back pocket. “Every time I try something elaborate I end up screwing it up. I don’t want to screw this up. I just want to make sure you’re mine forever. I want you to marry me, Harper Halladay.”
I stared down at the ring, barely seeing it. Holy shit. “I don’t know what to say.” I stammered.
“You say ‘yes,’ or the bandit from your story is going to jump out a fucking window because the beautiful princess rejected him.”
I laughed, then my eyes started to sting with tears. Was this real? I reached out and touched the box carefully with my fingertips. Definitely real. I noticed Greyson was breathing hard and he looked like he was about to pass out. Then I realized I still hadn’t answered him.
“Yes,” I breathed. “Yes. Yes,” I repeated, laughing and crying at the same time.
He let out a sigh of relief, then slid the ring on my finger and stood, scooping me up and kissing me deeply. “I wanted to do this the moment you forgave me, but I thought I needed to give you space.”
“You went from wanting me out of your life to wanting to marry me in a few weeks?”
“I wanted to marry you from the beginning. I fucking loved you from the moment we met. That’s why you terrified me so much. I couldn’t trust myself to make smart choices when I was thinking that way.”
His words made me feel warm and weak in the knees, so I just held onto him even tighter, watching his eyes as he spoke.
“But I finally understood love doesn’t have to be smart. It defies smart. I know now that I can’t ever let you slip away again. So you keep that ring on for the rest of your fucking life, or we’re going to have a problem.”
I laughed. “Did you just propose and then threaten me within two minutes?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lucky I have no interest in slipping away, Greyson Ashford. I happen to love you, too. And I know it’s love, because it would’ve been a hell of a lot easier if I didn’t love you. And I know I have to love you, or I would’ve never accepted such a horrible apology.”
“Was it that bad?”
I kissed his chin, enjoying the prickle of his stubble. “It was pretty bad.”
“I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
“Hmm. That doesn’t sound so bad. Just no more grand apologies in front of the whole restaurant, okay? I’m still getting teased about that.”
“No promises.”
50
EPILOGUE - GREYSON
Our rental had a shockingly good view of Pike’s Peak. It was a modern cabin with three stories that all met over a huge gathering room with windows from the floor to the pointed ceiling. Sounds of life filled the entire rental. Harper’s family and friends were staying along with mine. I’d even defied Zack’s advice and invited my parents, because fuck them. I didn’t particularly care if they approved of me or my career. I wanted them to see I was happy anyway, and I was marrying the woman of my dreams.
Of course I’d invited them as more of a gesture. I hadn’t actually expected them to show up. We’d hardly shared any words since they arrived last night and took a room downstairs.
I leaned over the third-floor balcony and looked down to the living area. Harper was in the kitchen with Lin and Farrah. The smell of bacon, eggs, syrup, and cinnamon was drifting upwards. Harper’s mom and dad were at the kitchen island, chatting while the women cooked.
Gramps was out on the patio with a crossword puzzle. He was absolutely terrible at the things, which was probably why Zack, him and Gabby were pointing and explaining something–most likely helping him cheat. I’d invited his girlfriend, Sarah, but the two of them apparently split up already.
Billy and Molly had been playing outside almost since the moment we arrived. This area had just the right altitude to get more snow than usual, and they were outside with pots, pans, and utensils from the kitchen in the snow. Molly was pretending to cook, and Billy was finding any slightly inclined surface to slide down on sleds. I’d seen him crash into trees at least three times already, but he didn’t seem to mind.