by Freya Barker
Her face lights up.
“I can do that. It wouldn’t be any different than paying rent.”
Jesus, what a relief. I wasn’t sure how to combine my need to look after her and hers to retain her independence and didn’t know if she’d go for my proposal.
I grin at her and try to contain my happiness. It’s either that or forget about the food and the wine, and toss her down on the blanket to show her how fucking thrilled I am.
The fact I plan to put an amount equal to the mortgage payment into a college fund for our kids I keep to myself for now. I don’t want to push my luck.
Thank God the wine bottle has a screw top because the way my hands are shaking, I don’t think I could’ve managed a corkscrew. I pour us a glass and hand her one before lifting mine.
“So, are we a go?”
She shakes her head and for a moment I worry she’s changed her mind, but when she lifts her face and is smiling wide through her tears, I don’t even have to hear her resounding, “Yes!”
Epilogue
Hillary
I don’t think I’ve ever inhaled air this clean.
Radar was right, I can feel the bite of frost and pull my winter jacket close. I’d laughed at him when he told me to pack it. It’s only the middle of September, but apparently in Alaska that means winter.
We’re sitting on a rock in the wide riverbed, a short walk from our camping spot, looking at the stunning fall colors of Denali National Park. It’s still surprisingly bright for nine o’clock at night.
This trip was Chuck’s idea. I still have to smile at the blatantly obvious way he guilted his son into conceding by playing the I’m-not-going-to-be-around-forever card. Not that it’s a lie, trips like this one might well be the last of its sort, but overall the old man is in pretty good health.
We spent five days in Anchorage with Hugh, Leslie, and the boys, and it had been Hugh’s suggestion we rent an RV and get a true taste of Alaska here in Denali for a couple of days. It’s an experience I don’t think any of us will ever forget. So raw, so unspoiled, and so breathtakingly beautiful I’ve been in a state of overwhelmed the entire trip.
We spent a good chunk of the day driving around on a bus that runs all the way to the end of the park, where private cars can’t go. Some of the roads were hair-raising, it felt like the old school bus was hanging off the edge of the cliff, but the views were unparalleled. We stopped at the side of the road at some point and saw a grizzly bear with two young, fattening up for the winter on the slope of a hill.
The many impressions of the day had Chuck tuckered out and he called it a night right after the hamburgers we grilled back at the campsite. Radar asked me to go for a walk since it’s our last night out here before we have to return the RV. We’ll spend one more night with his brother and then we head back to Colorado.
I shiver against the cold and Radar moves behind me, stretching his legs on either side of me and tucking me into his body for heat.
“This was the best day ever,” I tell him, leaning my head back against his shoulder.
“Mmm, it’s up there for me too. If I’d known this place was so beautiful I’d have visited before.”
I tilt my head so I can look up at him.
“We’ll just have to visit again.” One of his hands rests low on my stomach and I cover it with one of mine. “More beauty than you’ve already given me to look forward to,” I add.
“How about for our honeymoon?” he asks, producing a small box he holds up with his other hand.
My vision is instantly blurred with the tears that seem to come too easy these days. All I can see is a sparkle when he smoothly flips up the lid with his thumb.
“I can’t remember my life without you in it, and I even don’t want to. Marry me, Lady.”
I twist my body so I can look him straight in his beautiful, warm eyes.
“Of course I will.”
He picked a perfect time and an unforgettable location, and I’m not about to take this special moment from him.
My news will wait for a day or two.
THE END
Also By Freya Barker
Click here to see all my books!
Standalones:
WHEN HOPE ENDS
VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE
BONUS KISSES
Arrow’s Edge MC Series:
EDGE OF REASON
EDGE OF DARKNESS
EDGE OF TOMORROW
PASS Series:
HIT & RUN
LIFE & LIMB
LOCK & LOAD
On Call Series:
BURNING FOR AUTUMN
COVERING OLLIE
TRACKING TAHLULA
ABSOLVING BLUE
REVEALING ANNIE
DISSECTING MEREDITH (MARCH 2021)
Rock Point Series:
KEEPING 6
CABIN 12
HWY 550
10-CODE
Northern Lights Collection:
A CHANGE OF TIDE
A CHANGE OF VIEW
A CHANGE OF PACE
SnapShot Series:
SHUTTER SPEED
FREEZE FRAME
IDEAL IMAGE
Portland, ME, Series:
FROM DUST
CRUEL WATER
THROUGH FIRE
STILL AIR
LuLLaY (a Christmas novella)
Cedar Tree Series:
SLIM TO NONE
HUNDRED TO ONE
AGAINST ME
CLEAN LINES
UPPER HAND
LIKE ARROWS
HEAD START
Acknowledgments
As always there are a great number of people without whom this book would not have been possible. The people who keep me on track, correct my mistakes, support my endeavors, and promote my words. I consider every one of these people my friend;
My editor, Karen Hrdlicka, and alpha reader and proofreader, Joanne Thompson. These women are my touchstones, my co-conspirators, and my friends.
My agent, Stephanie Phillips of SBR Media who is an absolute treasure and believes in me without reserve.
My publicists, Debra Presley and Drue Hoffman and my PA Krystal Weiss of Buoni Amici Press. I am so grateful for this amazing team for making me look like I know what I’m doing, when in all reality I don’t have a clue.
My beta readers—Deb Blake, Pam Buchanan, and Petra Gleason. Three good friends and faithful readers who are not afraid to give it to me straight, which is exactly what I need.
My Barks&Bites folks who make for an amazing cheering squad, a comforting shoulder, a good laugh, and a soft place to land.
Every single blog and early reviewer taking the time out of their days to support my stories, your work and your efforts are so appreciated.
But most of all I’m grateful for YOU, my readers. Where would I be without you? Your enthusiasm for my words feeds my muse and your feedback is invaluable.
I love you all!
Freya
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Driven to make her books about 'real' people; she creates characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills in their lives.
Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!
https://www.freyabarker.com
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