“Told ya,” Tyler said from beside her.
She turned to him with a smile.
“Told her what?” Mia asked.
“That you guys didn’t hate her.”
“Hate her?” Ann said. “No. We were just a little…surprised by the shenanigans you two pulled. But I’m over it now.” She glanced at the group. “We all are.”
Brielle looked at each person in turn and they were all nodding in agreement. “I’m sorry I left without telling anyone. It just…it made things worse.”
“It’s over and done with,” Ann said. “Let’s not talk about it any more.”
With gratitude, Brielle nodded.
“Now,” Mia said, “who wants s’mores?”
Chapter Forty-Two
Tyler’s love and appreciation for his family was never deeper than when he saw the way they completely forgave Brielle and made her feel loved and welcomed.
“You should let Brielle roast your ‘mallo, bro,” Rob said with a smirk as Tyler slid a marshmallow onto his stick.
“I’d be happy to do it,” Brielle said with a grin.
“Very funny,” he said. “But I think I can manage.”
“Let’s have a contest,” Mia said. “Between you and Brielle. To see whose marshmallow is roasted the best.” She smiled at Rob. “Rob and I will be the judges.”
“What’re the stakes?” Tyler asked with a glance at Brielle, who had tilted her head in apparent interest.
Mia looked to Rob, who said, “If Brielle wins, she keeps the money you promised her.”
“And if I lose?” she said.
“Then you pay back what he’s paid you so far and he doesn’t pay you what he owes you.”
“No,” Tyler said. He had no intention of shorting her.
“I agree,” Brielle said at the same time. Then she gave him a sidelong glance, like she had a plan. He knew just what it was, but two could play at that game.
“Fine,” he said.
Mia grinned. “Ready?”
They both knelt in front of the fire and nodded.
“Go.”
He and Brielle placed their marshmallows over the coals, slowly turning their sticks. Both were getting perfectly brown, but they both kept roasting. Then, Brielle’s marshmallow burst into flames, followed immediately by Tyler’s. They both pulled them out and blew out the flames, and both held crispy, black marshmallows.
“Guess I lost,” Brielle said.
Tyler squinted at her. “How do you figure? Mine’s just as burned as yours.”
She smiled in triumph. “Mine caught fire first.”
“Maybe. But mine’s way more burnt.”
Rob and Mia were both laughing hysterically, which made Tyler laugh. He slid his marshmallow off of his stick and into the fire, set his stick aside, then held out his hand for Brielle’s stick. She handed it to him and he did the same with hers, then he turned to his siblings. “Okay. Who won?”
“Brielle won,” Mia said. “Definitely.”
Brielle frowned at Mia, obviously wanting to be the loser in this contest.
“What do you say, Rob?” Tyler asked, hoping his brother knew he wanted to lose for once.
“Brielle’s the winner,” Rob said.
Tyler couldn’t stop himself. “Hah!”
Rob laughed. “Oh man. That’s the first time I’ve seen you happy to lose, bro.”
That was true, but if it helped Brielle, it was worth it. He turned to her. “Let’s go for a walk.”
If he thought her winning the roast-off would stop her from paying him back, he was dreaming. It might take some time, but she had every intention of showing him that she’d meant what she’d said the day before. Taking his money in the first place had been a mistake and paying him back was the only way she would feel better.
Now though, as they walked away from the campfire hand in hand, she focused on the stark contrast between how she felt now—all warm and fuzzy—compared to the way she’d felt when she’d thought she would be stuck at Norris all night. All because he’d come looking for her. He had her back. He’d shown it time after time. Her heart nearly burst with the emotions that swirled inside her—powerful attraction, deep appreciation, maybe even love.
“I’m not going to let you pay me back,” he said as they rounded the end of the loop.
“I don’t know how you’re going to stop me.”
They were near a group of trees, and he led her to the nearest one so that they were out of view of the other campers. He leaned against the tree and placed his hands on her hips as she faced him. She looked up at him, and as she gazed into his handsome face, she almost wanted to agree with him, just to make him happy.
“You’re one stubborn woman,” he said, his voice low.
Brielle laughed. “Says the man who burned his marshmallow on purpose.”
Tossing his head back, he barked a laugh. “You did the same thing.” Then one eyebrow arched. “And you did it first, as you pointed out earlier.”
Grinning, she kept her gaze on his. “It’s not stubbornness. It’s determination.”
“I see. Just like you were determined to run away from me this morning.”
The reminder of what she’d put him through stabbed her with guilt. “I’m sorry, Tyler.”
He touched her lips with his finger while at the same time making a shushing sound. “No more apologies, okay?”
The feel of his finger on her lips warmed her with all sorts of emotions. She nodded against his finger, and then he took it away.
“Good.” His lips lifted into a smile. “Now, I want to collect on one of my owed kisses.”
Delight burst through her as she eagerly agreed. “Okay. If you insist.”
“Oh. I do.”
She reached up and cupped the back of his head with her hands, and as she gently pulled him toward her, he leaned down, and a moment later their lips met, communicating the feelings they had for each other.
When they released each other, Tyler gazed down at her and said, “When I offered you this job I never expected that I’d want to ask you to be my girlfriend for real.”
Kind of shocked, but also thrilled, Brielle said, “What are you saying?”
His lips lifted into a big smile. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Brielle’s smile matched his. “Yes.” Pausing a beat, she added, “Should we tell your family?”
He chuckled, then he drew her into his arms and held her close. “We will. But I don’t think it will come as a surprise.”
Happiness built inside her, and she relished the feel of his arms around her.
My boyfriend.
Smiling brightly, she enjoyed the moment and knew that Yellowstone would always hold a special place in her heart.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Yellowstone
“We went on a lot of hikes last year when we were here,” Brielle said as she and Tyler walked along the trail, “but I definitely remember Storm Point.” She smiled at him, amazed that they’d been together a year.
“I thought you might.”
Although they were staying in Bridge Bay with Tyler’s family again, the two of them had taken this hike by themselves. They’d arrived the day before, and the moment they’d entered the park, memories had rushed into Brielle’s mind—falling in love with Tyler, telling his family their secret, running away before being rescued by him, the warmth and love Tyler’s family had showered on her.
As incredible as all of that was, the last year had far surpassed it. Once she and Tyler had returned to Sacramento they’d been nearly inseparable, spending time together whenever they could. She’d attended every one of his home games, met the other players and their wives and girlfriends, and now felt deeply embedded in Tyler’s life. She couldn’t imagine her life without him.
Soon after returning home she’d found a job and had worked hard all year scraping together the twenty-five hundred dollars he’d paid her—she’d flat-out refused the
remaining twenty-five hundred and he’d finally relented. And today she would pay him back.
Suppressing a smile, she walked with him hand in hand, and once they reached Storm Point, where the marmots lived, they stopped and watched the fuzzy creatures for a while before making their way across the open ground and back into the forest.
Tyler held back his grin. He had a surprise for Brielle and just thinking about her reaction made him giddy—not an emotion he felt often. The last year with her had been more than he could have hoped for and he had fallen hopelessly in love with her. It didn’t hurt that his family loved her too.
They walked through the forested area, the only sound the whisper of the breeze through the trees and the occasional cry of a bird. He had a picnic lunch in his pack and once they reached an area where the picnic blanket would fit, he stopped and said, “Are you ready for lunch?”
“Yes,” she said with a smile, her eyes sparkling like she had a secret of her own.
He took his pack off of his shoulders, and after a few minutes he had the blanket spread out on the ground and their meal set out on the blanket.
“Very nice,” Brielle said, clearly impressed with his planning.
Pleased with her reaction, when he considered what he was about to do, his nerves came to life—much worse than they did before a big game. To cover it up, he straightened the blanket, then with a sweep of his hand, he invited Brielle to sit.
After setting her pack on the ground, she gracefully sank onto the blanket, then she reached into her pack and brought out a small envelope. “I have something for you,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
With no idea what it could be, Tyler tilted his head. “What is it?”
She held it against her stomach. “I made a promise and I always keep my promises.” Then she handed it to him.
The envelope was thick, and Tyler suddenly knew what it was. He lifted the flap and thumbed through the contents, his suspicions confirmed. Twenty-five crisp one hundred dollar bills were stuffed inside.
He lifted his gaze to hers, and her lips curved in a smile of triumph. Well, if it made her feel better to pay him back, so be it. It wouldn’t matter soon anyway.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said with a shake of his head and a suppressed laugh.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
Nodding, he said, “I actually have something for you as well.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You do?”
“Yep.”
“What is it?”
His smile grew. “I’ll give it to you after lunch.”
“Okay.”
They began eating, but Tyler’s nerves kept him from having much of an appetite. Finally, after chatting and eating, they were done. It was time.
Glad he hadn’t refused the money, but also kind of surprised he’d taken it so easily, Brielle wondered what he had for her. Not wanting to guess, she focused on tucking the trash from her lunch into her CamelBak. She zipped the pocket closed, then looked in Tyler’s direction. He was doing the same, although it appeared as if he held something in his hand. Something small.
“Brielle,” he said, his focus completely on her as they sat on the picnic blanket surrounded by the beauty of Yellowstone.
“Yes?”
His hazel eyes had a tender cast to them as he smiled, then he said, “Having you in my life over the last year has made me happier than I ever thought I could be.”
Oh my goodness! Is he going to… No. No way.
Frozen with anticipation, Brielle waited for him to go on.
“I think you know how much I love you.”
She nodded. He’d told her that many times over the last year. “I love you too.”
His lips curved higher. “Which is why I want you in my life always.”
Brielle’s heart pounded. He was going to propose. She knew it. She felt it.
He opened his hands, revealing a small black box, then he lifted the lid. A stunning diamond ring was nestled in a bed of velvet, and when the rays of the sun hit it, it sparkled brightly. She lifted her eyes from the ring to his face.
“Brielle, will you be my wife?”
“Yes!” The word exploded from her mouth and she launched herself at him, but being the spectacular receiver that he was, he easily caught her and held her tight. “Yes! Yesyesyes!”
They held each other as they laughed, and once they’d settled down, she let him slide the engagement ring onto her finger. She took a moment to admire it, but then she turned her focus to him. Elated, she snuggled against him. “I wonder what your family will say.”
Tyler chuckled and Brielle could feel the vibration in his chest. “I already know what they’ll say because I told them I was going to ask you on this hike.” He pulled away and smiled at her. “They’re thrilled. Especially Mom and Mia.”
Warmth for his family pulsed through her. Not only was she going to be marrying the love of her life, but she would become part of his family, a family that she already loved. And she would finally have a sister. But the most important thing was Tyler, and as she basked in his love, she knew this would be a day she would remember forever.
After reveling in their happiness for a while longer, they packed up their things and continued on the trail. The sun shone brightly, and as they hiked through the forest, hands clasped together, Brielle knew she was marrying her best friend and she was grateful that she’d met Tyler that day in the park. Whether it was fate or coincidence that Luna had run to him, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she was going to marry her true love and that their future held endless promise.
Her joy was full.
Thank you for reading Tyler and Brielle’s story. The next book in the Fair Catch series will be coming soon. In the meantime, check out the Emerald Falls Series. To see the first chapter of the first book, Crushing On You, turn the page.
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Crushing On You Chapter One
“It’s okay, Sadie,” Gabriella Peters murmured to her gray tabby as she carried her into Emerald Falls Veterinary on a mid-August morning. “If you want to start spending time outdoors, your shots will have to be up-to-date.”
Sadie mewled in protest, but Gabby tucked her against her chest as she stepped up to the counter in the empty waiting room. “I don’t have an appointment,” she said to the woman behind the counter as she tried to hide an embarrassed smile. “But I just moved to town and thought I’d take the chance that the doctor would have time to see Sadie.”
The woman checked her computer screen, then turned to Gabby with a smile. “Looks like today is your lucky day. The doctor can see Sadie in about fifteen minutes.”
Smiling with relief, Gabby said, “That’s great. Thank you.”
The woman placed her fingers on the keyboard. “Let me get some information from you.”
She gave the woman her contact information, then the woman asked, “What brings you to Emerald Falls?”
Holding a squirming Sadie in her arms, Gabby thought about the passing of her Aunt Mary, whose cottage she’d inherited, then considered her answer. Had it been serendipity that she’d been given the opportunity to move to Emerald Falls—the place where she’d spent many happy summers in her teenaged years—right when she needed a change of scenery? She liked to think so, although she already missed Aunt Mary and her sage advice.
She decided to keep her answer simple. “I’m going to be teaching second grade at Emerald Falls Elementary school when
school starts in a couple of weeks.”
“Oh,” the woman said with a smile. “My grandson will be in second grade there this year. Maybe he’ll be in your class.”
Happy to feel a connection to the community, however small, Gabby’s face lit up. “Really? What’s his name?”
“Samuel Richards, but he goes by Sam.” The woman paused. “I’m Emily Richards, by the way.”
“So nice to meet you, Emily.” The woman’s name didn’t ring a bell from the summers Gabby had spent there. Then again, it had been ten years since her last full summer there. Plus, she had only been fifteen that year and not exactly paying attention to the adults of Emerald Falls.
“Well,” Emily said with a warm smile. “If you’ll have a seat, the doctor should be with you shortly.”
With a nod, Gabby turned away, then sat in one of the chairs and placed Sadie in her lap. Stroking Sadie’s soft fur, Gabby thought about the move to her aunt’s cottage—the place that held so many good memories. Her aunt had been there for her when her parents had gone through a nasty divorce when Gabby was only twelve, and for the four summers afterward, Aunt Mary had cared for Gabby while her parents had worked.
The summer Gabby turned fifteen had been her last summer in Emerald Falls. After that, she’d gotten a job in her hometown and hadn’t been able to come for extended visits and she’d lost touch with her Emerald Falls friends. Not much for social media, Gabby had no idea which of those old friends were still in town and which ones had moved away.
Now, as she struggled to picture the faces of the girls she’d hung out with during her summers in Emerald Falls, another face popped into her mind. A face that made Gabby’s heart do a little flip. She had no trouble remembering that particular face.
Game On (Fair Catch Series, Book Six) Page 18
