“I can’t even see another woman when you’re around, Ava.”
She clutched her hands. “Can you please give me some time to see that for myself? To believe that you’re done being a player?” Ramsey’s testimony that Bridger had always loved her had touched her, but Ramsey had said in the next breath something about all the women Bridger had been with. She hated that.
Bridger’s brow furrowed. “How much time?”
“I don’t know. Let’s just deal with all the media that Ramsey probably created with this mess and go back to our lives. I’ll know when I can trust you.”
“So I’ll stay with you always. Then you can see that I couldn’t care less about other women.” He nodded as if it was all decided.
How Avalyn wished she could agree. The thought of being apart from him hurt deep down. “I’ve watched you through the media for a long time, Bridge. I think that’s the best way for me to watch and decide—from afar.”
“The media always skew things. You can’t trust those idiots.”
“They can’t skew your arms around a woman.”
He shrugged and blew out a breath. “So you’re going to go back to your life and I’m going to go back to mine, and then, what, in a week we’ll get together?”
“Not a week.” Even a week sounded too long, but she had to do this, had to know if he could be faithful to her. “Maybe a month.”
He clenched his fist and bounced it against his leg. “I hate this, Ava. I just want to be with you.”
“Maybe for the first time in your life you’ll have to wait for something, prove you really want it.”
His eyes narrowed. “That was hurtful.”
Avalyn laughed. “Really? You know I’m telling the truth. You’re naturally talented, handsome, and insanely wealthy. Everything you’ve wanted falls right into your lap.”
“Everything but you.” His gaze intensified.
“I guess you really do owe Ramsey for that,” she said flippantly.
Bridger undid her seat belt, wrapped his hands around her waist, and plucked her right out of her seat. Avalyn gasped as he transferred her quickly to his lap. “I’ll give you your month, if that’s what you want,” he said, his breath short and his gaze never leaving her face. “But I want you to know exactly what you’re missing out on every minute we’re apart.”
Avalyn had no strength to protest as his lips covered hers. The kiss was intense and full of passion and love. Bridger’s desire and commitment came through the kiss. She’d never felt so needed and wanted. His hands stayed safely around her waist, but his kiss promised a lifetime of passion, caring, and happiness … if she’d only say yes.
Avalyn pulled back, her chest heaving and her heart thumping out of control.
“I love you, Ava,” Bridger said. “I’ll give you all the time and space you need, but you have to know there’s no one for me but you. I’ll never give up on us.”
Avalyn’s eyes stung with tears and her throat tightened at his tender words. She wanted to throw her stupid month to the wind, but she had to be sure he would be true to her. She had to. She’d worked too hard to create, maintain, and implement her charity to throw it all away on a dream of a man who might not stay by her side. At the moment, though, she simply wanted Bridger. She cuddled into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I hope you don’t,” she murmured.
Bridger kissed her forehead, then simply held her close. Avalyn savored their connection even more than normal. A month apart was going to be more miserable than being in Ramsey’s power.
Chapter Twenty
Avalyn fell asleep in his arms. Bridger had no desire for sleep, only for her. He cradled her against his chest and prayed hard. Prayers of gratitude for them both being safe. Prayers of forgiveness for Ramsey and his stupid, crazy challenge and him making Bridger hit him hard enough to probably kill him. Mostly prayers for Avalyn’s heart to soften and trust him. It sickened him that he’d hurt her so many times throughout the years. He’d kissed many other women to try to forget about her. He’d had no clue his actions were the reason he couldn’t be with her. Hopefully over the next month he could prove to her that she was the one for him.
A month without her? He rubbed his hands along the curve of her waist. How was he going to survive?
The plane started its descent, and Avalyn stirred. She glanced up at him, her beautiful face irresistibly close. Bridger couldn’t resist one more tender kiss. Avalyn moaned and kissed him back. His heart raced.
A throat cleared. “Please buckle in for the landing,” the flight attendant said, laughter in her voice.
Avalyn pulled away from him, climbed into her own seat, and smoothed down her hair. “Thank you, Ivy.”
The woman nodded and exited the cabin through the back door.
Bridger extended his hand. Avalyn secured her seat belt, then rested her palm against his. Bridger wrapped his fingers around her hand. “You sure about this month idea?”
Avalyn didn’t smile. She nodded quickly. “At least a month, Bridge.”
He squeezed her hand. “You’ll be calling me to come to you within a week.”
Avalyn did laugh then. “Always with the overconfidence.” She squeezed his hand back. “Thank you for giving me time.”
He nodded. “I’m going to hate it, but I’d do anything you asked, Ava.” He hoped she hated their time apart as much as he knew he would.
“I know you will, Bridge.”
The plane touched down, and Bridger wished they didn’t have to face the real world. They exited the plane and were ushered through the airport. As soon as they cleared the security gates, their families and reporters rushed around them. Bridger clung to Avalyn’s hand, but they were separated as they hugged family and reporters tried to elbow their way in.
Bridger’s mom was sobbing, and he held her close until she calmed down. “First Creed gets captured, dies, and comes back from the dead, and then you have to do these insane challenges. You boys will be the death of me.”
“I’m sorry, Mama.”
“It’s not your fault, love.”
Plainclothes FBI agents pushed their way in and took Bridger and Avalyn to a back hallway in the airport. Bridger watched as Avalyn was escorted toward a room. She raised her hand and said, “See you in a month.”
His chest tightened. He made a heart with his hands. “You’ll be calling me sooner.”
Avalyn simply smiled, and then she was gone.
The agents ushered him into a different room; luckily, they allowed Creed to come in also. Bridger told them everything that had happened the past four days, and they explained that Ramsey started releasing the videos yesterday morning, so they’d seen Avalyn’s near drowning and her being thrown from the helicopter. They’d been scrambling to trace Ramsey and his yacht. This morning, they’d gotten a notice from Ramsey’s attorneys that Avalyn and Bridger would be flying into the airport between two and four p.m. After confirmation from Avalyn’s pilot, Creed had taken a flight back.
The other agents and several of Sutton Smith’s men were trying to track down Ramsey and his men, while others were interviewing his accountants and lawyers, who all claimed innocence.
Bridger smiled. “I’m sure they are innocent, or Ramsey would’ve given them an escape hatch like he did his men.”
Creed arched an eyebrow. “Such as?”
“Ten million each, and they’re all disappearing. I wouldn’t waste time going after them.”
“You wouldn’t?” one of the FBI guys asked.
Bridger thought of Mike and Klein. “You can, but you’ll waste a lot of time and resources on guys who were just following orders.”
“You’re sure Ramsey’s dead?” Creed asked. “This could all be a ploy so we don’t search for him either.”
“Could be.” Bridger shrugged. “But to what end? He’s never been on the FBI’s radar before this week. Why would he do all of this if he wasn’t dying?” He folded his arms across his chest. “I’m sure he went t
o the best brain surgeons in the world before he gave up. Research that avenue and you might have some answers.”
They all nodded.
The questions and philosophizing continued. Bridger answered, but his mind was in the next room, with Avalyn. Was she really going to ditch him for a month? That sounded harder to survive than Ramsey’s crazy challenges.
Chapter Twenty-One
Avalyn was at a one-room clinic on the island of Cape Verde, Africa, helping administer immunizations to children. She didn’t have medical training, but it wasn’t really necessary to fill out paperwork, put Band-Aids on, and give the children hugs and lollipops. Her nurses were very competent.
She’d stayed busy the past few weeks and only let herself think about Bridger and how much she missed him late at night as she lounged in a cot by herself. Sleeping in his arms had been heaven. Often she remembered Ramsey’s words about Bridger saying she was out of his league. That was ridiculous; Bridger was everything she’d ever wanted.
When she’d finished with the questioning with the FBI, she’d gone home with her family. Bridger had honored her wishes and hadn’t contacted her. That had surprised her and hurt, which was silly, because he was honoring her wishes. She’d traveled to four continents and eight different countries the past few weeks, visiting and working with the children and arranging for the huge increases in funding with her clinics around the world, getting teams in place to start expansion with Ramsey’s money. As he’d promised, over four hundred million dollars showed up as an anonymous donation.
“Would you look at that?” Callie, a bubbly blonde nurse, whistled. “I guess only you can imagine Bridger Hawk smiling at you like that.”
Avalyn’s eyes darted to the television screen. Sure enough, there was her dream man. He was grinning at the morning talk show host, and they were highlighting the new program he’d started to host extreme sports competitions and donate all the proceeds to the anti-trafficking battle. She’d read about this last week, and she was proud of him. It was a fitting cause, considering what they’d gone through being captured. It seemed he’d found his purpose without her.
She’d scoured the internet as she lay in her cot by herself at night, but she hadn’t found any new pictures of him with any women. Only lots of stories about his new competitions and how charitably minded he was. Of course it had only been three weeks. Surely the women would break through into his arms soon. Would he really find her in one more week? He’d said he’d give her a month. She wasn’t sure she wanted it any longer. She simply wanted him.
She looked at his smile on the TV screen. Yes, she could imagine it. She’d been the blessed recipient of it many times, yet never enough. And now she’d pushed him away. Why she’d thought a month was a good idea when she was coming off of a highly emotional and horrifying experience was beyond her.
“Yeah, she can imagine it,” a deep male voice said behind her.
Avalyn whirled and dropped the Band-Aid and the lollipop in her hands. Bridger stood there in all his irresistible beauty, grinning at her from the doorway of the clinic.
“She’s the only one I want to smile for,” Bridger continued. He strode slowly toward them, his smile turning into a smoldering look that gave Avalyn heart palpitations.
“Oh my, I think I’m going to pass out and he’s not even looking at me,” Callie muttered.
Avalyn smiled, but it disappeared as Bridger drew closer. She stood and backed into the counter. He kept coming. When he was less than a foot away, he stopped and his eyes slowly traveled over her. “I’ve missed you, Ava Baby,” he murmured.
Avalyn swallowed and managed to squeak out, “What are you doing here?”
“Let’s go outside and give them a minute,” she heard Callie say to the children and the other nurses. Bless her. Avalyn wanted much more than a minute alone with Bridger.
Bridger lifted his hand and tenderly traced it along her jaw. “The thing is, I listened to what you said.”
She arched an eyebrow, her jaw tingling from his warm fingers. “You did?”
“Yeah. You had some valid points about me needing to prove that I was fully committed to you. But the part about us being apart for a month?” He pulled a face. “Yeah, that part was stupid.”
“It was?” She grabbed on to the countertop behind her for support. She agreed with him entirely: the decision had been stupid, and all she wanted was him.
“Very. I made it through three weeks, and I’ve never been so miserable. So the new plan is, I prove to you that I’m fully committed while I follow you around the world and help you with your causes.”
“Bridge,” she whispered.
“Can I follow you around, Ava?”
She couldn’t say no to him. She bobbed her chin. “We could try it.”
He suddenly dropped to one knee and pulled something out of his pocket. “If we’re going to be together, I can think of a way that will be a lot more fun.”
Avalyn put a hand to her heart, but she couldn’t stop it from racing out of control.
Bridger flipped the box open, revealing an exquisite diamond solitaire set in a gold band. “I love you, Avalyn Shaman. I’ve loved you my entire life. Will you marry me and let me follow you around the world?”
Avalyn pulled in and pushed out several breaths. She was so in love with him, but she was still scared. “What if you stop loving me?” she whispered.
Bridger stood quickly and wrapped his left arm around her back. “Not possible. I could never stop loving the woman who’s exceeded my every dream.” He tugged her away from the counter and against his chest. Holding up the ring box, he whispered, “Please, Ava. Give me a chance. I swear to you on my mama’s honor that you’re the only woman I have ever loved and will ever love.”
Bridger adored his mama. He wouldn’t do anything on her honor unless he meant it.
She stared into his deep brown eyes and whispered, “Yes.”
Bridger whooped. He took her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger; then he dropped the box on the counter and lifted her off her feet, swinging her around and whooping again. Avalyn put her head back and laughed. Bridger slowly lowered her to her feet and gave her the smirk that used to infuriate her.
Avalyn framed his face with her hands. “Just for the record, I’ve loved you longer than you loved me.”
He shook his head. “Not possible.”
“I’m two years older than you. I know it’s true.”
“You just have to have something to argue with me about, don’t you?”
Avalyn bit at her lower lip. “Why don’t you kiss me so I’ll stop?”
“Now that is the best idea you’ve ever had.”
Avalyn gasped in protest, but he cut it off with his lips. She melted into his arms, her legs turning to liquid heat. She loved this man, and she couldn’t wait to spend every minute with him and let him prove that he’d never leave her side.
Bridger lifted her tighter. She was snug against his chest and had no plans of leaving his arms again as his lips took control of hers. His lips eradicated every other thought. They would travel the world together, and who knew when they’d settle down in the suburbs next to her parents? But that didn’t matter. Bridger was the only home she needed, and being in his arms was the haven she’d been searching for.
Epilogue
Avalyn had always dreamed of a traditional church wedding. As she sauntered down the aisle with a gauzy veil covering her face on her dad’s arm, she knew today was going to be perfect.
Bridger stood up front with all of his brothers, looking so handsome in his tailored tux he took her breath away. That slight smirk on his lips robbed the oxygen from her lungs.
“Impressive men,” her dad murmured.
They were indeed. From Creed the Navy SEAL to Callum the billionaire tycoon and Emmett the Texas Titans receiver—they were all impressive. But nobody was as impressive to her as Bridger. He stood tall and strong and his smirk changed to a grin. That secretive, wonderful
grin that Bridger reserved only for her.
They finally reached the front of the chapel and her dad put her hand in Bridger’s. Her white gloves made it so she couldn’t feel his palm like she wanted, and her veil didn’t necessarily obscure her vision but it made him a little blurry.
Her dad responded to the preacher about who gave this woman away and said the traditional, “Her mother and I do.” He tenderly lifted her veil and kissed her cheek before letting the veil drop and backing away.
Avalyn turned with Bridger to face the preacher. The ceremony started and she felt happy and perfectly at peace next to the man of her dreams with all of their friends and family here for their special day.
“Excuse me for a second,” Bridger interrupted the preacher’s monologue about the sanctity of marriage.
Avalyn turned to her future husband, not sure what he was up to. He took one of her hands in his and tugged the glove off, handing it over to Kiera, who stood closest to them on the bridesmaids’ side. Then he repeated the action with the other glove.
He wrapped both of his hands around hers and said, “Much better.”
Avalyn and a lot of the crowd laughed. The preacher started talking again and Avalyn agreed—Bridger holding both of her hands in his, sans gloves, was much better.
“Excuse me again, Pastor,” Bridger said.
The man actually sighed and the crowd tittered with laughter.
Avalyn bit at her lip but couldn’t help laughing. “What now?”
Bridger turned her to face him and lifted the veil away from her face and back over her hair. His eyes swept over her face. “Much better,” he said again.
Avalyn laughed. Her traditional wedding plan wasn’t really up Bridger’s ally.
“Can we proceed now?” the preacher asked.
Bridger cocked his head to the side and studied her, giving her a sly wink. “In a minute,” he muttered to the preacher.
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