Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
“On a weeknight?” Talia frowns, her pink lips pouting.
“Yes. One nice night under the stars so you can de-stress and start fresh in the morning.”
She hesitates, but then smiles and squeezes my hands.
“Okay, deal. Give me five minutes.”
“I’m timing you.”
“You’re so not.” Laughing, she bounces to her feet and leans in to kiss my cheek, giving me a whiff of that lovely vanilla scent mixed with the warmth of fresh sawdust. Then she’s off, pattering up the stairs and leaving me alone with Rolf, who strains after her with a low whine.
“Whose dog are you anymore?” I kneel down to ruffle his fur, chuckling.
The enthusiastic lick to my cheek says he’s still mine.
True to her word, Talia’s back in five minutes.
As she comes tumbling down the stairs in her cute little pink flannel, I straighten and lightly slap Rolf’s rump.
“Find Gerald, old man. Keep him company.”
Talia gives me a puzzled look, adjusting the straps of her camping rucksack. “We’re not taking Rolf?”
“Not tonight. Let the two old guys keep each other company.” I hold my hand out to her.
She smiles.
She knows this isn’t normal.
I can tell she wants to ask what’s up my sleeve, when normally Rolf comes along almost everywhere. Still, even though she’s bristling with curiosity, she seems to know better.
Talia takes my hand and follows me to the Jeep without question.
It’s insane how well she knows me by now.
Press me about it, and I’ll just tease her and draw out the suspense.
The inside of the Jeep feels warmer with her in it.
Hell, I feel warmer with her in the passenger seat.
We head for the roadside parking area where we usually leave the vehicle and move out on foot.
Couldn’t have picked a better night. The sky is overflowing with stars.
The full moon, a silvery disc that shines down like a blessing, lights our way so clearly that we don’t even need flashlights.
Hand in hand, we take the familiar paths branching into the woods and up the hills. The night glows, all pale moonlight shining off the foliage and branches, leaving Talia looking around with wide, glimmering eyes that take everything in with wonder.
And her wonder turns into genuine surprise when, after less than an hour of hiking, I take a small detour and lead her down a narrow trail.
Soon, we break into a clearing overlooking the town.
It’s the same clearing where we stopped to take in Redhaven before, back when we were staking out the Jacobins.
That trip was where I started falling in love with her.
Later, over the photograph from this vantage, too.
Finding out she’d saved me as a damned vampire in her phone.
Laughing over so many messy ways we collided.
Sharing our stories, our fears, our dreams.
Discovering how thoughtful, how brave, how determined she is.
Maybe it’s the small things.
Or maybe I’ve just decided I like the small things an awful lot.
Which is why, there’s a thick plaid blanket laid across the grass and a wooden square serving as a table, already prepped with candles just waiting to be lit.
The insulated nylon bag next to it keeps the food inside warm—and thankfully safe from nosy animals until we showed up.
While Talia stares with bewildered delight, I pull away, dropping my backpack and then pulling out my lighter for the candles.
One by one, they illuminate the table, and what’s resting in the middle.
“Micah, what is all of—”
When she sees it, she stops cold.
Talia goes completely still, staring down at the dark-grey velvet box in the center of the table, painted in flicking shadows by golden candlelight. I can’t quite read the stunned expression on her face.
My heart starts pounding as she brings her hands to her mouth.
“Micah?” Her voice sounds muffled behind her fingers.
Damn.
Even though my nerves are about to snap like twigs, I smile.
“Thought we’d have a romantic dinner under the stars. We can still eat, even if you say no.”
“I—you—” Her eyes fly from the box, to me, and back to the box again. “Are… are you really asking me to…?”
“I am. And I should do this right, or Gerald will skin me alive.” Her shocked smile gives me courage. I dip down to retrieve the little box and sink down on one knee in front of her—my beautiful girl, my perfect light, my pink doe.
Yeah, I’m feeling cheesy as hell.
No, I don’t give a damn as I pop the box open for her.
It’s a delicate band in rose gold, set with a diamond twined in golden branches.
When I saw it in the store, I knew it was perfect, especially when she spends her life shaping wood into beautiful things.
Her eyes widen as she stares at the ring.
I clear my throat and get on with it. “Talia Grey, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“…ohGodwhere’smyinhaler…”
“Shit. Are you okay, I—”
“Yes!” Breathless and bursting into laughter, Talia flings herself at me, her bag falling away and thudding to the ground as she tumbles on her knees and throws herself into my arms.