Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Lachlan
Hurrying through dense scrub and towering trees on a winding path not much wider than my shoulders, I scowl. Shards of morning sunlight pierce through the thick canopy, casting everything in fractured shadows.
How the hell did Del wind up on this path?
She was angry with you.
Valid. She’s allowed to be furious. I behaved like a dick, and the Staffords led her to believe—intentionally or not—that I’d used her to buy the hotel. Still, as soon as I find her, I’m pouring my heart out.
I love her. And if I’m lucky, one day, she might love me back.
After discovering she wasn’t in her room, I’d tracked Jared down.
He’d been surprised and more than a little uneasy when she didn’t answer his call.
“I think she shares her location with Stevie,” he’d said.
“But I really don’t want Stevie to worry.
Tomorrow’s a big deal, although she’ll kill me if Del—”
“Give me Del’s number,” I’d said, urgency punching at my chest. “I can find her.”
He’d hesitated until I told him I’m ex-defense force cyber security. “Trust me. If any kind of tech is involved, I pretty much can find it.”
Five minutes later, I was heading into the bush on an overgrown path, a little blue dot indicating her location blinking on my phone.
Wherever she was, reception was patchy. If the signal dropped, I’d call in a favor from one of my old teammates still in the unit.
For Del, I’d move the fucking world.
Ducking under a dew-wet branch, I check my phone.
She’s not moving. The blue dot puts her at least fifty yards away on what looks like, according to the topographic map, the edge of a gorge.
I swear, if I get there and she’s just enjoying the view…
“I’ll hug the hell out of her, kiss her, and ask her to marry me,” I mutter.
Ploughing on, I replay every second I’ve spent with her to keep my calm and focus. Every minute since she barged into my life. Since she became my life.
Yeah, I’m definitely going to ask her to marry me.
Flicking my phone another glance, I smile. The dot is still there, the signal steady. Maybe there’s a telecommunications tower where she is? Helpful, if that’s the case. I’ll be able to tell Jared he can stop worrying about Stevie being—
The blue dot jerks east, over the gorge, and winks out of existence.
Fuck.
I break into a sprint. Branches whip at me. My pulse roars in my ears.
The path winds forever and ever until a sliver of blue sky finally opens up ahead, and I burst through the scrub into a tiny clearing overlooking a vast valley. The sun blinds me for a heartbeat as I stumble to a halt, breath hooked in my throat.
Del sits on an old wooden park bench, back to me, haloed by the morning sun. Beside her sits a tall woman, wearing…
Unease prickles up my spine. It’s the woman from the bachelorette party. The one who bumped into Del, drunk and waving around a cocktail. Why is she up here with Del?
“But I love you so much.”
The words waft back to me on a breeze, high-pitched and almost petulant. And not from Del.
Del shakes her head and says…something. Either the wind is snatching the words away, or she’s talking softly. Whatever it is, her shoulders are straight, her spine stiff. Her whole body screams she’s not having a fun time.
An icy inferno erupts in my chest. Footfalls silent, I head for the bench.
“You don’t understand,” the woman whines, leaning closer to Del. Del stiffens more but doesn’t move. She’s scared. But so fucking fierce. “If you just let me be your friend—”
“This isn’t the way to do it.” Del’s voice finally reaches me, its tone low, modulated. “You’re scaring me. And a friend wouldn’t do that, right?”
I’m a few feet away from them. Drawing closer. Silent. Watching the woman’s agitated, jerky movements.
If I step in, what would the woman do?
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” she whimpers, gazing at Del.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to tell you how amazing you are, and how I was so lost and alone until I started doing cosplay as well, because of you.
And I got excited about the chance of telling you.
And I just… I really didn’t mean to get weird. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I inch closer. One more step, and I can render the woman immobile.
“Hey,” Del whispers, smiling at her. “It’s okay.” She leans forward and wraps her in a loose hug. “It’s okay. Honest.”
I freeze. Coiled.
The woman drops her forehead onto Del’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she repeats with a sob. “I really am sorry.”
I suck in a swift breath.
And Del flicks a look at me.
Her eyes widen a fraction, and then she shakes her head. Don’t, she mouths.
I frown.
“We all get a little loopy sometimes when big emotions are in play,” she says, her words gentle, her eyes holding mine as she pats the woman’s back. “I recently bolted on a guy without a word when I realized I’d fallen in love with him.”
My heart slams against my ribs.
Love. She loves me.
“And then,” she continues, still looking up at me, “I called him a caveman when he thought he was saving me from danger.”
The other woman lifts her head. “I was the danger, wasn’t I?”
With a small shrug, Del smiles. “Yeah.”
“I went a little stalkerish, didn’t I?” the woman mutters. “I’ve been acting like a psycho. And you lost your phone because of me.”
Del lets out a soft chuckle. “I was the one who dropped it, remember?”
The woman grimaces. “Because I scared you. God, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s all good.” Del squeezes her hand. “Big emotions, right?”
“Right.” The woman looks out at the view and sighs. “I’m going to go now, before I start bawling and scare you again. I’ll delete your number from my phone, and I promise I won’t bother you anymore.” She stands, and I take a silent step backward. “Can I still follow you on Instagram though?”
“I hope so.” Del grins. “My next cosplay outfit is going to be amazing!”
The woman turns to leave, and I walk forward, relaxed. Casual. As if only arriving on the scene.
Worry etches her face when she sees me. “I really am sorry,” she whispers, ducking her head and hurrying toward the path through the bush.
I watch her until she disappears. Count to five. Don’t move. When I’m convinced she’s not returning, I turn to Del.
She’s kneeling on the bench, arms folded on the backrest, looking at me. “You came to save me?”
I dip my head.
Her eyebrows knit. “A question. And I want an honest answer. There’s too much weirdness in my life right now for bullshit. Did you want me to stay last night because you needed me to be in your room to buy Cloudkiss?”
I shake my head. “I wanted you to stay because the thought of doing this life without you…” My throat tightens. “I wanted you to stay because I’m in love with you.”
She bites her bottom lip. “I see.” She frowns again. “If I asked you to stick around in case I need saving for the rest of my life, would you?”
I dip my head again. “Absolutely.”
“And if I asked you to marry me?”
I step closer, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. “I’d say when?”
She feathers her fingers over my chest. “How’s today sound?”
Cupping her jaw, I lower my forehead to hers. “Fucking perfect.”
“Just like you,” she murmurs, fisting my shirtfront and dragging me into a kiss.
Fucking perfect.
Just like her.