Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lucky walked toward the helicopter hand in hand with Hawk. “This is yours?” The sleek black and chrome chopper looked like it seated six. The Gunn Brothers Distillery logo was emblazoned on the rear side panel.
“Ours,” he corrected, like every other time she referred to something of his that they now shared.
At first, she couldn’t wrap her head around how simply and easily he’d brought her into his life and declared them an “us,” making it clear that everything they owned, hers and his, was now “theirs” and “ours.” She loved the sense of belonging she held in her heart now.
His family had welcomed her with open arms. She sat at their tables, sharing meals with them whenever one of them invited them to dinner.
They wanted to get to know her. They wanted to be the family she could count on after she’d lost the one that never protected or loved her the way she deserved.
She’d never felt connected to anyone the way she was with Hawk.
And their bond was growing stronger every day.
And that included his family. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. I want to show you our piece of the world and a place I found a while ago that I think you’ll like.
” He opened the front passenger door for her and helped her up by the hand.
He buckled her in and held the headphones out to her.
“You’re going to need these so we can talk to each other. ”
Hawk had already spent nearly an hour going over the helicopter while she enjoyed a mocha from the little café in the hanger at the small airport.
He took his seat beside her and started flipping switches and checking the many gauges in front of him.
He pulled on his headphones and radioed someone, letting them know they were ready to leave. Then he turned to her. “Ready?”
She wiped her sweaty palms over her thighs, straightening her dress. “Yes.”
His smile brightened. “Nervous?”
“I’ve never been on a plane, let alone a helicopter.
At least that I remember.” She’d been airlifted to the hospital after he found her.
That seemed so long ago, but also like it was yesterday that she’d woken up to him holding her hand in the hospital, kissing her head, and telling her that he wanted her to be his.
What a miraculous admission. One she never thought she’d hear from him.
Now, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
“You’re going to love it. Trust me.”
She put her hand over his on the control he held. “I do trust you. With my life. With my heart. I love you so much.” The past weeks had been everything she hoped for and more.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I love you, too. More than I ever thought possible. And that you love me the same way…I never thought I’d have that.”
She squeezed his hand and showed him all her joy in her smile. “Let’s fly.”
He loved this and she wanted to share it with him. She wanted to share everything with him.
The helicopter rose steadily until Hawk moved the stick and they passed over the airport, then cut across the land until Hawk’s calm voice came over the headset again.
“There’s our house.” He pointed down and to the left.
Then he pointed to the right a ways off.
“That’s Lincoln’s place.” They flew a bit further and two more houses came into view separated by a long distance.
She waved at the couple out on their porch. “That’s your mom and dad!”
As they flew over the other house, another man came out and waved up at them. “Is that—”
“Damon’s home.” Hawk flew the helicopter down lower before taking them up again. He was laughing.
Damon was probably swearing at his older brother for sending a wave of wind his way.
“Don’t worry. He’s used to me doing flybys.”
“How long has he been home?”
“A few days. I needed his and Lincoln’s help with something.”
“What?”
“You’ll see.” His cryptic reply ended with him giving her a tour of the Montana landscape as they passed over towns, rivers, and other notable places until they crossed into Yellowstone territory and the landscape turned into even more spectacular mountains and valleys.
Her stomach tightened as they approached one such mountain top. “Uh, Hawk, what are you doing? We’re awfully close.”
“We’re landing. Don’t worry. Sketchy landings are my specialty.”
“Um, it doesn’t inspire confidence when you use the word sketchy.”
He chuckled. “I would never put you in harm’s way. We are totally safe. I promise.”
She really didn’t have to worry. He landed the helicopter like he’d set it down on an air mattress. They sat for a moment admiring the breathtaking view.
“It’s so beautiful up here.”
He turned to her. “It sure is.” His gaze caressed her face. “Ready for your surprise?”
“I don’t need a surprise. Being here with you is enough.”
He pulled off his headset while she did the same, then he hooked his hand around the back of her neck and drew her into a passionate kiss.
“I want to strip you bare on this mountain and make love to you.” He kissed her again, stealing her breath and making her melt. “But first, I need you to say yes.”
“Yes.”
He chuckled and kissed her again. “You don’t even know what you’re saying yes to.”
“If you want to hear it, I’ll say it.”
“I want you to mean it.”
“I do. Because I know whatever it is you want, I want.”
“Marriage?”
“Yes.”
“Babies?”
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
“Yes.”
He stared at her for one long moment. “Then come with me.” He climbed out of the helicopter, then walked to her door and helped her down.
Taking her hand, he led her across an open meadow dotted with wildflowers and shrubs.
He stopped her near the drop of a slope, stood behind her, and put his hands on her shoulders.
“Don’t move. Don’t look back. Just give me a few minutes to set up your surprise. Okay?”
“Who could look away from this breathtaking view?”
“I feel that way every time I look at you. I never want to look away.” He kissed her on the back of her head, then warned again, “Don’t move.”
She waited while he went back to the helicopter. There was a lot of rustling behind her, but she didn’t turn, just waited patiently, knowing this was important to him.
Finally, she felt him close behind her again. “Turn around, sweetheart.”
She did and found him on one knee, holding up a gorgeous set of rings. She didn’t even think, she just gave him the word he wanted to hear. “Yes!” Tears blurred her vision before she blinked and saw his eyes lit with delight and a smile so big, her heart overflowed with love for him.
“At least let me say what I wanted to say before I cut the camera and do what I promised I’d do.”
She blushed and looked around, but didn’t see a camera.
He took her hand, kissed the back like he’d done earlier, then looked up at her, his gaze so earnest and open.
“I fell in love with you without spending a single second in your presence. I don’t even know exactly when it happened.
Maybe it was when I realized that Monday was my favorite day because it was the day you were in my house, making it feel warm and homier than any other day of the week.
Maybe it was when I started thinking of ways I could mess up my place, so I could have an excuse to bring you there.
Maybe it was when you gave me that first romance book and I finished it feeling lighter, more hopeful than I had in forever.
Maybe it was the way every note you left, every treat you made, every distraction you gave me pieced my heart back together because I knew someone cared.
Not because you were family, but because you somehow connected with me.
“I don’t know exactly how you did it, but week by week, all a hundred and seven of them before I found you in that ravine and almost lost you, you made me want to be a better man.
And now I am because you’re finally beside me.
I’m whole when you’re with me.” Tears unbidden rolled down his cheeks, telling her how much he really meant every word.
“To tell you I love you, just never seems enough. No matter how many ways or times I show you, it never seems enough. But I do love you. I will always love you. So say, yes, one more time and make me the happiest and luckiest man on the planet. Will you marry me, continue living this amazing life with me, build a family with me, and love me the way you do so well?”
She didn’t wipe her tears either. “I would be so happy to be your wife, to live my life with you, to have babies with you, to keep loving you, the only man who ever held my heart and protected it and me. Yes. Yes to all of it.”
Hawk pulled the big diamond ring out of the box and slid it onto her trembling finger, explaining, “The other one is for you to wear under your gloves while you work.”
How thoughtful.
She cupped his face and kissed him with all the love in her heart as he stood and pulled her in close, wrapping her in his strong, protective arms and dipping her back, making her laugh against his lips.
He pulled her upright and turned to the side, his arm still around her.
“Wave to our family.” He pointed to the camera he’d set up on a rocky outcropping.
She did.
Then he kissed her again, took her hand, and showed off the beautiful, sparkling rock.
She still didn’t know where the camera was, she was too busy looking at the man she loved. Her future husband.
Hawk turned back into her and kissed her softly. “I knew you’d say yes, but I was nervous anyway. I wanted this to be perfect.”
“It was amazing. Look at where we are.” The majestic mountains overlooking the valley was a beautiful sight on such a warm and lovely day. She couldn’t ask for more.
Hawk kissed her again then just smiled at her for a moment before he stepped back and showed her what else he’d set up. A thick blanket lay on the ground with a large wicker picnic basket, a silver bucket filled with ice and a bottle of prosecco, and a huge bundle of red roses.
“I thought I smelled roses in the helicopter. I thought it an odd air freshener choice for you.”
Hawk laughed. “Yeah. I had all this stashed in the back seat.” He waved for her to sit.
She took a seat while he walked away. “Where are you going?”
“To get the camera.” He picked up something off a large boulder and seemed to flip a switch as he walked back to her.
“Trail cam with a transmitter. Mom, Dad, Lincoln, Damon, Mason and Lyric, Nick and Aria, my aunt and uncle, and the ladies who all work for you got to see the proposal.” He opened the picnic basket and set the camera inside. “Now, we’re all alone up here.”
She crawled up his legs and straddled his lap, the flowy turquoise sundress she wore fluttered around her thighs.
Hawk’s big hands landed on her hips and he pulled her closer, securing her soft folds against his rigid length. “What are you wearing under this sexy as fuck dress?”
She leaned in, brushing her cheek along his, and whispered in his ear, “Nothing.”
He pulled the dress up and over her head so fast, she barely had time to put up her arms to help him out.
Naked on his lap, she grinned at the look of awe on his face as he took her in. “Now all I’m wearing is your ring.” She held up her hand.
Hawk’s gaze sharpened and filled with a possessive look that made her center clench with arousal.
“It’s beautiful, by the way. I love it. And the other one.” A thick gold band with a smattering of different shaped diamonds embedded in the gold. “You spoil me.”
“Oh, I’m gonna.” He rolled her onto her back and settled between her thighs as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
They lost themselves in another kiss until she got impatient and undid the buttons on his white button down and pushed the shirt off his shoulders.
He pulled the rolled up cuffs off and tossed the shirt.
His black jeans were in her way. She attacked the button and zipper, pushing them down over his spectacular tight ass.
His cock nudged at her entrance and she rolled her hips to take him into her, but Hawk had other ideas and pulled back.
“Not yet, baby, I want to make sure you’re ready. I want you to come on my tongue.” He shucked off the rest of his clothes, then settled himself between her wide spread thighs and dove in like a man on a mission. He licked her slit from bottom to top and sucked her clit.
She slid her fingers into his hair and held him to her, rolling her hips against his face as he tongue fucked her, building the euphoria gathering inside her. She could barely hold on, it felt so good.
“Come for me.” He sucked her clit and thrust one, then two fingers into her tight channel, pushing her over the edge.
She came so hard her breath panted out and her body quaked. “Hawk,” she cried out, riding the wave of her orgasm as he stroked his fingers in and out of her, extending the pleasure. Once she settled into the soft blanket with a sigh, he rose over her and smiled.
“You good?”
“So good.” She wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him to her as she slid her hands up his chest, around his neck, and pulled him down for a searing kiss.
They got lost in the passion again as he sank his tongue and cock into her at the same time. She felt so full and close to him. Protected and loved in his embrace. They made love like they had eternity to spend in each other’s arms.
If nothing else, they had the rest of their lives.