11. Hallie #2
He reaches over, his calloused fingers brushing against my thigh. The touch is light, but it sends a shiver up my spine, a reminder of the way those same hands have explored every inch of me, gentle one moment, demanding the next.
I glance at him, at the sharp line of his jaw, the way the fading sunlight catches the silver in his beard. He's watching the road, but I know he feels my gaze. His lips quirk, just slightly, like he's privy to some secret I haven't figured out yet.
The car slows as we pull into a lookout point, the kind with a sweeping view of the valley below. The sky is painted in hues of pink and orange, the last gasp of daylight before night takes over. Heath kills the engine and turns to me, his steel-blue eyes dark in the dim light.
"Come on," he says, his voice low and rough.
I follow him out of the car, my sandals crunching on the gravel path.
The air is cooler up here, carrying the scent of pine and earth.
Heath leads me to the edge of the lookout, where the railing gives way to an unobstructed view of the horizon.
The city lights twinkle below us, a sea of stars brought down to earth.
He stops, his hand still wrapped around mine, and turns to face me.
For a moment, he just looks at me, his gaze tracing the lines of my face like he's memorizing them.
My breath catches. There's something in his expression, something raw and tender and utterly him, that makes my heart stutter in my chest.
Then he reaches into his pocket.
My pulse spikes.
He pulls out the small wooden box I gave him months ago, the one that held the key to my room. The one that started everything. My fingers tremble as he holds it out to me, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Open it," he says, his voice steady, but there's a roughness to it, like he's holding back something fierce.
I take the box, my hands shaking. The wood is smooth under my fingertips, worn from time and handling. I lift the lid.
Inside, nestled against the velvet lining, is a ring.
My breath hitches.
Heath drops to one knee.
The world tilts.
I press a hand to my mouth, my fingers trembling against my lips. Tears blur my vision, but I don't look away. I can't.
"Hallie," he says, his voice thick with something I've never heard from him before…
vulnerability. "You gave me a key to your room.
But what you really gave me was a key to something I didn't even know I was missing.
" His thumb brushes over the back of my hand, a gesture so tender it makes my chest ache.
"You saw me. The real me. And you didn't run. "
A tear slips down my cheek, hot and fast.
"I don't want to just have a key to your room, Hallie. I want the key to your heart. To your future. To every damn day for the rest of our lives." He takes the ring from the box, holding it up between us. "Marry me."
The words hang in the air, simple and perfect and everything.
I don't hesitate.
"Yes," I whisper, my voice breaking. "Yes, yes, yes."
He slides the ring onto my finger, the metal warm from his touch. It fits perfectly, like it was always meant to be there. Then he's on his feet, pulling me into his arms, his mouth crashing down on mine. The kiss is fierce, possessive, like he's staking a claim. Like he's never letting go.
I melt into him, my hands fisting in his shirt as I kiss him back with everything I have. The world around us fades, the city lights, the cool breeze, the gravel under our feet, until there's nothing but him. His heat. His strength. The way his heart hammers against mine.
When we finally pull apart, we're both breathing hard. Heath rests his forehead against mine, his hands cupping my face like I'm something precious. Like I'm his.
"Fuck, Hallie," he murmurs, his voice rough. "You have no idea what you do to me."
I laugh, breathless, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "I think I have some idea."
He grins, that rare, unguarded smile that makes my heart skip. Then he pulls me close again, his arms wrapping around me like he's never letting go. And I don't want him to.
I lean into him, my cheek pressed against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. The ring on my finger glints in the fading light, a promise. A future.
He follows my gaze, his thumb brushing over the ring. "You know, the key is now part of this ring," he murmurs, voice rough with something like reverence. "Melted it down. Had the jeweler forge it into the metal."
My breath catches. The weight of it settles into my bones, permanent. The key that unlocked everything, now part of me, part of us. His eyes burn into mine, dark with promise.
I don't need to say it. He already knows.
I'm his. Forever.
A sob catches in my throat, sudden and unexpected. I try to swallow it down, but Heath feels it, his body tensing.
"Hey," he murmurs, pulling back just enough to look at me. His thumbs brush away the tears on my cheeks. "What's wrong?"
I shake my head, laughing through the tears. "Nothing. Everything's right." I take a shaky breath, my fingers curling into his shirt. "I just… I have something to tell you."
His brows furrow, concern flashing in his eyes. "You can tell me anything."
I nod, my heart pounding. "I know." I take another breath, steadying myself. "I'm pregnant."
The words hang between us, heavy and bright and terrifying.
Heath goes still.
For a heartbeat, there's silence. Then another. My stomach twists, nerves coiling tight.
Then his face splits into a grin so wide, so joyful, that it steals my breath all over again. He lets out a laugh, rich and deep, and pulls me into his arms, lifting me off my feet.
"Fuck yes," he growls, spinning me around. "Fuck yes, Hallie."
I laugh, clinging to him, my tears mixing with my joy. When he sets me down, his hands frame my face, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks.
"We're gonna have a baby," he says, his voice rough with emotion.
I nod, my throat too tight to speak.
He kisses me again, slow and deep, like he's savoring the moment. Like he's memorizing the taste of me.
When he pulls back, his eyes are dark with promise. "I also have another surprise," he murmurs.
I grin, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. "There's more?"
The way his voice drops, low and rough with excitement, sends a shiver down my spine. "Pack your bags. We're going to Europe."
My breath catches. "Europe?"
He nods, his fingers tracing idle circles on my hip.
"Thought we'd start in Paris. There's this little theater near Montmartre that plays nothing but black-and-white films. Then London, Rome, Berlin…
wherever the screen flickers in monochrome.
" His thumb brushes over my knuckles, slow and deliberate.
"I want to watch you watch them. See the way the light hits your face in the dark. "
A laugh bubbles up, bright and disbelieving. "You booked us a cinema tour?"
His grin turns wicked. "Among other things." His hand slides lower, fingers pressing just above the waistband of my jeans. "But yes. Every old film you've ever wanted to see, on a proper screen."
My pulse jumps. "When do we leave?"
"Tonight." His teeth graze my earlobe. "But we can reschedule it, because first, we need to get you checked and see if they'll allow you to travel."
The drive back is a blur of laughter and stolen kisses, the ring on my finger catching the light every time I move. Heath keeps one hand on my thigh, his thumb tracing slow, possessive circles against my skin.
I lean my head against the window, watching the city lights streak past. My chest feels light, like I'm floating. Like I could reach out and touch the stars.
Heath glances at me, his eyes warm. "What are you thinking about?"
I smile, my fingers brushing over the ring. "Just that I can't wait to see what comes next. Whether we stay and rest or travel."
His hand tightens on my thigh, his voice low and sure. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
I believe him.
Because with Heath, I know it's true.