Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
"Well, damn. The guys must have called to say they're here. They've gone without us. Look."
Shelley really must have had one too many. She didn't look bothered in the least. Instead, she grinned and said, "I'm sure it'll all work out wonderfully. Come on, let's get our coats."
When they got outside, there was no sign of the others, and she looked around in confusion. Her breath caught in her chest when she saw a black Suburban pulling out of the parking lot.
"Shelley, did you just see what I just saw? Tell me that wasn't Cash leaving without me."
Shelley grinned. "I don't think I can tell you that."
Harper looked around. "Well, how the hell am I supposed to get home now, then?" She made a face. "Do you think Trip would mind if I catch a ride with you guys? It's a long way out of your way, though. Do you think he'd mind if I slept in one of your spare rooms?"
At that moment, Trip appeared from around the side of the building. "Sorry, Harper. I can't help you."
She just stared at him, wondering what the hell was going on. She turned to Shelley again, but even her friend gave her an apologetic smile and said, "He's right. We have to get going."
Harper didn't know whether to look around for a hidden camera or cry at the way this brought back memories of her childhood—of coming out of school at the end of the day to be picked up by a caseworker instead of the foster mom she'd been staying with until that morning.
Shelley came to her and wrapped her in a hug. "Oh, Harps, don't look like that. This is a good thing, I promise. Look, turn around." She pointed to the corner of the building where Trip had just appeared.
Someone else was standing there now, and it took her a few moments to register that that someone else was Emmett.
"Hi."
Her hand came up to cover her heart. "Oh my goodness. Emmett, what are you—"
"I came to get you." He came straight to her and wrapped his arms around her, and she melted against him, burying her face against his shoulder.
He ran his hand over her hair and said, "I'm so sorry, Harper. I didn't think how it would feel to you, seeing everyone leaving and thinking you were here alone. It was like having the rug pulled out from under you, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it was," she admitted eventually. "But it was worth it, because when there was no one else left, you were here for me."
"And I always will be. I give you my word." He tucked his fingers under her chin and tilted her head so that he could look into her eyes. "Do you want to come home with me?"
She nodded.
"My truck's parked around the back." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and winked as he said, "I'd love to kiss you right now, but I think we'll both feel more comfortable without all these guys watching."
"What guys?" she asked, turning to scan the parking lot. She had to laugh when headlights came on in various spots around the lot. It seemed that the others had hurried back to their vehicles but hadn't actually left.
She smiled through pursed lips and waved at them.
Shelley came back and touched her arm. "I'm sorry. I was so excited to set up the surprise that I didn’t think. I should have known…"
Harper shook her head. "It's not a problem. I'm thrilled. Go on, you and Trip should get home."
Trip winked at her. "We can give you a ride if you like."
She laughed. "Get out of here."
When they'd all gone, Emmett walked her back to his truck and held the passenger door open for her. She paused before she climbed in and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Thanks for coming to get me."
He leaned in, curling his arm around her waist, and claimed her mouth in a slow, deep kiss that left her clinging to him. "Thank you for coming into my life."
~ ~ ~
Once they were in the truck, Emmett debated whether he should wait until they got home. But he couldn't. He didn't want to. He needed her to know right now.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I am. But wait—no, hang on. I need to…" He jumped back out and grabbed the bear from the back seat.
He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door, and she smiled down at him. "What are you up to, and what do you have there?"
She slid down from her seat and stood before him with a puzzled smile. "What are you doing, Emmett?"
"I wanted to give you this." He thrust the bear into her hands, and she took it with a big smile.
"Oh, Emmett, this is lovely. Thank you so much." She hugged the bear to her, and he smiled.
"I'm glad you like it, but it's not just a stuffed animal. Or at least, it's more than that to me."
She held it close to her chest. "What is it?"
"It's…" He blew out a sigh. "This all seemed like such a good idea, but now I don't know…"
He relaxed when she smiled and said, "I'd love to help you out, but I won't know either until you tell me."
He chuckled. "It's a Mama Bear."
"Oh." She looked down at it. "Emmett..."
"It means… something. It means a lot. It means everything." He met her gaze. "Put it this way, I think you know the tradition the guys have, of all going together to buy a ring."
"Yeah, I've heard about that."
He looked down at the bear before meeting her gaze again. "Well, they all came to Bozeman with me to buy that bear."
She hugged it closer to her, and her eyes filled with tears as she said, "Oh, Emmett."
"A ring didn't seem right. And besides, I don't know yet if you might even consider marrying me someday. But this—" he pointed to the bear "—it feels right. It's what the girls have called you. And it's what you've become in our lives."
She stepped closer and curled one arm around his neck. "It's the most wonderful gift anyone's ever given me, Emmett," she said before she kissed him.
When they finally came up for air, he rested his forehead against hers. "It's not just a gift of a bear, you know."
"I know. The bear's lovely, but the gift that it represents is what means the world to me."
He looked up at the truck. "Want to try this again, then? Do you want to get in, and I'll take you home with me?"
"I'd love that."
"And I love you," he said before he kissed her one more time.