Chapter 10

Vera

Yesterday was incredible.Fisher and I spent the whole day together, most of it in bed together. He had gone with me back to the Sanctuary to help me take care of the wolves and then we had ordered take out and gone back to his motel room.

Now though, I'm starting to panic.

I mean, we haven't really talked about anything. At least nothing about the future. I went from seeing the house listings to jumping into bed with him.

Oh my gosh. What have I done? What if the house listings was some kind of ploy to get me to sleep with him. He doesn't seem like that kind of guy, but what experience do I really have? How many times have I seen people in town sleep with tourists only to get their heart broken when they leave a few days later?

My stomach drops and I stare at the motel ceiling.

I slept with Fisher. I slept with him, and he's about to pay me a million dollars and leave town. What was I thinking?

Clearly, I wasn't and that scares me. I'm the girl who thinks everything through. I look at it from every angle, but I didn't do that here with Fisher. For the first time, I followed my heart instead of my head and now I'm terrified that I've made a mistake.

I look over at him. He's still fast asleep next to me and he looks so happy, so peaceful.

Last night and again this morning was incredible. We both passed out after the last time, but now that the sun is up and I'm thinking more clearly, I'm wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do now.

I should leave. I should get out of here before he wakes up and I have to talk to him.

I sneak out of his bed and gather up my clothes, getting dressed as I watch him, but he doesn't so much as stir as I pull open the door, take one last look at him, and slip out of the room.

During the drive home, all I can think about is Fisher and how I feel about him. I was trying so hard not to fall for him, but somewhere over the three dates, that's exactly what I did. Now, I don't know what to do with those feelings. I'll need to talk to him eventually, but first, I need to figure out what I want.

I pull into the sanctuary and head inside to change. I'll go work with the wolves. That always clears my head, and then I can figure everything out.

I grab an apple and then head out and hop on the four-wheeler. I take a few bites as I look out over the land. What am I going to do about Fisher? I can't leave this place. I refuse to. So, do I propose a long-distance relationship? How long will that work before one or both of us get tired? How long before we get too busy and start talking less and less? How long before he moves on?

I take off down the path, scanning the property. The wolves are closer to the house this morning, and I smile as I greet them and start my day. I check over all of the wolves and take the first few to the training ring.

It's there that Fisher finds me.

He walks up to the ring, and I swallow hard. I let the wolves out and walk to face him. I don't feel quite ready to have this conversation, but I'm not sure that I ever will be.

"Hey," he says, and I take a deep breath.

"Hi."

"Why'd you run out? I would have come with you back here."

"I… I can't be with you," I blurt out.

"Why not?" He fires back, and I look away from him and over to the wolves.

"I shouldn't be with you."

"Why not?" He asks again.

"Because we don't make sense!" I snap. "Your life is in whatever big city you're opening a new hotel in, and mine is here. I'm not leaving Wolf Valley."

"I know. Neither am I."

"And I—What?" I ask, my mouth dropping open at his words.

"I'm not leaving Wolf Valley. Why would I when the girl that I love is here?"

I gape at him, and he smiles.

"I love you, Vera. I have from that first moment when you ran into me. I want you. I want a life with you. I want everything with you."

"I don't want to give up the sanctuary," I whisper, and he steps closer to me.

"You don't have to. No one will make you."

I stare up at him, not sure what to do. It feels like he's offering me everything I want, but it feels too good to be true.

"So, what exactly are you saying?" I ask him finally, and he grins.

I hold my breath and wait for his response.

"I'm saying that I love you, Vera, and want to be with you. Forever. I knew that we were meant to be; I know that you're it for me. It's why I've been pushing for a second chance so hard. It's why I offered you the deal. I need you, Vera."

"How can you be so sure?" I ask, feeling tears starting to well in my eyes.

"Because you're the only woman I've ever wanted to be with. You're the only one that has ever interested me. My life before I came here to Wolf Valley was so boring and mundane. It had become monotonous. Until I met you."

"It could just be lust," I argue, and he laughs.

"It's not. I'm sure of it. I started rearranging my whole life as soon as I met you."

"Sure," I say in disbelief, and he smiles wider.

"I have. You could ask my assistant, or I can prove it to you right here and now."

"Prove it then."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out something small. I frown and then gasp when he drops to one knee in front of me.

"I bought this ring yesterday. I've already asked my assistant to find us a wedding planner. I'm sure of this, Vera. I'm sure of us."

He opens the lid of the ring box, and tears spill over onto my cheeks.

"Fisher," I start, and he smiles softly.

"I love you, Vera. You're it for me, and I'm meant to be yours. Will you marry me?"

"Are you just trying to get your hands on this place?" I ask with a laugh through my tears.

"No. I already bought the land to the north of here. I bought it days ago. I stuck around in town for you. You're the only deal that I need to close. My most important deal."

"You make it sound so romantic," I say sarcastically.

"You want flowery words? I can do that."

"No, I don't need that," I tell him, and he shakes his head.

"You deserve them. You're the most beautiful woman that I've ever seen. You make me smile and laugh, something that I've rarely done in my life. You bring me out of my shell and make me a better man. You make me want to write sonnets or paint you, but I know that I'd be crap at both of those things. I'd still try, though. I'd do anything for you."

"Yes," I whisper, and he blinks.

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, I'll marry you."

He slides the ring onto my finger in a rush, and then I'm in his arms.

"I love you, Vera."

"I love you too, Fisher," I tell him, grinning up at him.

"We have a lot to do," he tells me, and I laugh.

"Like what?"

"Plan a whole wedding."

"We can figure that out later, though, right?"

"Sure. What did you want to do now?" He asks, and I grin.

"Oh, I've got a few ideas."

He smiles as I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him. Then we both smile as I take his hand and lead him back to the four-wheeler and drive to the house.

I know that we have a lot to discuss and figure out still. We need to figure out where we'll live and then all of the whole wedding stuff, but we have time, and I know it will all work out. Fisher will make sure of that.

I never thought t I would fall for the billionaire when he came to town, but I did, and I think that it's going to be the best thing I've ever done.

I smile to myself as I take Fisher's hand and lead him to bed.