Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

B arron

The scent of grilled meat and fresh coffee fills the Copper County Café, mixing with the steady hum of conversation and clinking dishes. It's a warm, comforting chaos, a familiar one. I've sat in this café a hundred times, but tonight feels different. I sit across from Tamlyn, watching her laugh at something Betty just said, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. There's a flutter of nerves in my chest, something I'm not used to.

My fingers toy with the edge of the napkin in front of me, rolling and unrolling the fabric, trying to steady the thrum in my veins. I'm a man who's spent his life being solid, steady, like the mountain I was raised on. But now, with Tamlyn sitting across from me, looking so damn beautiful and so right, I feel like the ground's about to shift beneath my feet.

Betty hovers nearby, grinning like she knows something's coming. And hell, she probably does. This is Copper Mountain, and nothing stays secret here for long. My brothers—Creed, Judge, Archer, Arrow, Pope, Knox, King, and Cruz—are all sitting at a table across the room, their eyes occasionally flicking our way, full of mischief and silent questions. I can feel Creed's eyes on me now, like he's daring me to follow through with what he suspects I'm about to do. I shoot him a look, trying to hide the grin tugging at the corner of my mouth.

This is it , I think, my heart pounding harder now. She's it . I don't need more time. I don't need to wait for a better moment. I've known since we met that Tamlyn is the one I want beside me. She's already my home.

Betty sidles over, hands on her hips, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, well," she teases, her voice just a little too loud, "look at you two. You better start thinking about babies soon. I've been waiting for this day for longer than I can remember." She winks at Tamlyn, whose cheeks flush the sweetest shade of pink.

I chuckle, but it's tight, the knot in my stomach pulling tighter with every passing second. I've always liked Betty's banter, but tonight, it's hitting too close to home. Clearing my throat, I glance at the dessert she's setting down in front of us—a fancy chocolate thing I couldn't care less about right now. I need to get this over with before I lose my nerve.

"Betty," I say, my voice coming out a little rough, "maybe give us a minute here?"

She raises an eyebrow, clearly sensing that something's brewing. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, but don't think I won't be back to check on you. And when I do, I better hear all the details, Barron." She winks again before bustling off, leaving us in a bubble of tense silence.

Tamlyn, blissfully unaware of what's coming, picks up her fork and takes a bite of the dessert, her eyes closing as she savors it. I take a deep breath, glancing around the café. It's now or never. My brothers are still watching, their curiosity piqued, and Betty's hovering near the counter like she's ready to pounce on the news.

I look back at Tamlyn. Her smile is soft, content, and suddenly I feel the weight of this moment. I reach into my pocket, fingers brushing the small velvet box that's been burning a hole in my jeans all day.

"Tamlyn," I say, my voice rougher than I intended.

She looks up, her fork paused mid-air, her eyes questioning. I stand, pushing back from the table and pulling the box from my pocket. The second I drop to one knee, the whole room goes silent. The clinking of forks, the low hum of conversation—all of it stops.

Tamlyn's eyes widen, her breath catching as she realizes what's happening. My heart pounds so hard I'm sure she can hear it, but I push through the nerves. I have to do this. I want to do this.

"Tamlyn," I start, my voice finally finding its rhythm. "You came here, to Copper Mountain, and turned my whole world upside down. I didn't think I needed anyone—thought I'd just spend my days chopping wood and living out my life here on my own."

I pause, my hand trembling slightly as I open the ring box, revealing the simple, pear-shaped diamond ring inside. Her eyes dart to it, then back to me, wide with emotion. "But you… you made me see things differently. You've become my home. And I don't want to imagine my life without you in it. Will you marry me?"

The air feels thick, heavy with anticipation, and for a moment, it's like the whole café is holding its breath. I feel like I'm suspended in time, waiting, my heart lodged firmly in my throat.

Tamlyn's hands fly to her mouth, her eyes glistening with tears as she looks down at me. She's silent for a beat, overwhelmed, and I can see the love, the surprise, the sheer emotion swirling in her eyes. Then, she lowers her hands, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Yes. Yes, Barron, I already said yes once in the woods, but I'll say it again: I'll marry you."

Relief crashes over me like a wave, and I stand, sliding the ring onto her finger before pulling her into my arms. The café erupts into cheers, the sound of clapping and shouts filling the room. I kiss her, long and slow, right there in front of everyone, not caring about the applause or the looks from my brothers. This is for us. I needed to do this the right way–we had our moment alone in the woods, and now we have this one–a real proposal with a ring in front of everyone and God to see.

The first voice I hear, of course, is Creed's, his deep voice booming from across the café. "Well, damn, Barron! Didn't think you had it in you to do it in front of a crowd."

I pull away from Tamlyn, grinning, still holding her close. Judge raises his glass, a smirk on his face. "Guess the bachelor streak is finally over."

Archer shakes his head, laughing. "Who would've thought you'd be the first one of us to go down? Always figured you'd be the last."

I throw my arm around Tamlyn, who's laughing too, her eyes bright with joy. "Don't worry, there's still plenty of time for you lot to join me," I shoot back. "I don't expect I'll be the only one getting hitched around here."

Betty, who's been standing near the counter, comes rushing over, her hands clasped in front of her chest, tears in her eyes. "Oh, I knew it!" she exclaims, practically bouncing with excitement. "I knew you two were meant to be. And don't you worry, I'll help plan that wedding. We'll make it the talk of Copper Mountain!"

I raise an eyebrow at Tamlyn, who laughs softly, her cheeks flushed with emotion. "What do you think?" I ask her, my voice warm, teasing. "Do we let Betty take over?"

Tamlyn chuckles, leaning into my side, her voice filled with happiness. "I think we'd be crazy to say no."

As we make our way toward the door, Betty calls out after us, her voice full of playful command. "And don't you forget to start working on those mountain babies! This town's been waiting long enough for the next generation of Steele men."

I chuckle, throwing my arm around Tamlyn's shoulders as we step outside. The cool mountain air hits us, but the warmth of the moment lingers between us. I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"What do you say?" I murmur, my voice low and playful. "Think we can handle a few of those mountain babies?"

Tamlyn smiles up at me, her heart full, her eyes soft. "I think we'll manage just fine."