Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

P erry

The sunlight dips low the next day, casting long shadows across the cabin porch where Knox and I sit side by side. The air smells like pine and sun-warmed earth, the mountain quiet except for the rustle of leaves in the distance. I nestle closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body seep into mine. His hand rests over mine, our fingers lazily intertwined, and it feels like this moment has been a long time coming, like everything we've built—slow and steady, despite the bumps along the way—has led us here.

Knox presses a kiss to my temple, and I close my eyes, savoring the rough but gentle feel of his lips against my skin. "You okay, Petal?" he murmurs, his voice gravelly, a sound that always stirs something deep inside me.

I smile, turning my head slightly to meet his eyes. "I'm perfect," I reply, and I mean it. "This feels... right."

He chuckles softly, and I can feel the vibration of his laugh against my cheek. "It better feel right," he teases, his tone playful but with that undercurrent of sincerity he can never fully mask. "I've worked damn hard to get here, you know."

I laugh, shifting so I'm facing him, pulling our hands to rest in my lap. "We worked hard to get here," I correct him. "Together."

His lips twitch into a smile, and he nods.

We fall into comfortable silence again, the late afternoon sun casting everything in a soft, golden light. I glance over at the truck, gleaming in the sunlight like a brand new penny. It's hard to believe that was once the rusted, broken-down heap my grandpa left me. Now, it's as good as new. No, better. It's a reminder of the way things can change—how something that seems beyond repair can be restored if you just put in the work.

Knox follows my gaze, his expression thoughtful. "We did that too," he says, nodding toward the truck. "Made something new out of something old."

I smile, tracing the back of his hand with my thumb. "Just like us."

His gaze softens as he looks at me, the depth of his feelings clear in the way his eyes darken, the way his fingers tighten ever so slightly around mine. "Just like us," he repeats, his voice a little rough around the edges, just like him. "You feel like a drive, baby?"

I arch a brow, glancing at the truck. "Should I drive this time?"

Knox's grin widens, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Yep. If you think you can handle the ole beast."

I laugh, giving him a playful shove. "I can handle it. I do just fine handling you, don't I?"

His laugh fills my heart with warmth. "You do more than fine, baby, you're a damn pro." He rises to his feet, pulling me up with him. His hands slide around my waist, tugging me closer, and his lips brush my ear. "A total expert at handling beasts."

His voice sends a shiver down my spine, and for a second, I forget all about the truck. But then he steps back, dangling the keys in front of me with that infuriatingly sexy grin of his, and I take them, feeling my pulse quicken. This is more than just a drive. It feels like something bigger, like another step forward, a new beginning.

"Let's go," I say, flashing him a grin as I head for the truck. He follows me, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his body, and it's all I can do to keep from pulling him back into my arms.

The truck rumbles to life under my hands, the sound of the engine purring smoothly like music to my ears. Knox slides into the passenger seat, his hand finding its place on my thigh, a possessive yet reassuring touch. I shift into gear and ease the truck onto the old two-track road that winds up the mountain, the tires kicking up a cloud of dust behind us. The road is bumpy and rough, but I handle it with ease, the way I've handled everything that's come my way since meeting Knox. I can feel his eyes on me, a mix of pride and something deeper, something unspoken.

"You've got this," he says softly, his voice full of admiration.

I glance over at him, my heart swelling. "Thanks to you."

"Nah," he shakes his head. "You've always had it in you."

The road grows steeper as we climb higher, the sound of the tires crunching over rocks mingling with the rhythmic thud of an axe somewhere in the distance. Knox cocks his head toward the sound, a grin tugging at his lips.

"That's Barron," he says, nodding toward the tree line. "He's been working up here. You'll meet him soon. Lumberjack doesn't even begin to cover it."

I smile at the thought, imagining Knox's brother, all rugged and quiet, just like him. The sound of Barron's axe chopping through wood is methodical, grounding somehow, a reminder of the steady life we're building here.

The truck crests the top of the mountain, and I suck in a breath, the view stealing whatever words I might have said. The sky is painted in hues of pink, orange, and purple, stretching wide and open above us. The valley below is bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, and I feel like I'm standing on the edge of the world, with Knox by my side.

"It's beautiful," I whisper, my voice catching in my throat.

Knox cuts the engine, stepping out of the truck. He circles around to my side, helping me down with a gentle hand on my waist. We stand together at the edge of the overlook, his arm wrapping around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"This place..." he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. "It feels like forever, doesn't it?"

I lean my head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. "Yeah," I agree softly. "It really does."

For a moment, we just stand there, wrapped in the peace of the mountain, the world quiet around us. And then, Knox shifts beside me, and I feel him pull away slightly. I glance up, just in time to see him drop to one knee, his large hands reaching into his jacket pocket. My heart stops, my breath catching in my throat as I realize what's happening.

"Perry," he begins, his voice deep and steady, despite the raw emotion in his eyes. "You came into my life like a whirlwind, and I haven't been the same since. You've made this place feel like home again—hell, you've made me feel like home again. And I can't imagine doing any of this without you."

He pulls a simple, elegant ring from his pocket, holding it up to me with a quiet confidence that makes my heart ache. "I know it's a little rough around the edges," he says, his lips twitching into a soft smile, "just like me. But I love you, Petal. Will you be my wife?"

Tears well up in my eyes, and I can barely get the words out, my voice breaking as I say, "Yes. Yes, Knox, a thousand times yes."

He stands, slipping the ring onto my finger before pulling me into his arms, his lips claiming mine in a kiss that's filled with love, passion, and the promise of forever. We stand there, holding each other as the last rays of the sun dip below the horizon, the world fading into twilight, but everything between us shining bright.

"I guess Betty was right about us," I tease lightly, my voice filled with warmth.

Knox chuckles, his arms tightening around me. "Betty's been right about a lot of things," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "She's got a damn good track record with the Steele boys. Barron and Tamlyn—she predicted them too."

I laugh softly, the sound blending with the wind around us. I turn in Knox's arms, meeting his gaze as I whisper, "I love you."

He smiles, a rare and beautiful sight that makes my heart swell. "I love you too, Petal. Always."

And as we stand there, hand in hand, looking out over Copper Mountain, I know that whatever comes next, we'll face it together—stronger, braver, and more in love than ever before.