21. Chloe

I’m giving him an out,and God knows it’s a good one. He hasn’t slept, he’s probably delirious, and he just found out he’s going to be a father. He needs time to process everything, and then once he does, if he still wants to marry me, I’ll give him a resounding yes.

“On the way over here, I called Walker and told him that I didn’t want to travel for work anymore.” I open my mouth, and he holds a hand up. “I don’t want to ever leave you, you need to know that but I have no doubt there will be a time when I’m asked to travel for a mission. I want you to know that I won’t make the choice lightly, and if I ever do have to go on a mission out of town, I’ll talk to you first.”

My mouth drops open. “And he’s okay with it… you’re staying in Whiskey Run?”

He shakes his head to correct me. “I’m staying with you, Chloe. Wherever you are, that’s my home.” He blows out his breath as he reaches into his pocket. “Don’t freak out on me, okay?”

With my eyes wide I stare as he pulls a small box out of his pocket. He holds it between us, and he’s watching me as I stare at the thing in his hand. There’s no way that’s what I think that is. “What is that?”

He holds the box up. “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but five years ago—do you remember that night?”

I roll my eyes at him. Do I remember that night? It’s played on repeat in my head since that very day. “Yes, Elias. I remember.”

“Right. Well, I walked out of here the next day and remember, I had left my truck at the Whiskey Whistler, so I was walking through town, and I passed the jewelry store. I knew that morning that I wanted you to be my wife. I went in and bought this ring and have carried it with me ever since. You can tell me you want more time. You can tell me you’ll think about it, and that’s fine. You can tell me anything you want to tell me, but no, Chloe. I won’t accept no. I can’t. I know what my life is like without you, and it’s been hell. You’re the sweetest, most beautiful, caring, smart woman I’ve ever known and it would be my honor to call you my wife.” He slides me gently to the couch next to him, pushes the coffee table away, and then gets on one knee in front of me. “Chloe, will you please be my wife?”

I gasp and stare at the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen. “Yes,” I answer him softly.

His eyebrows rise in surprise. “Yes?”

I laugh and nod before wrapping my arms around him. “Yes, of course, I’ll marry you. I love you, Elias. I love you more than anything in this world.”

He holds on to me as if he doesn’t want to let me go. I’m struggling to breathe, but there’s no way I’m going to ask him to loosen up. The way he kisses me tells me how he feels, but when he pulls back, breathless, he looks into my eyes. “I love you, Chloe, and I promise I’ll spend every day showing you just how much.”

He picks up my hand and slides the ring on my finger before lifting it to his lips and kissing my knuckles. “You’re going to be mine officially now.”

I put my hand to his cheek. “Oh, Elias, for the last five years, I’ve been yours. You just had to come and claim me, that’s all.”

He kisses me again as he moves to sit on the couch and then pulls me to his lap. Straddling him, I feel his hard manhood at my very core. I press into him, holding him close. “You’re going to be a dad.”

He nods as the realization hits him. “I am. And you’re going to be a mom.”

I lace our fingers together. “We’re going to be a family.”

He’s so choked up with emotion, he can’t speak, but he nods his head as he blinks to hold back the tears. “I love you, Chloe.”

“I love you, too, Elias.”