Chapter 28

Hunter followed President Serro out of the stadium and into his motorcade. Hunter cast a glance to the happy president currently rambling on about amore. "Mr. President, where are we going?" Hunter asked.

"You saved my games. I must say thank you and nothing says thank you like diamonds." The motorcade came to a stop and Hunter looked out to see a woman dressed in black with her hair in a messy ponytail running to unlock the door to a luxury jeweler. "Your fiancée needs a ring, does she not?"

"Yes," Hunter said with a smile. "Yes, she does."

Hunter strode into the stadium seconds before Maggie was announced. The ring was tucked in his pocket as he slipped his hand into hers and they walked out to the cheers of the crowd. The talking points had been said, the story spun, and now it was all about public relations.

They didn't need words. Hunter looked down and smiled at his fiancée. Hunter reluctantly let go of her hand as Maggie stepped to the podium where she spoke briefly and waved to the crowd before stepping back into the arms of her friends and family.

"Where have you been?" Damon asked as the crowd cheered.

"On an errand with the Italian president. Turns out he's not such a prick after all, just an overly optimistic romantic."

"Is that a ring in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" Kane asked as he and Hunter's brothers joined them in the last row of the festivities as athletes began to swarm Gage and Maggie.

"Yes, now be quiet about it. I want to give it to her when the time is right and that's not in the middle of this chaos."

"Nothing wrong with a big declaration of your love," Stone challenged.

Hunter shook his head. "This is Maggie's moment. I don't want to take the attention off her."

"That's sweet," his sister-in-law Natalie said, giving his arm a squeeze.

"So sweet I'm going to need to find a new room for the night. Again." Kane rolled his eyes but was smiling.

Hunter slammed his mouth closed as a tall blonde walked up behind Kane and tapped his shoulder. "Excuse me. You help tonight? You hero?"

Kane smiled and held out his hand. "I did. Kane Townsend."

"Olga Bjorklund. I'm a pole vaulter for Sweden. I would like to thank you for all you did so I could compete. Would you like to come celebrate with me tonight?"

Olga held out her hand and Kane turned back to Hunter with a blissful smile. "Don't worry about the room. I'll see you tomorrow."

Damon shook his head. "His days of being the jet-setting playboy are limited."

"And what of you?" Hunter asked, turning to his big brother.

"What of me?"

"Maybe you should find a wife and then your days of being the grumpy big brother controlling everyone's lives would come to an end," Hunter teased.

"No one wants to marry a boring old mechanic with hellions for siblings. Now, go get your fiancée. She's looking for you."

Hunter turned and saw Maggie glancing around the crowd for him. Hunter made a beeline for her and wrapped her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head as she talked to the Hungarian handballers who had tried to help her earlier. Hunter didn't push for her to leave. He didn't interrupt her conversation. He simply stood by her side as she shined and he wouldn't have it any other way. His fiancée was a rare diamond amongst bullets and she deserved to sparkle.

That night when they came together it was different. Each touch. Each caress. Each kiss. They seemed to linger with awe. They seemed to speak with no words. They seemed to love so deeply it made Maggie want to cry.

Maggie clung to Hunter as he moved inside of her. Emotion so deep and true was written across his face. He loved her. He cherished her. He respected her. He was proud of her. He'd told her all of this as he made love to her, but it was his touch that told her more than any words could. He worshipped her and she never wanted to let go of him. Maggie only hoped his spontaneous proposal was real.

But then Hunter lowered his head, captured her lips with his, and kissed her through her orgasm. All thoughts of what ifs fled only to be replaced with love.

* * *

It was the third day of competition. Maggie held her breath and then let it out slowly. She'd won gold for trap. Gage had won silver. Then she and Gage had won gold for mixed trap in a shoot-off. She'd won gold in air rifle 25 meters, but now it was down to the last shot for air rifle 50 meter three position. Could she make it four golds?

Allison was locked in at bronze. Now it was between Maggie and a woman from Poland. The woman took her shot and Maggie inhaled sharply. This was her chance to win. They'd been shooting shot for shot until now. Maggie needed a bullseye to win.

Maggie took a deep breath. She tamped down the excitement. Instead, she closed her eyes and swayed until she found her perfect balance. She took aim, made the adjustment Hunter had taught her, re-aimed, and pulled the trigger.

She kept her eyes on the target in disbelief even as she heard Hunter's cheers of excitement. She couldn't look away from the bullseye. She'd done it. All the work. All the practice. All the training. Four gold medals.

Maggie turned and shook hands with the silver medalist as her coach handed American flags to Allison and then to Maggie. The cheers were near deafening and that's when Maggie turned to look at the crowd. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Yes, she knew there had been a crowd, but she didn't realize it was 90% Americans or that Sutton Ramsey was there cheering alongside President Birch Stratton and First Lady Tate Stratton. But Maggie"s eyes were on Hunter. He was cheering the loudest and the shine of his eyes told her he was just as emotional as she was. Pride and love for her was etched on Hunter's face as he smiled at her.

Next to him his brothers cheered and high-fived the Faulkners. Miss Winnie and Miss Ruby were jumping up and down, causing Granger and Kord a lot of anxiety as they spotted them. Gator was waving his South Carolina COCKS hat in the air and letting out several ear-splitting whoops. Turtle was jumping up and down. Skeeter high-fived the air. Timmons was weeping. Gage, wearing his silver and gold medals, and her father were hugging her mother who was crying happy tears as she cheered.

Maggie had never felt such love.

"The heroine of the Olympics, Magnum Bell, just swept the competition with four gold medals," the pretty female reporter known for being on a national morning show said as she grabbed Maggie for an interview before the medal ceremony. "Tell us about that last shot."

"I've been working really hard on my air rifle. I was close, but something was always just a little off. My fiancé actually taught me a little trick. In the end, it's what won me the gold."

"You're speaking of Hunter Townsend. He's Special Forces, correct?" the reporter asked and Maggie nodded. "Between the two of you, who is the better shot?"

"I am," Maggie said at the same time she heard Hunter yell, "She is!"

"You didn't always say that," Maggie called out to him, ignoring the reporter.

"A man can admit to being wrong, can't he?" Hunter was beaming at her.

Several women swooned.

The reporter turned to the cameraman, "Did you get that?" she asked as the cameraman nodded. "You heard it here first. A man has admitted he had been wrong. So, Miss Bell, you've won four golds, saved the Olympics, and are engaged to a man who actually admits when he's wrong. What are you going to do now?"

Maggie winked at Hunter and turned back to the reporter. "I better marry him then. And I'll need a copy of that tape."