Chapter 29

Hunter and the rest of the Shadows Landing group disembarked from Ryker's private jet to the fresh smell of the Atlantic Ocean and the warm humid breeze of Charleston in the summer. The past ten days in Italy seemed a world away. As they sat in the warm Italian sun eating the best foods and drinking the best wines, the US military and CIA had been rounding up operatives, putting pressure on governments, and doing what they could behind the scenes to slow the power grab by this group of adversaries who were more formally allied than previously known. Eventually, this division would come to a head. For now, it was threats, tariffs, and sanctions. Diplomats and spies were doing all the work to keep the balance of power from tipping too far either way. That didn't mean countries weren't aligning as they had in past world wars. Deals were being made. Pledges of support were being signed on both sides. The only question was who would blink first in this contest for power. Yet, for now, Hunter and Maggie were home and global politics were a world away.

Waiting for them were the rest of Shadows Landing who had not attended the Olympics. Reverend Winston and Melinda. Mr. Gann, Mr. Knoll, Miss Mitzi, and so many others. Lydia was pushing Landry in his wheelchair, surrounded by all the Langston children holding up signs.

Hunter hung back as the kids all rushed to hug her and Gage, and to see their medals. Maggie and Gage made their way, person by person, hugging them and talking.

A privately hired SUV pulled up and the door opened. Veronica's high-heeled leg appeared first. Then a driver got out and opened the trunk of the SUV and pulled out a wheelchair. Veronica walked around the SUV as she waved to everyone and opened the door. Hunter rushed forward to help, but Veronica waved him off as Blythe reached out and took Veronica's hand. Together they maneuvered out of the SUV and got Blythe into the wheelchair.

"Congratulations Maggie and Gage!" Blythe called out.

Gage and Maggie rushed forward. "How are you?" Maggie asked as she took Blythe's hand.

"Ready to go home. We wanted to wait until we saw you to tell you what a great job you did in Italy and to thank you and your town for taking such great care of me," Blythe said.

"We've been very spoiled by the town," Veronica added before hugging Hunter, Maggie, and then Gage. "I was getting up-to-the-second updates on how things went. I'm so glad it's over and now you're all safe to celebrate your wedding."

"To which, we want an invite. We fully intend to come back to visit. V told me Sutton Ramsey has agreed to come to the church weapons class and I can't wait to see that," Blythe said with a laugh.

"I might have failed to mention the weapons part," Maggie said with an innocent look that caused them all to laugh once again.

The town took an hour to say goodbye to Veronica and Blythe, as was the traditional southern way of farewells. Everyone broke up then, heading home to get refreshed before heading out to the Bells' for a big celebration. Both barbecue places from town, The Pink Pig and Lowcountry Smokehouse were catering while Wilder had brought in some of his bartenders from his nightclub to make drinks.

"I can't wait to take a shower," Maggie said with a cute little sigh. He couldn't wait to take a shower with Maggie. They'd partied nonstop at the athletes" village after her last gold medal. Hunter found himself accepted into the shooters' community as one of them. He met some great people from all over the world, but the best was having Maggie by his side and in his bed. The idea of dropping her off at her house and walking away every night actually hurt, so Hunter was going to make sure they always came home to each other from now on.

"Can we take a little detour before you go home to get ready?" Hunter asked.

"Hunter Townsend, do you have a surprise for me?"

"I have a score to settle with you."

* * *

Maggie stared at the targets and burst out laughing. "Are you serious?"

"I figured we better make who the best shot is official. Three shots each," Hunter said as he pulled out his military rifle. "And the winner gets a prize."

"A prize, huh?" Maggie asked as Hunter set his rifle on the table at her outdoor firing range and reached back into his truck to pull out a giant three-foot by three-foot box. "What is that?" Maggie asked as she shook the box. It rattled and clanked and she was so curious the idea of letting Hunter win left her mind before it even fully formulated.

"Let's see what you got, Goldie. Ladies first."

Maggie sited her shot and fired. Bullseye.

Hunter sent her a wink and fired his first shot. Bullseye.

"Someone has been practicing," Maggie taunted before firing at the farther target and hitting another bullseye.

"Someone just underestimated me." Hunter fired again. Bullseye.

"Let's do a fun third shot," Maggie said, looking off into the distance. "See that peach tree about a thousand yards out?" Hunter nodded as he looked through his scope. "See the branch off to the right. There are two peaches hanging the farthest out. That's our target."

Maggie enjoyed the way Hunter cleared his throat in an attempt to hide his nerves. "Okay, Goldie. Let's see what you got."

Maggie lined up her shot and fired. The peach exploded. She smiled sweetly at Hunter, not bothering to tell him she'd used that tree for target practice since she was sixteen.

Hunter lined up his shot, fired, and missed. He shook his head and laughed. "Guess you win the prize."

He handed her the box and Maggie ripped the top off and frowned. "What is this?" Maggie reached into the box and pulled out two wrenches and a handful of pebbles.

"Part of the prize."

"There's another box in here."

"Then you better open it."

What was Hunter up to? Maggie reached in and pulled out another box. It made so much noise that she was afraid whatever was in it was broken. She opened it up and frowned again. There was another box inside of it surrounded by a bunch of . . . "Marbles?"

"Yeah, we could play marbles sometime."

Maggie shook her head and smiled. She didn't ask this time. She just ripped into the next box and pulled out a stuffed Olympic mascot. "It's Augie, the Holy Cannoli! What a great prize," she laughed. Only Maggie stopped laughing when she turned it around and saw that it was wearing an engagement ring on one of its puffy pastry arms. "Hunter," she gasped. When she looked over at him, Hunter was on one knee.

"I know I've already asked you to marry me," Hunter said, pulling the ring from Augie's arm. "But you deserved more than a spur of the moment proposal and President Serro agreed. This was the errand we went on. He wanted us to have a piece of amore from Italy. I saw this ring and I had to get it. It's a pink sapphire," he said with a smug smile and waggle of his eyebrows that had her both laughing and crying. "I promise to love you every day, Magnum. I promise to support your hopes and dreams. I promise to always be there for you, even if I'm deployed. And I promise to always carry you in my heart. I even promise," Hunter took a deep breath and looked up at her with more seriousness than she'd ever seen before, "to wear pink on our wedding day if it will make you happy. Because all that matters to me is that you're happy. I love you, Magnum. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

"Yes!" she said as he slipped the ring on her finger. "But I have some promises too. I promise never to make you wear pink. But salmon is a different story. I promise to always support your career in the military. I promise to never ask you to stay home when you're called up. I promise to always be proud of you and to always keep things running at home, waiting for you to return. However, there's one promise I need from you."

"Anything for you."

"I want you to promise that we're never apart from this day on. I want to work at my parent's place, but I want every night in your bed and to awaken every morning in your arms."

Hunter rose to his feet and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Then maybe I should have asked you this, Magnum, will you move in with me . . . tonight?"

"My bags are already packed." And then he kissed her. He kissed her with so much love that Maggie forgot all about the party they ended up being very late for.