“Jenny,” he said in that deep, gravelly voice that was so achingly familiar she wanted to throw herself into his arms and kiss him until neither of them could breathe. “Before you say anything, I want to—” Jared broke off, looking at something over her shoulder.
She turned and couldn’t believe what she saw. Her family must have heard his arrival, because they were all there right behind her. Along with most of her friends. And they were all listening intently to every word. Someone had even turned off the music so no one would miss a thing.
Jenny glared at them but then realized she didn’t care. All that mattered was Jared. She turned back to him. There was that full, true, wonderfully bright smile that lit up his blue eyes and made her feel like the world had been set right every time she saw it. He reached out and grasped her hands, looking at all the people behind her, then looking back at her, his smile even wider, if that was possible. “Looks like I interrupted a party.”
She tried to breathe. “A going-away party.”
“Who’s leaving?”
“Me.”
His smile dimmed as his blue, blue eyes searched her. “Is there room for one more?”
“Are you saying—”
“I want to be wherever you are. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure that out. So, what do you say? Can I go with you?”
Tears pooled in her eyes. She shook her head. “No.”
His grip tightened. “I know I screwed up. Leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life. But even if it takes me a lifetime, I’ll make it up to you. God, how I’ll make it up to you. I love you.”
He—had he just said that he loved her?
From somewhere in the crowed, Anna hollered to Jared, “What did you say?”
Jared smiled down at Jenny. “I said I love her.”
“About time,” her brother added.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jared said, still looking only at Jenny. “I’ve loved you from the first moment I saw you. I was just too blind to see it. Now tell me you’ll let me come with you. You’re my whole life. Wherever you are is where I belong.”
Tears fell down her cheeks, and she smiled through a watery blur. “You can’t.”
His eyes darkened with determination. “While you’re telling me why you
think
I can’t, I’ll show you why I
know
I can.”
Jenny laughed. “No. You don’t understand. I don’t need to leave now.”
The wind picked up and blew her hair across her face.
“Why?”
“Because I already found what I was looking for.”
He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “And what was that?”
“You,” she said, all the love she had for him filling that one word.
“Jenny,” he growled from the depths of his soul. “I love you,” he said again. “I’ve never said those words to anyone else before, and it’s only because of you that I can say them now.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, felt his gold wings press against her chest. “And I love you.”
“God, what did I ever do to deserve you?” He pulled her tight against him, kissed her with a passion and a promise that left her breathless. He wiped the tears off her cheeks and lifted up her bare left hand. “I know you wore someone else’s ring for a lot of years, but I hope you’ll wear mine now.”
“Are you asking me to get engaged?”
“No. I’m asking you to marry me. Today. Right now if you want. Please say yes. I’m an impatient man.”
She didn’t even have to think twice. “Yes.”
“Thank you.” His solemn words brought fresh tears to her eyes.
Anna was the first to reach Jenny. Her mom, dad, and brother weren’t far behind. They engulfed her in a hug, this wonderful family of hers.
“A wedding,” Anna and Mom said at the same time.
“I know just the place,” her sister said.
“And I know just the menu,” her mom added.
Jenny laughed. “And I know just the man.” Jared’s arms tightened around her.
“Three months?” Anna looked to their mother.
“Six,” her mother said. “We’ll need at least six months to plan. I know it isn’t much time to pull a wedding together, but between the three of us”—her mother looked to Jenny—“we’ll be able to do it.”
A wedding. The thought sent a flutter of panic through Jenny. Old fears came bubbling up to the surface.
Jared took one look at her and, excusing them from the crowd, he pulled her far enough away so no one could overhear them. Her nana’s flowers surrounded them.
“What is it?” he asked gently.
She drew in a breath. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“What about . . .” She looked down, not wanting him to see the fear in her eyes.
His tipped her chin up. “What about what?”
“Flyboys fly.”
“I’ll quit today if that’s what you want.” The truth of his statement was in his eyes. “I want to marry you, Jenny. Grow old with you. Watch our children and grandchildren play here on Hidden Lake.”
With each word he spoke, her fear receded until it was completely gone. “Children?”
“A dozen. At least.” He grinned.
“How about we start with two.”
His smile widened. “How about we start trying tonight?”
She laughed. “Impatient man.”
“Only where you’re concerned.” He brushed his hand down the side of her cheek. “And I meant what I said. I’ll quit.”
She shook her head. “Flyboys fly.”
“Even if they’re married?”
“Especially if they’re married. Just come home to me.”
“Always.”
“Now, about that wedding my family is planning . . .”
“Whatever you want. I’ll marry you today or I’ll marry you next month or next year. Wherever,
whenever
, you want. I just want you.”
God, how she loved this man. “Seven,” she said.
“Seven months it is.”
She shook her head. “No. Seven days.” Between her, her mom, and Anna, they could pull it off. “I’m an impatient woman.”
He laughed and leaned down to kiss her. “Thank God, Cotton Tail. I never considered patience a virtue.”
She melted into his embrace and thought about the bunny suit she was going to buy to surprise him on their honeymoon.