The Ruthless Gentleman(90)

“Hang on, I’m going to get something to hold down the corners.” I disappeared into the kitchen and grabbed a handful of cutlery. That should do it.

“I knew spoons would be useful,” she said, weighing down the corners so the pages didn’t curl. “It looks amazing. What do you think?”

“It’s great—let’s look at the floor plans.”

I pulled off the first sheet of paper to reveal the floor plan of the one-story building that would be twenty feet from our house. “The rooms are all big, with wide walkways.” We poured over the details as if we were looking at a treasure map.

“Great, though we might not need wheelchair access forever. I mean, Michael’s standing now. Still, my dad will love it. Michael will love it.” She shook her head. “Are you sure you’re okay having them so close?”

She couldn’t think I had a single doubt, could she? “Of course I’m sure. I like your dad and Michael and I want them to be happy, and I’m grateful they said yes.”

When Avery had finished up the season and her yachting career I’d met her in Miami and we’d flown back to Sacramento for two weeks before coming to London. While we were in California, I’d floated the idea of Avery’s family moving to England. Her father had said he’d be open to it down the line, but in the meantime he’d insisted that Avery apply to universities in London. Avery had resisted at first, until her dad had made her see that if she went back to Sacramento every holiday, she’d still end up seeing them more than she would have if she’d continued to work on yachts. It was the sort of thing my father would have done, and I admired how Mr. Walker put his daughter first.

“And if there’s a house right there, next to us, they can stay for as long as they like, right?”

“Exactly. That’s why we bought this place, after all,” I said as I slid my hands around her waist, looking over her shoulder at the life we were building.

“I don’t think my dad realized. Not at first.”

“Realized?”

Her hands slipped over mine. “You know, understood how this was it. That we were forever.”

Happiness tugged at my chest as the certainty in her voice took hold. Avery had such an open heart—it hadn’t taken long for me to convince her that I’d never let her down again. I’d never again question her integrity or wonder about her loyalty. She was more than I deserved, and I’d do everything in my power to be worthy of the trust that she had in me, in us, for the rest of our lives.

“I love you, Avery Walker.”

She turned around in my arms and cupped my face in her hands. “I know. I love you, too.”

I released her for a second and picked up the black gift bag I’d brought in from the car.

“You and I have been to some beautiful places. We’ve taken in breathtaking scenery, gazed out onto the ocean together, watched the sunrise over the water. But I thought being here, in our home, looking over these plans would be the most suitable place to propose.” I pulled out a velvet box from the bag.

“Propose?” she asked.

“Are you surprised?” We’d been clear about how we felt about each other, wasn’t this the next step?

“I don’t know. I guess it already feels like we’re married. I never expected a formal proposal.” Her eyes flicked from me to the box.

I chuckled. “Are you saying no?”

“You haven’t asked.” She traced her finger over the edge of a blue-velvet corner. “And I haven’t seen the ring.” She winked.

I got fun, relaxed Avery all the time now. Since she’d finished her last season, the only time I’d seen the chief stewardess was when she’d been applying for college courses or talking to the therapists about her brother’s progress.

“So if the ring’s ugly, you might say no?” I asked.

She pulled in a breath as if she was thinking about her response. “I don’t know. I guess it depends on how ugly.”

I snapped open the box to reveal the princess-cut diamond solitaire.

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I would say that’s a pass.”

“A pass?” I asked, chuckling. The ring was four carats and the highest quality diamond I could find. “I thought this size was wearable, but if it takes something bigger for you to say yes, just say the word.” I sighed in mock exasperation.

She shrugged. “I guess you won’t know until you ask.”

I pulled her toward me and dipped to press a kiss to her lips. “Avery Walker, will you marry me?”

“Hayden Wolf, I’ll marry you anytime and every time you ever ask me.”

She was right. We didn’t need a ring or a ceremony to know we would be together forever. Our feelings—our love and respect for each other—were what bound us together. I’d gone looking for a way to save my business and found a woman who brought me to life. I’d never need anything other than Avery Walker. She was my sunset and my sunrise. My choppy waters and my calm seas.

My everything.





Another year later


Avery


I kept a careful eye on my speed as I made my way back from college on the last day of the school year. I was just so eager to get home. Three months of no studying lay ahead of me as I pulled into the driveway. Hayden waved and strode toward the car as I parked.