He needed to convince her of the same thing. Not that he doubted himself, not even for a second.
“I love her, Ape, and I’m not leaving her behind. Tell the boys we’ll be leaving by the end of the week and we’re going to be having a plus one. Take care of her for me until I get back.” He’d seen a jeweler in town and he wanted to go and see if he had time. He’d noted the late time-opening slots. After leaving some cash for the boys, he made his way out to his bike and took off toward town.
He still had a good half an hour before the shop closed. Once he’d parked the bike, he headed inside with plenty of cash on him.
The man behind the counter looked a little nervous as he entered.
“I’m not here to steal. An engagement ring, I’d like to pick one. You got them?”
“Y-yes, o-of c-course.” The man’s hands were shaking as he showed the display where the rings were waiting.
He watched as the man took out the case.
Glancing over the rings, he settled on the perfect engagement ring. The band was slim, and the diamond in the center, small and sweet.
“I’ll take it.” He also found a single band for himself, and he pulled out the money. The jeweler didn’t ask any questions, and Colonel took the rings then headed back to the bar.
Ape was still there, along with the boys.
“You told them?”
“I did,” Ape said. “There’s a bit of a problem.”
“What?”
“Piper may have heard me telling the boys we’re leaving at the end of the week. I think she loves you too, boss. She looked devastated.”
“Fuck!” There was no sign of her at the bar. Getting to his feet, he approached Eric, who let him know she’d stepped out for a little while. She’d needed a break.
Leaving the bar, he rounded the corner and he heard a sniffle. He didn’t give her a chance to see him as he watched her.
Tears ran down her face, which she tried to cover up. She swiped at her cheeks, clearly angry with herself with how harsh she rubbed at her cheeks. “Stupid,” she said.
“I hope you’re not calling my woman stupid,” he said, stepping toward her.
She rubbed at her face. “I poked myself in the eye.”
“Both of them?”
“They watered against my will. You’re leaving.”
“I am, at the end of the week.”
“When were you going to tell me?”
“Tonight.”
“Oh, so I’m the last one to know. It’s fine. I’m not important.”
“Shut up,” he said.
“What?”
“You heard me. I need you to shut up.” He went down on one knee.
“Colonel, what are you doing?”
“I was going to tell you tonight in the privacy of my hotel room, Piper. I know this is new between us. I know we’ve still got a lot to learn from each other and about one another, but—” He stopped to take the ring out of his pocket. “I want to learn everything about you as I go. There’s a nineteen-year age gap and I know you can throw this in my face. There are plenty of men out there who can give you a nice house, a family. I’m offering you the chance for devotion, the open road, and a life of adventure. It’s not going to be easy. There will be nights we’ll fall asleep under the stars. What I promise you is you’ll live, be my old lady, at the back of my bike, and maybe in time, I’ll even get you your own. One day, down the road, we’ll make it official. You’ll become my wife.”
“You’re proposing to me?”
“I want you with me. Every single chance I get. I know you’re young and you’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”
“Yes,” she said.
“Yes?”
“I’ll marry you. I want to come with you.”
“You’re sure?”
“Did you doubt I’d say yes?”
“I didn’t know what to expect with you, baby.”
She held her hand out for him, and he slid the ring on her finger. “We’re leaving this week.”
“Enough time for you to get your shit together and for us to be on the open road.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “You think you can handle it?”
“I know I can. I want to. I want to be with you. I know it’s all sudden, but there’s no one else I want to spend my life with. It feels crazy what we’re doing.”
“I’ll take care of you. Every step of the way,” he said. “You’re part of me now, Piper, and I won’t ever let you go.”
Chapter Seven
The end of the week
“You don’t have to go,” her mother said.
Piper hugged her mother and her sister. Behind her, Colonel and the boys all waited for her. She’d finished her time with Eric and at the diner. She’d handed in her uniform and keys, as well as the keys she’d been given.