She laughed under her breath. “Will you let me drive the tractor?”
I grinned. “No chance.”
“In that case, my answer is n—”
“Fine! You can drive the tractor. I’ll buy you your own tractor.”
She snickered. “So you’re saying you’ll share Cherry River with me? You won’t get grumpy if I want to work with you?”
I cupped her cheek, loving the way she pressed her palm into my touch. “I want you there every dawn. Working with you is one of the best things to ever happen to me.”
“What are the other things?”
“Falling in love with you, of course.” I kissed her again. “Definitely the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“A few days ago, you would’ve said that was the worst thing to happen to you.”
“A few days ago, I was an idiot.”
She laughed as I ran my thumb along her bottom lip. “Stop stalling. Yes or no, Hope.”
Once again, she studied me. She didn’t hold back, assessing and debating, not taking my proposal lightly.
And I was glad.
It meant her reply would be heartfelt and binding. We’d both enter into this arrangement with commitment and steadfast promises.
To his credit, Graham didn’t make a sound, and Hope didn’t look at him over my shoulder. We could’ve been alone with the intensity in which we watched each other. Loved each other.
Finally, she nodded. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Dragging her into me, I kissed her hard, heaving a sigh as darkness erased from my bleak, empty world.
She was mine.
She’d agreed to be mine for eternity.
Hope threw her arms around my shoulders, deepening our connection.
Our kiss swiftly changed from romantic to sinful.
Graham cleared his throat, dragging me back to reality and the fact that I couldn’t maul his daughter with him watching.
Pulling away from Hope, I unashamedly positioned her in front of me, hugging her from behind, hiding the reaction she’d caused in my tight boxer-briefs.
Graham never looked away from me as he spoke to his daughter. “Are you sure about this, Little Lace?”
She nodded, patting my hand splayed on her stomach. “I believe him…finally. So yes, I’m sure.”
“But he hurt you.”
“He did. But I hurt him.”
“Perhaps sleep on it. There’s no rush.”
Hope stood taller in my embrace. “I would’ve agreed with you last night. I honestly thought I had the strength to walk away from him, and that it was for the best. But I was lying to myself, and I won’t lie to you. I’ve always loved Jacob, Dad. I will always love him—whether I’m his or someone else’s. That was what hurt me. That was what made dealing with Jacob so hard. But…I believe him.” She twisted to look up at me. “I don’t have to fight what I feel anymore because he feels the same. And…I trust him not to take that away from me.”
I nuzzled her nose with mine. “Never. I’m all yours.”
She smiled gently. “I know. That’s what makes this so easy. I don’t know how to explain it, but I see the truth in your eyes.”
“And you’ll see it every day for the rest of your life.”
Graham came toward us, his gaze narrowing. “I can see you love my daughter, Jacob. I’m not denying that. I even saw it when you were young. But affection isn’t enough if you intend to hurt her like you have in the past. Love can sometimes be the worst weapon.”
I stiffened but didn’t get angry. He deserved to judge me. He’d seen me strike out in fear. He’d lived his own tragedy with a woman who’d hurt him.
But thanks to Hope, I no longer had to be afraid. And thanks to my parents, I knew what a happy marriage entailed. It was about being there for each other through thick and thin—crying together and laughing together. Being best-friends.
Hope was already my best-friend. The rest would work out as it was supposed to. “I’ll prove to you that I’m worthy. You have my word I won’t intentionally hurt her ever again.”
I hugged Hope closer.
We were a couple.
Husband and wife already in the eyes of gods and ghosts.
Hope twined her arm around mine, nestling into me like she’d always belonged. And that was the thing…she had. I was just too stupid to see it.
“He won’t hurt me, Dad.”
Graham came closer, eyeing my undressed state and the way I glowed with relief and adoration. Slowly, he raised his hand in agreement.
I unwrapped an arm from Hope and clasped his grip.
We shook.
“I expect a wedding sooner rather than later,” Graham muttered. “Make an honest woman of her.”
I chuckled as we let go. “Is tomorrow too soon?”
Hope’s laughter made me shudder with joy.
And I had no choice but to kiss her again.
“Excuse me a second.” I nodded at Graham, spun Hope in my arms, and captured her lips with mine.
A kiss to seal our pact.
A kiss to bind ourselves for eternity.