Page 121 of Duty Unbound

It was a mouthful, but it had passed muster.

“Logan sent his final report today,” Ethan said, changing the subject as if sensing my discomfort. “The Dubai operation went perfectly. Not a single hiccup.”

“That’s the third successful mission he’s led, right?”

“Fourth.” Pride colored Ethan’s voice. “He’s ready to take over the international division permanently.”

This was new—Ethan willingly delegating control of the most dangerous missions. Before me, he’d been the one volunteering for every high-risk assignment, using the adrenaline to outrun his demons.

“So you’ll stay on the North American continent for the foreseeable future?” I kept my tone casual, though we both knew it was anything but.

“That’s the plan.” He ran his hand up and down my spine, a soothing gesture that had become as familiar as breathing. “Ty can handle the routine executive protection. Jace is running cyberintelligence from Denver. And I’ll manage the overall operation from right here.”

“Right here,” I repeated, unable to keep the wonder from my voice. “In Colorado.”

“On this ranch.” He met my eyes, something intense and unreadable in his gaze. “With you.”

My heartbeat quickened. We’d been living together since returning from New Orleans, but we’d never explicitly discussed the future beyond vague references toseeing where things go. I’d been content with that, too grateful for my newfound freedom and the chance to explore my feelings for Ethan without pressure.

“Is that what you want?” I asked, needing to hear him say it.

“More than anything.” He shifted, reaching into his pocket. “Which is why I’ve been carrying this around for weeks, waiting for the right moment.”

My breath caught as he pulled out a small velvet box.

“I had this whole speech planned,” he said, his voice rougher than usual. “Something about how you walked into my life and turned everything upside down.”

“I think you crashed into my life, actually.” My voice trembled. “With all your security protocols and inappropriate footwear comments.”

The reminder of our rocky first meeting made him smile. “Fair point.”

He opened the box. Inside nestled a ring unlike any I’d expected—not a traditional diamond, but a sapphire the exact blue-gray of his eyes, set in a simple band of twisted gold.

“I know it’s not conventional,” he said, suddenly looking uncertain. “But neither are we. And when I saw it, I thought of your paintings—the way you capture the mountains and sky in colors most people wouldn’t think of.”

I couldn’t speak, tears blurring my vision.

“Mel.” He took my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “I’ve spent my entire adult life feeling like I needed to keep moving. Like if I stayed still too long, everything I was trying to outrun would catch up to me.”

He slid the ring free from its velvet nest.

“Then I met you, and for the first time, I wanted to stay still. To build something real and lasting instead of just passing through.” His eyes never left mine. “You’re my home, Mel. The place I want to come back to, always.”

A tear slipped down my cheek, but I didn’t wipe it away. “I used to think needing someone was a weakness. That it made me less somehow.”

“And now?”

“Now, I know better.” I touched his face, feeling the strong line of his jaw beneath my fingertips. “Needing you, loving you—it’s the strongest I’ve ever been.”

Something shifted in his expression, a vulnerability few people ever got to see. “Is that a yes?”

“It’s a yes,” I whispered. “It’s always been a yes.”

He slid the ring onto my finger, where it caught the fading sunlight and scattered it in blue-gold sparks across his face. Then he kissed me, a kiss that tasted of promise and possibility and the future we were building together.

When we finally broke apart, the sun had dipped lower, painting the mountains in deeper purples and reds.

“Should I call my parents?” Ethan asked, his forehead resting against mine. “Or do you want to drive over and tell them in person?”

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