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We continued down, and I said, “It helps me breathe.”
She followed my directions, and we lowered ourselves, though she said, “It helps you not to think because if you do think, you might die.”
“One more step.”
She kept moving, but tears flowed down her face. A second later, we were at the bottom. She hugged me hard. “Oh, thank God.”
I held her and replayed her words. Now my heart was beating hard, and it had nothing to do with the climb. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She untangled herself from the equipment. “Me too. Why did you take off like that? I was gone for two hours, and you hopped on a plane.”
I gazed at her. “Did you come home?”
The last thing I did was unhook her from me as we needed to gather the ropes. I gazed around and wondered how she’d climbed without help. Whoever had left her had done the unimaginable. She was an amateur.
She took a deep breath. “No, Hope told me where you were.”
So, my brothers were involved. They’d wanted us to be alone. We finished with the gear, and I said, “Remind me to thank her.”
We wrapped the ropes, and I texted my team that everything was there for them to pick up. She made sure everything was neat and then took my hand. I was still tense.
She stared at me. “Now that I’ve caught my breath… I’ve been in love with you since the beach in Hawaii when we talked, but I was so blind and stupid. I’m hoping I didn’t push you away.”
I kissed her forehead. “Absolutely not. I love you too.” As I gazed into her eyes, an idea hit me. I never wanted to be without her again.
She tilted her head. “Why aren’t we kissing?”
I brushed her cheek and wondered if she’d agree. “Because I want us to do something reckless together.”
She squared her shoulders. “I don’t think I can climb this rock again, but if that’s what it takes…”
I laughed. The sun was bright, and there was no shade around us. “No, but I was thinking we’re close to Vegas, and no one in my family ever eloped in Vegas.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
I pressed her hands together. “I don’t want to lose you, and I promise I’ll be a good husband.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Who doesn’t jump out of planes?”
I raised my eyebrow and smiled. “So I’ll have to plan something else to do to celebrate?”
She blushed, or she was getting a sunburn—or both. “You’re clearly half-crazy.”
I motioned for her to walk with me back to my motorcycle. “Only for you. So, what do you say?”
For a second, I was sure she’d leave. I had no idea why I’d moved so fast with her. But as she neared my motorcycle, she said, “Okay. Let’s elope.”
My body felt like a light that had turned on. I kissed her, and she melted into me. Everything about Avril was wonderful. I sighed and held her closer until we needed air.
Then I let her go and handed her a helmet. “Let’s get you to the hotel and get a dress.”
She trembled as she tried to put the helmet on. “And a shower.”
I fixed her chin strap and then drove her back to the city. The bright lights and tall buildings were a stark reminder that we were back in the land of people. I drove her into the Bellagio, and once we took off her helmet, she said, “I think I have dirt in my hair.”
I walked inside with her. “Let’s rest and do it first thing in the morning.”
She put her hand on her hip as we headed to the counter. “Already changing your mind?”
