Page 72 of Into the Fire
The late afternoon stretched across the ranch as smoke from the grill lifted into the warm summer air. Laughter rang out near the picnic tables where Jess was dramatically retelling one of his stories with a rib bone in hand and barbecue sauce on his cheek, and June squealed as she chased bubbles with a couple of the neighbor kids.
A circle of women gathered where Emery stood barefoot in the grass, holding a mason jar of lemonade, her hair twisted up in a clip with some wayward pieces that had fallen now framing her face. Her ivory floral print sundress moved softly in the breeze, and Levicouldn’t take his eyes off her.
He’d been watching her all afternoon. The way she moved through his life now. Natural and steady, as if she’d always belonged there.
Margaret leaned in to say something that made Emery blush, and Lainey laughed out loud, and that was it. Levi’s heart thudded, hard and certain.
He cleared his throat and walked over, brushing his hand gently along Emery’s lower back. “Mind takin’ a little walk with me?”
She glanced up, smiling at him. “Sure, cowboy, you okay?”
“Yeah, baby, I’m okay.”
He led her across the yard, past the garden boxes she’d begged him to build, past the swing June loved to play on after school, hanging from the big oak tree they now stood in the shade of, overlooking the fields and hills beyond. It was quiet, just far enough from the crowd.
“I’ve been thinkin’,” Levi started, rocking back on his boots a bit. “’bout all the ways you changedthis place. The house. Me.”
He cleared his throat, glanced off toward the tree line, then back to her.
Emery tilted her head, curious, heart already racing.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be the kind of man to have more than work, and June, and this piece of land to worry about. But then you walked into my world in your ridiculous flip-flops, cussed me under your breath when you thought I couldn’t hear, and somehow made me want more.”
She stared at him, lips parting, eyes already brimming with tears.
“I know we didn’t do this the traditional way. You didn’t come here for this. But hell, Em… you’re the only future I want.”
Then, Levi dropped to one knee and pulled a small velvet box from his back pocket.
Her breath caught as he opened the small box with a creak. A ring showcasing an emerald-cut stone, catching the light with bright flashes. Set in a simple, white gold band, the ring was gorgeous withoutbeing flashy. Just like the smile he had on his face.
“I want the nights on the porch with you. The mornings with you sippin’ on your coffee while I kiss your shoulder, and June asking for pancakes in the background. I want to hold your hand when you have our baby. I want you. Forever. Will you marry me?”
Tears slipped down her cheeks before she could even nod. “Yes. God, yes. Kiss me, Levi.”
He did. Right there, under the big oak tree, cheers started to rise behind them as the family caught on. Jess whooped, Margaret teared up, Lainey and the other women were clapping and cheering, and June came barreling toward them in her grass-stained dress, yelling, “Did you say yes?!”
Emery scooped her into a hug. “I did, Juney, I absolutely did.”
Levi stood there, arms around his girls, grinning like a man who finally had everything he never thought was in the cards for him.
Epilogue.
The countertops were cluttered with fabric swatches, half-empty mugs, and a notebook filled with messy, color-coded wedding to-do lists. Emery stood at the kitchen counter, one hand resting on the curve of her belly, the other flipping through another bridal magazine looking for dress inspiration.
Lainey sat across from her, legs tucked under her on the stool, pinning pictures of bridesmaid dresses on her tablet with far too much enthusiasm for someone who wasn’t even the bride.
“You know we’re planning a wedding right after you have a baby, right?” Lainey said, not looking up. “I feel like you’re underestimating how insane that sounds.”
Emery laughed, rubbing her stomach. “That’s why we’re planning it after. I want to be able to breatheand wear shoes that fit. And that’s why you’re my maid of honor. To oversee all the chaos I voluntarily signed you up for.”
“Well, as your maid of honor, I demand the baby come on time. Or early. Preferably early.”
From the living room, Jess’s voice drifted in. “Wait—I have to wear a suit?”
Lainey rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. “God forbid you dress nice for one day.”
Levi, lounging on the couch with his feet kicked up on the coffee table and an arm draped lazily across the back of the couch, didn’t even look up from the game he was only half-watching. “As my best man, I’m pretty sure you can suck it up and do whatever my soon-to-be wife wants, with no complaints.”
