Page 71 of Lone Star Country Protector
“Where’s Daddy?” Chase asked.
“He’s not coming home for a long time, baby,” Bethany said. “But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Neither is your aunt Blakely.”
“That’s right, buddy,” Blakely calmly reassured him.
Dalton joined them, cell to his ear. He said a few uh-huhs into the phone before thanking the caller and giving Bethany’s address. “There’s been an arrest. Kyle Newt is an ex-con who a certain person promised half the insurance money to for his help in removing a certain person from this life.” He was intentionally speaking in vague terms that a seven-year-old wouldn’t be able to follow. Greg might be a bastard for what he’d done, but he was still Chase’s father. The boy would have to be protected as best as the family could.
Greg had been desperate. Desperate people did desperate things.
He was now a criminal.
“Are you coming home, Mommy?” Chase asked.
“What do you think about moving in with your aunt for alittle while?” Bethany asked before turning toward Blakely and whispering, “I don’t think I can stay here.”
“You’ll live with me until you figure it all out,” Blakely said.
Bethany wrapped her in a hug.
* * *
The law hadtaken statements, and it was time to go home. Except Dalton had no idea where home was now. Because it felt a whole lot like Blakely.
“Are you leaving?” Blakely asked Dalton as Bethany pulled together a few items to take to her sister’s house.
“I can drop you off at home if you’d like,” he said.
“Here’s the thing,” Blakely said before capturing his gaze and holding on to it. “My definition ofhomehas changed now that you came back into my life. In fact, it changed the weekend we spent in Galveston, but I was too scared to admit it.”
“What are you saying?”
“That my home is here.” She reached out and placed the flat of her palm on his heart. “If you’ll let me back in, I promise to love you for the rest of my life.”
Dalton covered her hand with his. “There’s only one thing I’ve ever been certain of in my life and that’s you. You are the only thing that makes sense. I’m in love with you, Blakely. But you need to know that I’m leaving my job to work the ranch full-time.”
“Sounds like the perfect place to retreat to on the weekends if you ask me,” she said without hesitation.
“Are you saying that you could see yourself splitting your time between the ranch and your home in Houston?” he asked for clarification.
“Only if you meanourhome in Houston,” she stated.“I’m in love with you, Dalton. And I don’t want to waste another day without you.”
Dalton dropped down on one knee. “Then, I have a question to ask.”
She brought her hand up to cover a gasp. When she removed it, all he saw was her beautiful smile.
“From the moment I met you, something inside me changed. Something clicked. And I know it sounds cliché, but I knew right then and there I was supposed to be with you for the rest of my life.” He kissed her hand. “Would you do me the incredible honor of marrying me?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m so in love with you, Dalton, that it scared me. But I’m not afraid anymore. And I don’t want to wait another day to make us official. I’ll marry you any time, any place and any day.”
Dalton stood up and hauled his fiancée against his chest, wrapping her in a warm embrace. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Marrying you,” she said. Those words sent warmth spiraling through him. He dipped his head and claimed his fiancée’s lips.
“One more thing,” Dalton said. “What do you think about asking for a meeting with my mother?”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll be right by your side the whole time,” she said. With her by his side, he felt like he could pull off anything.
“Do you think it’s a good idea?”
