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He chuckled. “Laura, I want you to build your halfway house on this property. It would be a fresh start for those kids away from their usual neighborhood and friends. A new place to make new choices.”
Oh, my god.
My body shook and tears pooled in my eyes. It was as though my body had registered his words before my mind could catch up. “What—what are you talking about?”
“I listened to every word you said last night. And I wanted to gift you something as significant to you as what you gave to me. I knew if you were willing to trust and risk an unknown path to be with me I would give you the world.” He grinned. “One piece of land at a time.”
A sob sprang from my chest and I clutched my blouse, holding the rest of my emotions back. “And this is the key to what? The barn?” I laughed despite the tears rolling down my cheeks.
He didn’t smile. “No.”
I grasped the key in my hand, my heart racing.
“That’s the key to my house. It’s yours if you’re ready.”
“You want me to move in with you?”
“Oh, I want so much more than that, but I think you’re not ready to hear it just yet.”
I nodded because anything more would just overwhelm me right now.
“Is that a yes to moving in with me or are you agreeing you couldn’t take much more?” he said with a chuckle.
“Both.” I laughed. “I thought you were changing the locks.”
He pushed back my hair, then rubbed my arms. “I decided it would be easier to give you a set of keys while my hands were occupied elsewhere.” He dropped his head and searched my eyes. The green in his intensified.
“I love you, Laura. I never want us to be apart.”
“I can’t believe this is happening,” I said, wiping away my tears. I hadn’t even allowed myself to hope for something like this with Ryan. I’d closed myself to the world, but somehow, he had wrestled himself in.
“This is happening because you always looked out for others first. Your dad, Sam, even me. But when you finally chose yourself, Laura, you chose love. You believed in yourself and I couldn’t help but believe in us.”
“It happened before that. I could have picked another lawyer, but I wanted you. I chose you, Rye.”
“Laura, sweetheart. I promise. I will always choose you. Every day for the rest of my life.”
27
Ryan
The red roses in the window caught my attention as I walked down the quiet street. The ones I’d purchased for Laura two weeks ago were starting to wilt since that night, and I’d become accustomed to seeing them in my kitchen. They reminded me of her. Her mouth, her smile, her… I groaned at imagining intimate areas I’d kissed all night long.
I couldn’t hold out much longer. I needed to make it official. I was giving her six months to become acquainted with her new life, then I’d ask her to marry me.
I think I’ll pick up another dozen on my way back home.
With a big smile on my face, I jogged up the steps of the new hospice I’d moved my aunt into. I was told she was doing better, but that her health would not improve. This place was much more comfortable than the last one she was in. It reminded me of a large mansion rather than some sterile hospital.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Crawford,” said the woman at the front desk. She was older, perhaps nearly my mother’s age. Her smile was genuine, and I smiled back.
“Thank you. And good afternoon to you, too.”
I walked past her to the elevator when her voice stopped me again. “Excuse me, gentlemen, you have to sign in before you can go inside.”
Despite the general statement, my ears pricked up, and I turned around. My senses hadn’t disappointed me, but I was still shocked to see them.
Colton and Luke stood at the main entrance, pulling out their wallets and IDs.
