He crossed his brawny arms and his feet were wide. He looked like a dangerous warrior. “But it’s your dream to be on stage, Tyler. I get that.”
“I want to be here with you because I’m in love with you.”
He dropped his arms. “You love me?”
“Haven’t I made that clear?”
He shrugged. “What about your career in acting? You can’t be in two places at once. I guess if you love me, then I’ll have to get used to the bright city lights. Think New York City could get used to a cowboy like me?” He lifted a brow.
“You’d do that for me?” Her heart pinged. “You’d live in New York to be with me?” She realized how deep that was for him.
“Woman, I’d live in an igloo if it meant I could wake up each and every day with you by my side. After leaving your ranch I came here and started my resignation. I let you go once and that’s a mistake that I’ll never repeat. Get used to the fact that we’re soulmates, baby girl.”
She pressed against the bars. “I have never been happier, but you don’t have to move.”
“I ain’t into long distance relationships, sweetheart. I lived without you for fifteen years and that was too long.”
“You don’t have to move because the producers weren’t here to offer me a role. They asked me to write the script for the story of my sister’s death, how we solved it. They heard about the story in the news and they think it’s theater-worthy. So, I’m staying here, my love. With you. You can’t get rid of me.”
He took a step and kissed her between the bars. He stepped back. “Where are the keys?”
She reached around and took them from her back pocket. He quickly unlocked the door and, before it was completely open, they were in each other’s arms. She watched as he bent to one knee and opened a small box. Inside was the prettiest diamond ring she’d ever seen.
“I’ve had this with me for fifteen years. Will you marry me, sweetheart?”
“A million times yes. Of course.”
He placed the ring on her finger and that’s where it would stay until her dying day.
Not the end but only the beginning…
