“Dead. He’ll never bother you again,”hesaid.
“And nowI’mfree.”
“You are. You can go anywhere and do anything you wantwithoutfear.”
She rolled onto her side and gazed at him. “I don’t want to go anywhere else. I want to stay here,withyou.”
He rushed forward and pulled her into anembrace.
“Thank God,” he said. “I was so scared. I thought that maybe you’d want to leave now that you didn’t have anything to worryabout.”
“I don’t ever want to leave,” she said. “I love you, Drew. With all of my heart. And I never want to leave the ranch. As long as you’ll letmestay.”
He looked up and smiled. The love in his eyes melted her heart. She didn’t care if he came with baggage. She did too. They’d both lied and both had hidden their secrets, but she didn’t care. She’d figure out the bear thing later. As long as she had Drew, she’d find a way to get over his furrysecret.
“I love you, Cindy.” He kissed her hand. “And I want you to stay with me for the rest of our lives. I know we had a really messy beginning and that our relationship is anything but normal. But I don’t care. I know that we’re meant to be together.It’sfate.”
“I believe it’s fate too. Somehow everything will work out for us. I know it in myheart.”
“There are a lot of details to work out, but we can do it together.” He slipped out of the chair and got down on one knee. “This isn’t exactly the way I’d envisioned it. But I don’t want to wait another second. Cindy, I want you to be my wife. I promise to love and protect you and your daughter for the rest of our lives. Will youmarryme?”
“Yes.” She blinked back tears. “I’d love to beyourwife.”
“I love you so much,” hewhispered.
As he stood and leaned over to hug her, shesmiled.
“I guess I really do get to be your mail order bride,”shesaid.
“In a roundabout way, I guess that’s true.” Hegrinned.
“Wait until I tell my mom, she’s going to flipherlid.”
“She won’t approve?” he asked with afrown.
“She will. She just needs to get toknowyou.”
“Good, because she called. Your mom, dad and daughter are all flying into Bozeman tomorrow. I’m going to pick them up from the airport. If you’re feeling up to it, you can comewithme.”
“Ican’twait.”
“You should get some rest,” he said. “I’ll go tell Madison the good news. I guess I should apologize to her for being so pissed off when she first told meaboutyou.”
“Tell her thank you frommetoo.”
“I will. I’ll bring some soup when I come back. I won’t be gone long,”hesaid.
“Okay.”
After he’d left the room, she snuggled into the blankets. Things could change so fast. One minute she’s on the run under an assumed name and the next she’s engaged to be married to a wonderful, incredibly sexy man. Finally, she had fate onherside.
* * *
The next morning,they arrived at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport an hour before the plane was scheduled to land. Cindy nursed a mug of hot cocoa as she watched the planes land. Drew sat byherside.
“I hope your parents like me,” he said. “I wasn’t really nervousuntilnow.”
“They will,” she said before leaning over tokisshim.
