Mitch pushed off the car and wiped his hands on his jeans. He waited until Alana stopped in front of him and gazed down at the most beautiful shade of light green irises he’d ever seen.

“How’s Blake?”

“He’s fine.” Her voice was gentle, soft and sweet and feminine. “Patty gave him a few stitches. He’s lucky the pellet only scraped his side.”

Mitch released a relieved breath. He already felt like a heel for dragging his friend here. He should be the one getting stitched up…the one Alana took care of. “That’s good.”

He wanted to reach for her, to hold her hand just as Blake had.

“I’m not leaving, Allie. Not until you give me a chance to explain.” He tried to implore her with his gaze. “I’m opposed to being shot in the ass, but I’ll risk it.”

“OK.” Her lips tilted in the faintest smile.

“OK?”

Her grin widened. “OK.”

“Is there somewhere we can go to talk? Preferably out of shooting range?”

“Yeah, I live over there.” She glanced over her shoulder and pointed to a small brick cottage. “Well, I used to, anyway.”

He turned to Blake on the porch of the main house and threw him the car keys. “We’re going over there for a little while.” He jerked his head in the direction of the cottage. “Do you want to drive the car out to the highway and wait for me?”

Blake nodded. “No problem. I’ll go into Monument and get a coffee.”

“Are you guys staying in Colorado Springs?” Alana asked.

He focused on her for a moment, reading the uncertainty in her features. “That depends on you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Let’s go talk, then.”

He followed a few steps behind as they walked to her cottage. Without a word, she held the screen door open for him and allowed him to lead the way. He strode into what he assumed was the living area with a small kitchen at the back. Everything was bare, no photos, no rugs, not even furniture. The only thing in the room was a handbag on the kitchen counter.

“I…like what you’ve done with the place.”

She chuckled and slapped him gently over the chest as she passed. “The moving truck—”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her back. She gasped and sank into him, her warmth a welcomed sensation he’d never get enough of. He held her wrists to his chest, their bodies joining at the waist.

“I… The movers took my things this morning.” Her wide eyes gazed up at him through thick dark lashes.

“You’re moving?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “To Richmond.”

“I assumed you’d moved back here for good.”

“No.” The word whispered over his skin. “Mom had a bad fall, and when I found out she was in hospital, I came straight home.” She breathed deep and let it out slowly. “I’m not staying. This place isn’t for me anymore. It never was.”

“Have you ever been to New York?”

She opened her mouth as if to answer, then lowered her gaze to stare at the floor. “Why are you here, Mitchell?”

His heart clenched, burying its way deeper into his chest. “I was stupid to push you away.” He released her wrist and cupped her cheek with his palm, drawing her attention back to his face. “You were right. I was scared… The way I feel about you frightens the hell out of me. The time we spent together…” He inhaled deep and measured his exhale, needing each additional second to settle his hypersensitive nerves. “I haven’t had a woman treat me the way you did since before I became a part of Reckless. You were blind, yet you could see me better than anyone else. You aren’t after my fame, or my money, or my success. You’re…” He swallowed hard to clear the discomfort clogging his throat. He cupped her other cheek in his palm and stared deep into her eyes. “You are beyond perfect. And I’m a fool for thinking I could ever let you go.”

“So why did you?” she whispered.

“It isn’t easy living in the spotlight. I thought letting you go now, while things between us were good, would be better than waiting until you started to resent me. You’re the first to admit you’ve had a sheltered life. I didn’t want to ruin your first experience away from home with the drama that follows the band around.”

Her eyes filled with moisture, and his own burned in response. “I’ve watched a never-ending line of relationships crumple around me, with each sordid detail publicized to the world. I couldn’t stand to hurt you that way.”

She peered up at him, her eyes swimming in unshed tears. “What changed your mind?”

“Letting you go nearly killed me. I saw your blog posts. Each one made me want to throw away my commitments and fly back to you. I dialed your number a thousand times because I missed the sound of your voice. You never left my mind, Allie.”

He brushed his lips over hers. The feather light touch ignited a flame that burned his chest. “I won’t let us turn into another statistic.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I won’t. The time we’ll spend apart because of work will be torture, but I have plans to make it easier. I can handle it for now, as long as I know I will always be coming home to you.”

A single tear streaked over her flawless skin, and he leaned in to kiss it away. “You won’t have to worry about my fears again. My only concern now, is that I might scare you off.”

She moved her arms around his waist so their bodies touched from thigh to stomach. “I wasn’t scared in the first place.”

“Yeah, I know. But you might be now.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the white gold ring he purchased a week ago. He placed it in the middle of his palm and held it out to her.

She sucked in a breath and stepped back. Her eyes were wide as her hand raised to cover her mouth.

“Don’t panic.”

Her focus shot from the ring to his face.

“I’m not proposing.”

She released a heavy sigh as her shoulders relaxed.

“No need to be so relieved, sweetheart.” He chuckled. “It’s a commitment ring. I wanted to show you how serious I am about us.”

Her hand fell away and she smiled. “You scared me. We haven’t known each other long, and although I do love you, a marriage proposal would make me run—”

He grabbed her hand and tugged her back into his body. “You love me?” He scrutinized her face as his heart threatened to explode.

Her smile widened, bringing out two beautiful dimples. “With all my heart.”

Grabbing her ass, he lifted her off the ground. She squealed with laughter, circling his waist with her legs.

“God, you don’t know how happy that makes me.” He kissed her hard, once, twice, the third time swiping her lips with his tongue. He walked her to the kitchen counter, placed her down, and held the ring out for her to take. “Be with me, Allie. Make me the happiest man alive.”

She bit her lip and stared at his offering. Her hand shook as it rose to roughly wipe the tears away from her face. “I don’t know what to say.”

He grabbed her hand and stroked the ring finger on her right hand. “Say you’ll be mine.”

She nodded, her head bobbing up and down as tears continued to flow. He pushed the ring along her finger and winced at the loose fit.

“Well, even though it doesn’t fit, will you still be mine?”

Alana sniffed and leaned forward to place a kiss on his lips. “I will…Always.”