Chapter Nineteen
“Baby, wake up, we’re home,” Cole’s deep voice murmured as I felt a warm hand brush against my cheek.
I woke up groggily for a moment before remembering that I was in the back of Wes’s SUV. It was very early morning with a hint of dawn in the air as I stepped out in front of our house. I looked over at Cole, relieved to see him standing whole and strong in front of me.
A large amount of the blood I’d seen on him had been from the initial head wound he sustained when Jake took him by surprise with a tire iron. During the drive, I’d gotten the story that the guys had indeed called Cole out for a club errand. Jake must have been following him because he jumped him at a gas station and sedated him with something.
We’d stopped at a hospital on our way back to get Cole stitched up. I couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to only need ten stitches to sew up the gash. I was still reeling from everything that had transpired, and I stood on wobbly legs trying to pull myself together. I knew I’d done well during the ordeal, but now that it was over I was on the verge of a meltdown. I’d almost lost Cole, I’d almost been killed. Cal, Wes, and Sal had arrived just in time, and Cal shot Jake once in the chest. I didn’t think I’d ever get Jake’s expression out of my head. It was as though he was shocked that it was over, that he’d lost. He looked more pissed off than anything. But I watched him die, and it would take a while to recover from that, if I ever did at all.
“Cole, man,” I heard Wes warn as my knees started to give out. I was swept up in Cole’s arms before I had the chance to fall and he carried me into the house.
“I’ve got you, baby,” he said softly in my ear.
I laid my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms more firmly around his neck, trying to get as close to him as possible. Chief was all over us as soon as he opened the door, but Cole commanded him softly to be still. I was vaguely aware of Cole carrying me into our bathroom, of my bloody clothes being peeled off. He got me into the shower and tenderly cleaned my body and hair. I just closed my eyes and let him care for me. I knew he must be tired, he’d been through the same ordeal as me and he was injured. But he needed to do this and I needed to let him.
When we finally got into bed, the sun was out and a new day was beginning. Cole pulled me into his body and stroked my bare back. He hadn’t bothered with clothes for either one of us. The skin to skin contact was just what I needed. I fell asleep almost immediately, relishing in the comfort of his hold on me.
When I woke up, I realized I had barely moved. I was still lying on Cole, my legs entangled with his. I looked at the clock to find that it was nearly dinnertime. We’d slept all day.
I looked up and found Cole’s blue eyes staring into mine. “Hey,” I said, my voice raspy.
“Hi,” he said as he smiled tenderly, leaning down to kiss me.
“How do you feel?” I asked as I eyed the bandage on the side of his head.
“Okay, bit of a headache,” he replied. “How do you feel?” his eyes were full of concern.
“I’m okay, we’re okay,” I amended, swallowing audibly. I paused for a beat before I could continue. “It will take me a long time to recover from what I saw, but I knew it needed to happen in order to save us. I just…you know his expression,” I drifted off as the lump in my throat got bigger.
“I know,” he murmured, squeezing me.
“But I’m here and you’re here. I’d give anything for that. I’d go through anything for you,” I said quietly while staring up at him.
He looked down at me with an unfathomable expression before he reached over me and grabbed something out of his nightstand.
“I had a much more romantic proposal in mind,” he said. My eyes widened in surprise as he opened a ring box to reveal an exquisite diamond ring. “But life is short. I don’t want to wait any longer to put this on your finger,” he told me, his voice gruff with emotion. “I want you to be my wife, I want us to make the family that neither of us had,” he said, slipping the ring onto my finger.
“I want that, too,” I whispered, staring up at him with a love so huge it felt like my heart would burst from it.
“Marry me,” he murmured, his lips against mine.
“Yes,” I whispered back, smiling against his mouth as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. True, it may not have been the most romantic or outlandish proposal, but I couldn’t have pictured it any other way--just Cole and me in our bed.
I snuck a peak at the ring and gasped, pleasantly surprised. It was a gorgeous oval diamond with an antique setting. It was timeless and classic, and I loved it.
“Like it?” his voice rumbled against my neck.
“It’s perfect,” I beamed.
“Good, how about you show me some appreciation?” he asked, his mouth trailing down from my neck to my nipple.
“I think that sounds like a plan,” I agreed.