Ryder looks at her and stands up. “I need to show you this last surprise before I lose my nerve.”

“Then help me up, servant boy,” Parker laughs and holds out her hand. Ryder obliges, and they walk together to the front door. “If we’re going to move forward and make this work, I have one request.”

“What’s that?”

“We might have to buy another house. The front step is hard to ignore for too long.”

“I’m willing to do anything to make you happy. And I kind of feel the same way.” Turning to the door, his hands shake as he fumbles to unlock it.

Taking his hands in hers, she realizes they’re sweating. “You okay?”

“I’m really fucking nervous,” he admits.

“It’ll be okay.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. Now breathe.”

He takes a deep breath and kisses her forehead. “We’ll handle anything together.”

“We will. Now, tell me, is it a pony?”

He laughs. “No, but I’ll buy you one if you want.”

“Nah, I’ve heard their poops are huge. Plus, I have nowhere to store it. And I’ve never ridden one. It would be a silly gift.”

Opening the door, he leads Parker inside. Turning on the lights, she’s greeted with a path of flowers leading to the bedroom.

“A bit presumptuous,” she says and raises an eyebrow.

“A man can always hope, but that’s not what my intentions are. At least, not my main ones. I’ll always want to get you into the bedroom. Or the shower. Or the kitchen counter. Or pretty much anywhere I can get you naked. What was I saying again?”

“Actual intensions,” she laughs. “Aside from getting me naked and under you.”

“Oh, yeah, sex isn’t my main end goal. I’m hoping it’ll be the result of my end goal.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but these flowers are beautiful. There have to be a thousand flowers in here.”

“Two thousand twenty six.”

“Specific.”

“One for every day since I first met you.”

“That’s the most romantic thing I think I’ve ever heard.” She leans her back into his chest as he wraps his arms around her waist and rests his head on her right shoulder.

“This is too much, Ryder. Bringing me to Tara’s grave was more than what I needed. You’re finally let me in, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“Let’s go,” he says leading her into the bedroom. Flipping on the light, she sees a teddy bear sitting on the edge.

“Geoffe? You went and got him from my house?”

“I did.”

Walking over to it, she asks, “What’s on his tie?” Lifting up the bear, she sees her mother’s wedding ring. She turns around and sees Ryder on his knee in front of her.

“You don’t have to say anything right now, but I want you to know I’m in this forever. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how important you are to me.”

“Where did you get it?” she whispers. Tears are flowing freely down her cheeks. Putting it on, she gasps. “It fits.”

“Sam had it.”

“You’re giving me my mother’s ring?”

“It suits you better than the one I bought. It shows who you are.”

“So?”

“What?”

“Is there a question with the ring?”

“Do you have an answer?”

“Nope, that’s not how this works. You don’t get to ask a question after you know whether there is an answer or not.”

“Parker, will you marry me?” His heart starts racing.

“Yes,” she whispers.

“Yes?”

“Yes,” she laughs and nods. “Yes!”

Ryder jumps up and picks her up, lifting her off of the ground, smashing his mouth to hers. “You said yes.”

“I said yes.”

“You have no idea how much I want to take you on this bed right now. My future wife. The woman who I don’t deserve and will spend forever trying to be worthy of.”

“You’ll just have to be gentle.”

“I can be gentle.”

“I know you can,” she smiles as he captures her mouth, probing his tongue into her mouth.

Ryder wakes up to an incessant knocking coming from the front door. Looking to his left, he sees Parker lying next to him, wearing his black t-shirt. He smiles, but eases out of bed and slips on his boxers to avoid waking her.

“What the hell?” he whispers as he swings open the door.

“Why haven’t you been answering our damn phone?” Mack yells.

“Keep your voice down!” he says between clenched teeth. “I didn’t answer because I’ve been busy.”

“What’s going on?” Parker asks as she walks out of the bedroom. She’s still wearing only his t-shirt, and the hem slides further up her thighs as she slips the sling over her head.

“Jesus, I get the fucking obsession,” Mack says as he eyes her long, lean legs.

“Sorry, Mack. I’m a taken woman,” Parkers says and flashes her left hand at him from the sling.

“You’re engaged?”

“I asked. She said yes.”

“Holy shit, man. Congrats. I guess one for two ain’t bad.”

“What are you here for?” he asks crossing his arms over his chest.

“Psycho brother broke out.”

“What?”

“Where was he?” Parker asks.

“They had him in the city jail. He’s like a freaking Houdini.”

“You gotta get out of here, kid.”

“No, Chief wants her to come to the station. Orders.” Mack shrugs.

“No,” Ryder says shaking his head. “Not. Happening.”

“He won’t come here. Not yet, anyway,” Parker says. “Let me get dressed.”

“You sure?” Ryder asks following her back into the bedroom.

“Heading into the station like this will probably cause a bit of an issue.”

“You know what I mean.”

She pulls on her jeans from last night, but keeps his t-shirt on. He pulls on his jeans and slips on a white t-shirt. “Do you have a zip up sweatshirt I can borrow?”

“My closet is your closet,” Ryder says and pulls out a gray one and hands it to her. “Need help?”

“I’ll just pull it over my shoulder. My sweatshirt was hard enough o get off last night. I don’t really want to put it on again.”

“Easy access is always appealing for me, kid.”

“Dirty boy,” she laughs and walks into the living room. “Hey, I need to stop at Paige’s house quick.”

“This ain’t the time to show off your ring, babe,” Mack says and Ryder punches him in the arm.

“I fully agree. I need my pain meds. My shoulder is killing me.”

“Pounding? Is it pounding? From a pounding?” Mack jokes.

“Shut the fuck up!” Ryder punches him again.

Parker laughs as they walk out and hop into Ryder’s pickup, and stop three houses over in Paige’s driveway. Slipping out, she rushes into Paige’s house.

“Congrats, man. Seriously. I know this is something you’ve wanted for so long.”

“But?”

“I’m worried about you. Can you keep your head straight with her back?”

“I lost my head when she was gone.”

“You happy?”

“There are only few things that could make me happier.”

“Like?”

“A dead future brother-in-law for one.”

“Same here. And two?”

“Honestly, I had a dream last night that she told me she was pregnant. I woke up a little disappointed it wasn’t real.”

“Dude, that’s serious shit.”

“I would move the earth for that girl.”

Parker comes out of the house, and Mack jumps out to let her slide into the middle seat. Within minutes they’re at the station, and they head inside. Sam is waiting for them. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.”

“Where do we start?” he asks her.

“Can you pull up a map of where the jail is?”

Sam nods at Travis who pulls it up and turns the monitor to face Parker.

“Zoom out and go left, please.”

Travis does as instructed, and Parker moves to get a closer look at the screen. “Can I get in here a sec?”

“Absolutely.” Travis moves out of the way and she sits. “You smell good.”

“Thanks,” she laughs and Ryder stares hard at him. Travis just shrugs. Taking off her sweatshirt, she pulls the slip over her head to help her type.

“Where’s your head at, kid?”

“I’m just checking one thing,” she says distractedly as she clicks around. Scott walks up behind her and over her shoulder when she says, “Got it.”

“What?” Sam asks.

“I know where he’s hiding.”

“He’s not here yet?” Travis asks.

“No, he doesn’t have a plan yet. He’s not dumb enough to come here without a plan, and he’d need supplies for whatever crazy scheme he’s coming up with.”

“Where is he?” Ryder asks.

“My grandma’s old house. He mentions a prior place he doesn’t feel comfortable in unlike our house that just doesn’t feel familiar. Besides, my grandma and aunt lived in the city.

“Why your Grandma’s house?” Mack asks.

“Her house is empty and for sale. Margaret’s house isn’t.”

“I’ll call their station.” Sam walks into his office to make the call.

“And what if he’s already gone by then?” Mack asks.

“Then he’s already here.”

“Your gut telling you that?”

“Yep. You trust my gut?”

“Baby, at this point, I’d try drinking poison upside down if you told me your gut said it would cure some foreign illness I probably didn’t have.”

“Good to know. If he’s gone, then he’s on his way here.”

“Don’t call her ‘baby,’” Ryder growls.

“Down boy,” Parker says and winks at him. “We all know I’m yours.”

“Not to interrupt this side note,” Travis says, “but what is he gonna do when he gets here?”

“Find me.”

“That’s not happening,” Ryder says and pulls her into his lap. “I’m not losing you. Not again.”

“I don’t plan on getting lost.”

“What would he do when he finds you?”

“I’m not entirely sure.”

Everyone decides they should order takeout from Greta’s and take up camp while they wait to hear from the city police chief.

“Wait, wait. You did what?” Sam asks as he grabs another chicken wing.

“I laid out two thousand and twenty-six flowers.”

“You counted them.”

“Fuck no. The florist did. She wasn’t happy. She may have shorted me a few.”

“I would, too,” Parker laughs. “But I loved it.”

“You two are officially together, then?” Scott asks.

“Forever,” Ryder says, kissing the top of her head and holding her left hand up for them.

“Atta boy!” Scott hoots.

“Forever,” Ryder says again smiling.

“On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“I want to get married in a small ceremony in a backyard. Just a small party afterwards. Nothing big. Just small and intimate.”

“Can we clone you?” Mack asks. “Seriously, that’s the opposite of every girl’s dream, and it’s awesome.”

“Can you talk to my girlfriend?” Travis asks.

Parker laughs as Sam’s phone rings and steps away.

“When do you want to get married?” Ryder asks.

“I don’t know. What do you think?”

“Baby, I’d do it today at the courthouse. I don’t want to wait. We’ve wasted too much time already.”

“You are such a sap,” Mack says. “Parker, what did you do to this guy?”

“Must be the sex,” she says shrugging. “It’s just that good. And shut up. I like him just the way he is.”

Travis and Scott spit out their drink at her comment. Ryder lets out a laugh and nods his head. “I agree. It’s the best I’ve ever had.”

“To answer your question, what about waiting until my shoulder heals. Can you wait that long?”

“I think I can hold out. As long as we still get to live in sin.”

“Why would I punish myself by holding out?”

Ryder kisses her hard as the guys laugh and throw food at them.

Sam walks into the room after hanging up the phone. “He was there, but he’d abandoned it by the time they arrived.”

“He’s here then,” Parker says.

“And he has a plan,” Ryder finishes.