CHAPTER 26
Gavin
Fucking bastard. It’d been days since Charlie spoke to her father, and yet her mood had yet to improve. She’d said she was glad she’d finally confronted her father and said her piece so that she could stop carrying around a burden that hadn’t been hers to bear, but it didn’t mean it had been easy for her. Especially when the jerks she worked for had let her go when she’d dropped off the face of the earth several weeks ago with no clear indication as to when she’d be back.
I had wanted to hold off on my plans, wanting to make sure everything was perfect. Except that none of that mattered now. Not when I needed her to know that no matter what happened with her dad, I’d be right there by her side. “Come on, love. We’re going on a bit of a road trip. There’s a place I want you to see, and we’ve been cooped up for too long.”
She groaned, though she didn’t protest, when I grabbed her hand and led her towards the front door. “What about the dogs?”
“Sweetness… do you really think I’d leave them here? They’re coming with us, of course.” I whistled to them, and before long, we were all cruising down the highway. I reached over and grabbed her hand, bringing it to my lips, even as I focused on the road ahead. “I was thinking… maybe instead of getting another job, you could do something you’ve always wanted to do.”
She pouted, shaking her head no. “I need to have a job, Gavin. I know we’re living together—and I get that you have plenty of money. But I’m not going to just mooch off you and not pay my way.”
I loved her independence and sense of fairness. She really was perfect—and she was all mine. “What if I told you that I wanted to start a program to help underprivileged kids get a head start in tech and science, and I want you to run it?”
“What?” She shifted in her seat to face me, and I couldn’t help but toss her a smile before focusing back on the road. “That would be amazing, Gavin. But…”
“But nothing, sweetheart. Unless you wouldn’t be interested in putting that sort of program together.” Yet I already knew she’d love nothing more than to help kids achieve things they might not otherwise get the opportunity or access to. “We could even name it after your brother, if you wanted.”
With tears shimmering in her eyes, she threw her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek, making me wish I wasn’t driving at the moment. “I can’t believe you’d do that for me.”
“Sweetness, I’d give you the moon and the stars if I could.” It was nothing but the truth. “Anything to make you happy.”
“I don’t need anything but you to make me happy, Gavin. But this… the lives you could change with this sort of program… It’d be incredible.” Whatever darkness had been haunting her these last few days was suddenly wiped clean by her excitement—and I was loving every minute of it.
We spent the rest of the car ride tossing around ideas for the program, as she enthusiastically jotted down notes in a little notebook she always kept in her purse. She even came up with a name, taking my suggestion to name it after her brother.
Jessie’s Second Chance STEM Initiative.
I fucking loved her so much—and it healed my very soul to see her so happy.
As caught up as she was with her plans, it caught Charlie by surprise when we pulled down the driveway that led to my mountain home. I loved the peace and quiet up here in the woods, even if it had been woefully underused.
And now, I was now hoping to change all that.
“Where are we?” Charlie looked out the window, craning her neck to see past the massive oaks and conifers to catch a glimpse of the surrounding mountains, and the log cabin that peeked from behind the trees.
“I’m hoping that you’ll consider making this our new home.” I slid the car in park just in time to catch her as she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me, our tongues clashing for a heated moment before I forced myself to pull away. “Come on, love. I can’t wait for you to see the inside. I think you’ll really like it.”
“How could I not? The views are breathtaking. And the cabin is adorable.” When she smiled at me, I couldn’t help but steal a quick kiss before jogging around the car to get her door and help her down from my SUV.
With the dogs out of the back and exploring their newfound territory, I led Charlie up the stairs of the massive front porch, and into what I’d hoped would be our new home. I heard her breath catch as we stepped inside. “Come on… you have to see the view off the great room.”
“Gavin… the fireplace! It’s gorgeous—and huge.” Tumbled river stone was stacked up to the ceiling, and the fireplace was probably a good twelve feet wide, with a thick, rough-hewn, wood mantle adding the crowning touch. And then she gasped, as her gaze turned to the wall of glass and the deck just beyond. “I swear… I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more amazing view.”
“It was built with the view in mind. Nothing’s better than sitting out on the deck with a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise.” I pulled open the French doors so she could step outside and get an unobstructed view of the mountains and the forest as they sprawled out before us.
But I had something else to show her.
And when she turned around, it was to find me down on one knee, holding out the engagement ring I’d bought her.
“Charlie… I can’t find the words to tell you just what you mean to me. But from the moment you walked into my life, you’ve changed my world around for the better, and I couldn’t imagine spending a single day without waking up to you in my arms. I love you, Charlie Wenham… Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”