He started toward her, coiling the rope as he made his way down the hill, keeping his hold on her taut and secure. When he was only a few feet away, he stopped. “I’ve had plenty of time to think on us, and I’ve made my decision.” Would she remember the conversation they’d had about their relationship that day they’d been trapped in the cave during the fire? The one when she’d asked him to think about their future together?

“It’s too late, Jericho.”

“You told me that in the end, you’d accept my final choice.”

“That was before you left.” She wiggled against the rope.

“I love you, and I want to spend forever with you.”

She froze.

“That’s my answer. It always has been. I was just too scared to admit it.”

She didn’t seem to be breathing.

“I was a fool for leaving you the way I did the first time two years ago. And I was an even bigger fool for leaving you this past summer. If you’ll forgive me and let me prove how much I love you, I promise I’ll never leave again.”

There, he’d said it. The words he’d been rehearsing for weeks. They wouldn’t be enough to fix everything he’d broken between them, but he hoped it would be a start.

“What happens next time you get scared?” Her voice radiated with pain—pain he’d put there.

He loathed that he’d caused her so much distress, and he had to make it up to her.

“I can’t keep on lettin’ you break my heart.”

“I can’t promise I won’t hurt you again.” He’d still have struggles. They both would. “But when I do hurt you, I promise to make things right just as soon as I can.”

She watched him warily.

“There’s one other thing I can promise.” Still holding the rope tight, he lowered himself onto one knee. With his free hand, he dug in his trouser pocket. His fingers closed around the delicate object that had once belonged to his mother. When he pulled it out, he held it up between them. “I can promise to love and cherish you until my dying breath.”

She dropped her gaze to his outstretched hand and then gasped.

“Will you marry me, Ivy?”

Chapter
30

Ivy stared at the beautiful ring. The diamonds encrusted into the gold band sparkled in the dusk.

Was Jericho really down on one knee proposing to her, or was she dreaming?

She pinched her arm. At the pain, she flinched.

One of his brows cocked.

“Just checking to see if I’m awake.”