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Makenna
I stopped walking when it dawned on me there was a vehicle approaching. Thank goodness, I probably wouldn’t have to walk the rest of the way into town. As the vehicle got closer, my heart beat faster. I waved and the pickup stopped. When the driver’s side door opened, the light came on. I could see it was Nash as he stopped the truck and got out. He didn’t waste time getting to me. My heart swelled at the sight of him.
He wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug, but not so tight that it hurt. In fact, it felt pretty damn good right now. He moved me to arms-length studying me. I knew he was checking for injuries.
“It’s about time you got here,” I stated, then smiled.
He gingerly touched the side of my face. “He hit you.”
I shrugged. “Not a big deal.”
“Where is he?”
“Back at the cabin. I left him handcuffed to the bed, but if he gets loose, I left a few things for him to encounter on the way to his car.” I was thoughtful for a moment. “I really hope he manages to get loose. I also pulled a few wires under the hood, so even if he can make a run for it, he won’t get far on foot.”
Nash was grinning.
“What?”
“You continue to amaze me, woman. I was sick with worry. I should’ve known you could handle yourself just from past experience. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you when we get married, though.”
Married? Had he just proposed? I tilted my head, studying him. “That was the most unromantic proposal I’ve ever heard.”
He grinned. I wish he wouldn’t do that. He was too damned irresistible when he smiled.
“Well, the way I figure it, Eric probably proposed with wine and flowers, maybe even a fancy dinner, the suit, the tie and everything that would turn your head. If you marry me, this is what you get. I’ve got more money than I’ll ever spend, so I give a lot to charity. I don’t need your money. I’d rather be outdoors than indoors, but you already know that about me. So what do you say?”
Was he holding his breath? He looked as if he was holding his breath while he waited for my answer. Well, I didn’t want him passing out, so I might as well tell him. “Yes, Nash Hayes, I will definitely marry you.” I loved this man more than life itself.
He picked me up, twirling me around until I was dizzy, then he kissed me. I realized what I’d been missing since Eric kidnapped me. When he ended the kiss, I looked up at him, caressing the side of his face. “I’ll love you with all my heart, with every breath I take.” I sighed softly. “But do me wrong, mister, and I’ll rip your balls off.”
There was some clearing of throats behind him.
I glanced around him. “Who are those men with you?”
He stepped back and to the side. “Makenna, meet my brothers.” He pointed to each one, naming them.
“Welcome to the family, Makenna,” Jackson said.
I was amazed at how much they resembled each other.
“If he gives you any trouble, just tell one of us, and we’ll set him straight,” Ryder said with a grin that was just as devastating as Nash’s.
“Yeah well, your times coming,” Nash told him.
Ryder shook his head. “Nope, I’m a confirmed bachelor.”
“Me, too,” Layne chimed in.
I had a feeling some girl would come along and snag each of them before too long.
“Let’s go check on Eric,” Nash said. “I have a score to settle with him.”
I sat between Nash and Jaxson in the front seat as we drove to the cabin. I couldn’t help smiling when I saw Eric in the headlights sitting on the ground pulling cockleburs from his feet.
“What the hell is he doing?” Nash asked.
“Before I left the cabin, I took his shoes. There was half a jar of honey in the cabinet that someone had left behind. I knew he would be furious that I escaped and would run out the front door. I dumped out all the honey so that he would have to step in it. There were cockleburs at the back of the cabin. I scattered them on the steps.”
Nash glanced at me as he pulled to a stop in front of the cabin. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
I smiled. He might as well know from the start that I would be an equal partner in this relationship, and I wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Eric looked at me, then at the four men that were also getting out of the truck. His face turned pale as he began scooting away from us, then coming to his feet.
“You better stay away from me. I know my rights. You can’t touch me.”
Nash kept walking toward him. As soon as he reached him, he doubled his fist and plowed into his face. Eric crumpled to the ground.
“Is he dead,” I casually asked. I didn’t think he was, but I wanted to be sure.
Ryder nudged Eric’s body with his foot. “Nope, he’s still breathing.” He looked at Nash. “Want to call the FBI now and tell them we found her?”
Nash shook his head. “Nah, I’ll call the locals and let them handle him. They’ll get out here a lot faster.”
While we were waiting for the sheriff to arrive, I borrowed Nash’s phone and called Sam to tell her I was okay. I told her I would see her as soon as everything was taken care of here and that I was fine.
“So, did you really scale the side of a steep mountain?” Ryder asked as soon as I ended my conversation with Sam.
“Yes, I did.”
“Were you scared?”
“Terrified, but it was a great adrenaline rush.”
He smiled. “You’ll fit into this family very well.”
I’m glad they thought so. I, on the other hand, did not want to see my reflection. I knew I needed a shower. I felt as if I had a week’s worth of dust covering me from the cabin and the unpaved road.
Eric was just coming around when the sheriff arrived. “I didn’t kidnap her. I only wanted to talk to her. I swear.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really? That’s your story?”
“You can tell it all to the judge,” the sheriff said as Eric was handcuffed and read his rights. After he put Eric in the patrol car, he turned to Nash. “You know the routine. I’ll need statements.”
As we followed the patrol car, I called my aunt to let her know I was okay, and that Eric was in custody. She sounded vastly relieved. I knew she never showed a lot of affection and came across as cold and unemotional, but she cared deeply for me. That’s all that really mattered.
I quickly gave my statement, and it was typed up. Nash was still talking to the sheriff when I noticed Sam pulling up.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll have Sam take me back to your cabin. There’s nothing I want more now than a hot shower and a soft bed. I’m exhausted.
“We shouldn’t be much longer. I’m not sure I want to let you out of my sight.”
“I don’t need a babysitter. I really do need to clean up, though.”
He hesitated, then brushed his lips across the top of my head. “I’ll see you back at the house. I won’t be much longer.”
I walked outside as Sam was getting out of the car. She took one look at me and started running toward me, wrapping her arms around me and holding me close.
“It seems as if I’ve been hugging you a lot lately.” She took a step back and looked at me, her eyes blazing with anger when she noticed the bruise on the side of my face. “Is he in there? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.” She’d started around me, but stopped when I laughed.
I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward her car. “Believe me, Eric didn’t find kidnapping me as easy as he thought. I’ll tell you all about it on the way home. Besides, I’m in desperate need of a hot shower and clean clothes.”
On the way to the cabin, I told her everything that had happened, she seemed a little less out of sorts. By the time she pulled into Nash’s driveway, she was even laughing.
“It serves him right. I’m just surprised he didn’t realize what you were capable of before he kidnapped you. Did the guy learn nothing while he was married to you?”
I frowned. “Speaking of which, Nash asked me to marry him.”
She was just getting out of the vehicle and automatically slammed the door closed, staring at me with surprise on her face. Then she smiled. “What’s this about you swearing off men?”
I shrugged. “But then, Nash isn’t just any man.”
“Truer words have never been spoken. I’m very happy for you. I think you chose right this time.”
By the time I had taken my shower, I was yawning. I’d never felt this strung out before.
“I think we both need sleep,” Sam said. “Go to bed, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
I nodded and stepped from her bedroom into the Jack and Jill bathroom. Once I was in the other guest bedroom, I looked around. I knew this wasn’t the bedroom I needed to be in. Besides, Nash’s brothers would need beds to sleep in. I left that bedroom and walked down to the end of the hall.
It was much later when Nash crawled into bed beside me and pulled me close. I let out a sigh.
“Go back to sleep. I won’t let anything hurt you again.”
I knew he meant it, and for the first time in a long time, I felt safe and loved. I dozed off listening to the sound of his heartbeat.