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“So, let me hear more about how you can’t live without me,” Gray said.
“I can’t live without you. Is there more to be said?”
“I think so.” Gray reached into his pocket and pulled out a small band. It glistened in the bright lighting of the hallway. He grabbed my hands, pulling me into a sitting position. Gray was on one knee next to me. My heart sped up, but not in a scary way.
“Regan Christine Harris, I have put a lot of thought into getting to redo this moment. I didn’t factor in your personality or our relationship the last time. I tried to go big. Big ring, big view, big moment.” Gray paused. He looked into my eyes before continuing. His were a soft gray. For the first time, I wondered if that was where his parents got his name.
“You and I have never been about creating those big, movie moments. We are about living and experiencing life. We have never needed showy.” I got a closer look at the ring he held between us. It was delicate and small. There weren’t any jewels on it. Only three strands of gold intertwining and braided together. The design was accented by the strands being different colors. Rose, yellow and white gold running around and through each other.
“I want to spend my life with you. Whatever that entails. We can travel. We can find a spot and make it our home. We can move to the moon. As long as we decide together.” Gray’s eyes never left mine. “What do you say, good-lookin’? You up for the challenge?”
This was my moment. I sent up a quick prayer, thanking God for giving me another chance before I answered. “Yes. Are you?”
“I have been. I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.” He grinned at me.
“I’ve heard I can be stubborn.” Gray broke into a full smile.
“That is an understatement.” He lifted my left hand, sliding the ring into place. The fit was perfect.
Jax broke the moment by sniffling. I noticed her and Liam for the first time since the door opened. Liam’s arm was around her. Jax wiped her eyes. They were standing a few feet away watching Gray and me.
Jax and I had been locked up for roughly six hours and came out the other end of our ordeal starving. What was left of our lunches, we had eaten hours before. A double dinner date salvaged the evening for all of us.
“How did you guys find us? And how did you end up together?" I asked. I was extremely interested in the answer to the second question.
"I texted you all day about picking me up, but you never answered. I assumed you were busy with Peter at the restaurant and just didn't have your phone on you. I decided to stop at the pub," Gray said.
"That's where he found me. I’d stopped in to ask about Jax. I’d been texting you,” Liam said while pointing his finger toward Jax, “all day about tonight, and you never answered."
"Who told you we were in the warehouse?" Jax asked.
"Peter," Gray and Liam said in unison. Liam continued with the rest of the explanation. "Both Gray and I knew about your going to the warehouse, we just didn't know where it was. Luckily, Peter knew."
"Peter didn’t know which unit you were in, but we thought it wouldn’t matter. We’d find you.” Gray laughed. “We didn't need it, anyway. Once we stepped through the doors, we could hear you two yelling at each other.”
“I didn’t even hear you.”
“How could you? I was in a hurry to get the door open. I thought you were going to start duking it out,” Liam said.
“But, we had the key inside with us. How did you get the lock open?” Jax asked.
“Peter had copies of all your keys,” Gray said.
The waitress broke up our conversation by bringing over plates of tapas. We were at one of our favorite places. The rain and clouds had dissipated while we were in the warehouse, so we chose to sit outside at a table for four that was available. Jax and I ventured in long enough to clean off a little of the dust and grime on our faces and hands. Our clothes were hopeless, though.
The four of us shared each plate, marveling at the richness of the food. A carafe of red sangria helped to wash down the meal. We spent the evening laughing and talking. I found that Jax was right. Liam was not only sweet but very attentive to her. Even though our afternoon had been passed harmlessly, he was still concerned for both of our welfares. He wasn’t her usual type. I thought this was the change she needed. Liam turned the conversation to a more serious subject after our second carafe of sangria.
"Ben has been released. Official charges were never filed," Liam said.
"Why?" I asked.
"We have security tape footage of him knocking on the door to the pub, but not entering. It confirms his timeline." Liam looked down but continued talking. "Unfortunately, the video recording stops shortly after he walked away from the door.”
“Isn’t that telling in itself? Does the tape pick back up?” I asked.
“It does about two hours later. We see Peter entering the back door. The rest we know since we were there.”
“Can you CSI the tape?” Liam looked at me blankly. “No?”
“One. It isn’t a tape. It records digitally. Someone reprogrammed the system to stop for two hours before resuming its normal function.”
“Someone like a security expert?” Gray asked.
“Maybe. Probably. But, we can’t prove it.” Liam set his fork down. He leaned forward in his chair, looking me in the eye.
“I’m telling you this to warn you.”
“Me?” I asked. “What for?”
“You have had suspicious activity around you lately. The snake in the tub, getting locked in the warehouse. I want you to be careful.”
“Jax was with me on both those occasions.”
“But, Jax doesn’t have a history with Ben,” he said.
“And I do. That’s what you’re saying. That’s the link between us.”
“Yes. Ben seems focused on you, lately. Ever since you poured that beer on him, his attention has been all on you. I don’t know your history with him, but he can be dangerous. You need to be careful.”