“Are we in Tahoe Donner?”
“Yep.” I took the back road in, the one I’ll be using to commute to the lodge. When we drove up before, we came in from the opposite direction.”
“Are we going to your lot? You showed it to me a few days ago.”
“Not my lot. Our lot for our home.” He pulled over at the edge of the road and turned off the engine. “Let’s hike up the hill.”
“Sure.”
She got out and met him at the front of the pickup. Hand in hand, they strolled through the trees.
“This is the edge of the property, but it’s all National Forest land behind where the house will be built.” He led her up to a ridge with a sweeping view of the mountains. “This is the best part. Endless space right outside our backdoor.”
She leaned against him, and he slid his arm around her waist.
“I’m in awe. This is amazing, Levi.”
“I talked to Jake today about a few changes to the house plans he’ll design.”
“Oh?”
He turned her to face down the hill and pointed. “The house will be there. Our master suite will be upstairs with a view to the west. We’ll put a guest room and bath on the first floor, along with the office, living area, and kitchen.”
She tilted her head back and grinned at him. “I thought you wanted your mancave on the first floor.”
“Nope. I’m nixing the mancave idea. Too many square feet.”
A frown creased her brow. “But upstairs—”
“We’ll add two more bedrooms and another bath.”
Turning, she faced him fully. “Why would we need that many bedrooms? Are you planning to rent them out?”
“God, no.” He took her hands and squeezed. “I talked to Dalton. He made it clear I’m a complete idiot.”
“Should I jump in here to say your brother is all wrong?”
“No, because he’s one hundred percent right. But I think I’ve finally seen the light. Did you know he didn’t quit skiing because Ursula asked him to?”
“Knowing Ursula, I’d be shocked if she had.”
“He said he didn’t give up anything to get married and have kids. Instead, he got everything he’d always he wanted.”
Raine threaded her fingers through his. “What does your brother and Ursula have to do with the size of our house?”
“Everything. I was convinced I couldn’t have it all because of Dalton’s choices. I thought I’d have to give up all the sports I love to make time for a family.”
“That’s ridiculous, Levi. I would never ask you to do that.”
“I know, and I was wrong.” He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh evening air. “I honestly don’t know why you haven’t dumped my ass before now.”
“Because I love you and would never be happy without you.”
“Same.” Opening his eyes, he smiled at her. “But we can both have our dreams.”
Releasing her right hand, he got down on one knee and pulled the jeweler’s box from his pocket. Opening it with a flick of his finger, the solitaire diamond sparkled in the waning light.
“Will you forgive my stupidity and marry me, Raine? Will you have my babies—a dozen if you want—and live happily ever after with me right here in this very spot? Will you make me the most fortunate man alive, because I love you more than I believed possible and promise to make you happy every day for the rest of our lives?”
Tears filled her beautiful green eyes. “Of course I’ll marry you. But all I want is you, Levi. You’re all I need to be happy.”
“What if I need more? What if I want to see you holding a baby? Our baby. What if I want to teach our kids to enjoy nature the way we do? What if I want grandchildren to enjoy when we’re old?”
“Then I wouldn’t argue with you.” She wiped away her tears. “But I draw the line at a dozen. Two is plenty.”
Smiling, he took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. “You have my heart. Always have and always will.”
“I love you, Levi. Life with you will always be an amazing journey.”
Rising to his feet, he lifted her in his arms and swung her around before kissing them both senseless. “Let the adventure begin.”
Coming Soon
Relentless Dawn
Book Two in the Leave No Trace Series
A chance encounter awakens a nightmare from her past—recollections that could prove fatal . . .
In a small Montana town, Blythe Young runs into the man who murdered her parents—triggering long buried childhood memories. When she discovers the killer is a local deputy with influential allies, she’s forced to flee. Escaping into Yellowstone National Park, Blythe loses herself in the rugged backcountry where she crosses paths with another lone hiker. Unsure whom she can trust, Blythe warily relies on the handsome stranger.
While backpacking in Yellowstone to sooth his battered soul, Jake Mansfield encounters a desperate young woman. She’s everything he doesn’t need in his life—a terrified beauty who tempts him to risk his heart again. Jake’s endured enough tragedy to last a lifetime, but turning Blythe away isn’t an option. Especially when he learns he has an unwitting connection to the horror of her past. Together, they must uncover the identity of a ruthless and powerful man . . . before Blythe becomes the final casualty.
About the Author
Write what you know. Jannine Gallant has taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors. A recent empty-nester, she grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently lives in gorgeous Lake Tahoe with her husband. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Jannine enjoys hiking and snowshoeing in the woods around her home with her dog, Ginger. You’ll discover the beauty of nature woven into all her fast-paced romantic suspense novels. To find out more about this author and her books, visit her website or sign up for her newsletter.
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Midnight Reckoning (Leave No Trace Book 1) Page 29