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“Wait a minute,” she whispered excitedly. “Do you know where—”
“Maybe…”
“You looked up my hut!”
He laughed. “Roger that, babe.”
“You did! Oh my God. No one on earth looks up that hut.”
“Trust me, I know.” He’d practically had to call in a favor with Parker to look up freaking old park guides.Abandonednatural park guides.
Bishop pulled off the road and parked near the path he’d scouted, having been there earlier that day. They jumped out.
“If I had any idea we were doing this, I would’ve worn something besides a skirt.”
“It’s not a hard hike. I just want to look at the place. Then we can get some food.”
They meandered down the easy path to the old hut.
“Here we are! You’re going to love it.” Her good hand gripped his tightly, pulling him the last few yards. “If you don’t, that’s fine. I won’t hold it against you. Well, maybe a little. It’s pretty amazing.”
He followed her lead, almost surprised she didn’t break out her cell phone and video a quick Eco-Ella spot. They walked up the old rickety stairs. Each one of his boot steps made the entire building groan, and if this was not her favorite place, he might never have noticed the old nature stop.
“Oh—” Ella froze halfway in the door.
Bishop came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Bishop,” she whispered.
A blanket lay in front of them. Her favorite, most-requested vegan foods were chilled in containers on ice.
“You made me a picnic?”
He leaned close to her ear. “Yes, ma’am.”
“In my silly hut.” Shaking, her voice dropped even lower, and her hands found his arms that were crossed over her stomach. She clung to his forearms, her bandaged wrist on top. “You did all of this just to make my favorite park mine again?”
That was affirmative, but it was so much more than that. He spun her around in his arms. “Is it working?”
“Yes.” She nodded, and her eyes welled. “This is beyond thoughtful. I am… speechless.”
For that, he had to grin. “I’ve done the impossible.”
Ella went on her tiptoes and kissed him. “You’re too good. Thank you.”
“This is the thing, Ella. I think you’re too good for me.” He tilted his head toward the picnic blanket. “I want to give you that. This park. Your hut. I want to give that all to you because even if I don’t get it,I get it. If it makes you happy, that makes me happy. Simple.”
“You do. You make me really happy.”
After this day—after the chaotic months she’d been through and their lifetime getting to this spot—knowing that was a damn good thing. Bishop kissed the top of her head then her forehead. “Good. I love you, Ella.” He took her healing wrist and kissed that too.
“I know.” She snuggled into him, making him feel like the most important man in the world. “Love you more than you will ever know.”
He pulled away and held her outstretched in his hands. Everything he cared about, he held between his palms. “Talking about the rest of our lives this morning, about marrying you… You’re mine,” he promised. “I need you to know that.”
“I know.”
He had no magical ways, no magical words, just the truth in everything he wanted to say. Bishop let his hands slide down her arms. Her bandaged wrist straightkilledhim, and he vowed never to let anything like that happen again as he bent onto one knee. He removed a ring from his pocket and gazed up at the pure shock on Ella’s face. “Not what you expected?”