Page 30

“Did you know it’s the first day of fall?

” I ask Judah. Ironically enough, he asked me to go on this impromptu hike with him this morning, and like the picnic we had in the middle of Lake Julian, he has that little backpack, so I suppose we’re having a little something to eat, too.

He’s so romantic and completely adorable for a man who looks like he could snap me in half if he wanted to.

You would never think someone like him with all those freakin’ muscles would be the kindest, meekest, mildest of them all.

He’s truly a gem and I’m always happy to be in his presence.

“Come on, slowpoke,” he says.

I open my mouth in shock. “Oh, you’re feeling yourself today, huh?”

“I am. Why are you lagging? You’re usually ahead of me.”

“Can I take the time to enjoy nature?”

“Yes, sweetheart. You can.”

He stops walking so I can catch up to him and when I do, he takes my hand into his and says, “Now, we can enjoy nature together.”

“Stop walking for a minute,” I tell him.

He stops. I turn to him, staring up into his heavy-lidded eyes, and ask, “What are you up to?”

A semblance of a smile appears on his face. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

He stares down at me, giving me that serious expression that can also pass for seduction. Then he says, “I’m just spending time with my—”

I giggle when he pauses. “Your what?”

“My girl.”

I rise to my highest point and kiss him three times on the lips, then we proceed.

He spreads a blanket near a waterfall. I sit down and take off my shoes.

The first day of fall feels like a hot summer day.

Ain’t nothing changed but the name of the season.

With my legs stretched out in front of me while my hands are flat on the blanket by my sides, I turn my head towards the sky, but all I see is a canopy of trees.

“Ah,” I utter.

The breeze is perfect. I open my eyes when I feel Judah’s warmth encase me. And there he is, my man.

I say, “Hi.”

“Hi, sweetheart,” he says.

I open my legs so he sits between them. He closes his legs around me, and I close mine around him.

I kiss his lips softly, seductively and with patience taking my time loving this man down the way he deserves.

And while I may have started the kiss, he takes over, delving deep with his tongue and devouring my mouth.

Every cell in my body rejoices. I feel energized like I’m connected to him in a way I’ve never been before.

His arms tighten around me. I don’t have any cares, no worries, but if I had, they’d melt away right here in his arms.

When he ends the kiss, I smile at him and say, “I love this.”

“Love what, Autumn?”

“This. Being here with you. Loving on you. Being with you, period. I love it.”

“I do, too.”

He tries to hide a smile again. I ask, “What…are…you…up…to?”

“I was just thinking about how different my life is now that I have you. I don’t think you realize how much you’ve changed my life. How much you’ve changed me, so I’m going to tell you.”

“Tell me, baby. I’m all ears.”

“You made me realize that I’m the man I always thought I was. You forced me to look inside myself and do things I promised I would never do because of fear. You replaced that with love. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Judah.”

Our eyes burn and fuse together for seconds that feels like an eternity until we both smile.

He says, “I want you to be my wife.”

“What?”

He smiles. “I want you to be my wife, Autumn.”

I narrow my eyes and study him. Is he actually asking me or just telling me? I ask, “You do?”

“Yes, I do. I already asked your father for his blessing and now I feel I can properly ask you.”

“Judah,” I say and gasp.

When he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring, I think I stop breathing. “Judah, what are you doing?”

Ignoring my question, he moves to his knees while I’m still sitting on the blanket and says, “I brought you out here because we both share a love of nature. We also share love, deep love, that I’ve never felt for anyone else nor will I ever feel again.

You are the woman I thought I didn’t need only because I wanted to live this life without love.

Without burdening someone with all my issues and problems. I wanted to be free of influencing someone else’s feelings.

I thought I was being selfless, but I found out quickly that I was being selfish.

I have a lot to give. You’ve already given me so much and I want to love you in return for the rest of our days, no matter how long that might be, so Autumn Pemberton, will you marry me? ”

My eyes are so flooded, I can’t see him clearly. He wants to marry me. This is crazy. It’s happened so fast, and I’m not complaining. I’m just astounded by his three-sixty. To go from a man who didn’t want love to a man who wants to marry me is mind-blowing. I’m grateful. I’m at a loss for words.

“Will you marry me, Autumn?”

“Are you for real?”

“I am. I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”

I wipe my eyes and say, “Yes, Judah! Yes, I will marry you a million times over.”

I’m not thinking about a picnic any longer.

My arms are wrapped so tightly around him, he probably can’t breathe.

I’m marrying this man – the man my dreams are made of.

I have never felt this level of elation in all my days.

Finally, I have my person – the man God wanted me to have, and I’m never letting him go.