Page 104 of Mountain Defender

“Where are the dogs?” I ask as we walk across the room.

Gage glances at me. “With Ronan and Alec. I wanted to have some time alone with you.” He leads me to a door at the rear of the building, then pauses. “Close your eyes,” he says. “Okay?”

Flutters erupt in my belly. My heart jumps. “Okay…”

Closing my eyes, I let him lead me through the doorway and into the room. Then he stops. Takes a deep breath. Exhales. “Open your eyes.”

As soon as I do, my voice dries up.

Tears spring to my eyes.

What looks to be an ordinary office has been transformed into something much more special.

On every available surface are flickering candles, hundreds of them, filling the room with a warm, golden glow. And beside thecandles, dozens of framed photos, each with a dog posed proudly in it.

As I walk closer, slowly, as if in a dream, I realize who all the dogs are.

They’re all dogs I found homes for over the years. Dogs who now have families.

My hand comes to my mouth, covering it.

“They’re not real candles,” Gage adds quickly. “I got battery operated ones. With it being a fire station, it seemed like a better idea. And I contacted all the families to ask them to send pictures. I just thought?—”

He stops. Looks at my face. Brushes my cheek with his finger, bringing it away wet. “Rory. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t.” My voice wobbles. “This is just so… I love it.”

“I love you,” he says. “And… I’ve been thinking. Waiting. Wanting to make sure I did this right.”

“What?” My breath catches. “Do what right?”

Gage sinks to one knee. He pulls a box from his pocket and snaps it open before holding it out to me.

A rainbow of sparkles dance across his face.

“Ask you to marry me, Ror. I’ve wanted to ask for a while. But I wanted to make sure you were ready. I didn’t want to rush you.”

Dumbly, I ask, “Rush me?”

“With everything you went through,” he explains. “I wanted you to have time to figure out what you wanted.”

“Gage.”

“Maybe I should have done this someplace more private. But baby, I’m just so proud of you. Everything you’ve done, and having this celebration, inviting all these people, helping so many animals…”

He stops. Sniffs. His eyes shine. “I love you so much, words can’t express it. You’re everything to me. All my hopes. My dreams. My heart. My soul. And if you would agree to be my wife, I’ll spend my life doing everything in my power to make you happy. To protect you. To love you with every cell in my body.”

More tears leak down my cheeks. “Oh,Gage.”

“Is it too soon? If you’re not ready?—”

“I’m ready.” It bursts out in an explosion of joy. Flinging myself at him, I kiss Gage hard on the lips. “I’m ready, Gage. I want to be your wife more than anything.”

“Rory.” He draws in a shaky breath. “You do?”

“Yes.” I shove my hand at him, eagerness taking over everything. “Yes. I want to be your wife. I want to be Mrs. McKay. Yes, yes,yes, I’ll marry you.”

Gage stares at me with wonder in his eyes. Then he slides the ring onto my finger and gazes at it for a moment before looking back up at me. “Mrs. McKay. I love it.”