Page 52 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

Jetty Park Beach was almost empty. A few families were scattered along the shoreline, many in folding chairs, photographers setting up tripods with long lenses aimed at the horizon.

Kids clambered over the rocks and stared toward the launch pad in wide-eyed wonder.

The warm, salty breeze carried the lingering scent of sunscreen.

Lainey stood barefoot in the sand watching as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting streaks of pink and gray across the sky. Somewhere beyond the port, a rocket waited on the launch pad. Out of sight. Silent. Waiting.

She’d see it soon enough.

Anticipation hung in the air.

Luke raced along the surf line barefoot, his pants legs rolled up. She turned toward Finn, who was walking behind their son, and smiled to herself.

Finn had been acting weird lately. Not bad weird. A little quieter. A little jittery.

For sure, he was up to something. But what?

“Hey.” His voice was low and warm as he stepped beside her.

She turned and found him holding Luke’s hand, both of them grinning like Cheshire Cats.

“We’ve got the spot,” Finn said, gesturing toward the dunes. He’d brought a picnic supper, and blanket, set everything up and now looked like he was trying not to pace. He was quiet, distracted. His hands were fiddling with something in his pocket.

Lainey arched a brow. Finn had stared down more danger than she could count, but tonight he looked like he was one deep breath away from coming unglued.

“Is it time, Dad?” Luke asked, eyes gleaming.

He nodded.

“Time for what?” she asked.

Finn looked at her. Nervous. Hopeful. And dropped to one knee.

Her breath caught.

“Lainey.” His voice trembled. “You have always been the love of my life. Even when…” His voice cracked, and he blew out his breath. “Even when I didn’t think I deserved you. Even when I was too stubborn to admit how much I needed and loved you.”

He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a platinum ring with a single diamond surrounded by tiny sapphires like stars scattered across the sky.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Raising Luke. Building something that lasts.” He swallowed hard. “Lainey Harper, will you marry me?”

Luke squeezed her hand. “Please say yes, Mom.”

She smiled at her son, his brown eyes filled with hope, then back at Finn.

He was still kneeling, shoulders tight, as if everything depended upon her answer.

The sound of the waves crashed softly against the shore. The low murmur of conversations faded into the background. Time stood still.

“Yes,” she whispered as she dropped to her knees. “Yes.”

Luke whooped for joy just as a low rumble shook the ground. A white-hot blaze of light burst from the launch pad, lighting up the night sky. The rocket roared louder and louder as it shook the air and the earth as it climbed higher and higher into the heavens.

The ground vibrated beneath her knees. Her heart beat fast. Not from the launch but from the man in front of her and the boy beside her.

The three of them as one turned to watch it, arms wrapped around one another. Finn pressed a kiss to her temple. Luke leaned into her side, eyes wide as he looked up in wonder.

Luke threw his arms up in the air, shouting over the roar. “Best. Day. Ever!”

And it was.

For Luke, who needed his dad.

For Finn, who needed his family.

And for Lainey, who needed them both.

And right there, with the rocket fire lighting up the sky, Lainey knew one thing for sure. This was the beginning of everything good.