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Taschen climbed out of the vehicle and waited for Sephie to hop out. He came around just in time to see Kevin dart off down the driveway.

The day was hot. The scent of fragrant wildflowers filled the air, and birds and critters chattered around them. Sephie walked up to him, her eyes wide and her smile ecstatic.

It’d been seven weeks since their hellish ordeal and a month since she found out she was pregnant. The wound on Sephie’s temple had healed nicely. Only some slight discoloration was visible. The bullet graze on her side had been a bit more annoying, but now she rarely felt discomfort when she moved.

Part of him had been worried she’d struggle with what she’d been exposed to. She’d had a few nightmares, and she’d wanted to talk about the event over and over during the first week after her rescue, but it seemed she’d processed things .

He’d finally had a call with James Libby to learn more about what the journalist had been working on with Pippa. Sephie’s best friend had been smart as hell. She’d saved texts, pictures, and other evidence of inappropriate scenarios she’d been subjected to as a minor. She’d even had a recording of Raymond trying to seduce her when she was underage. The conversation with James had been the final piece in the closure puzzle.

Afterwards, Sephie called Annie and Clay in Barcelona and filled them in. She’d spoken privately to Clay, to explain the truth of what’d happened to him. According to Sephie, he’d been oddly quiet, and she suspected he remembered something but didn’t want to talk about it.

At least Clay wouldn’t see the footage, which was now with the FBI. Taschen just prayed Clay would find the help he needed to process what he’d been through.

James had informed them that the FBI had located the other twenty-six people who’d been present at the auction that night. Taschen and Sephie had been disgusted to hear the names of several celebrities and politicians. The names were kept away from the media. James had also told him the FBI had learned the Covenant had 167 other members, whose arrests were pending.

“I thought we were going to the cabin?” She propped her fists on her hips and scrunched her brow in mock accusation .

Her navy-blue tank top hugged her slim waist. He couldn’t wait for her to show so he could see how she rocked a swollen belly. Her denim cutoff shorts made him want to strip her naked right here and now, but if he did, he’d never get to the main reason why they were here.

He caught her hand and pulled her into step beside him. “We are going to the cabin,” he said.

They’d both needed this getaway. It had been stressful attending Yvette’s funeral and laying to rest all the questions surrounding Pippa.

Thankfully, news of the baby had helped them shift gears a little, and some of the sadness had been replaced with excitement. They’d spent countless days talking about names—and a lot of time lying in bed while she battled morning sickness. Taschen had quickly learned that she needed breakfast immediately after waking and pickles and crackers to combat the nausea.

Toth had offered up the cabin, and Taschen couldn’t think of a better place to go than the little home where he’d fallen for this woman.

Except for here.

This was special. This was permanent.

They walked down the gravel driveway. Pine trees and flowers lined the path that wound ahead of them, keeping the gem of a surprise out of view.

“Then where are we?” Genuine confusion rang in her tone. “This isn’t the cabin.”

He continued to stroll. “Remember when we went on that walk in the forest?”

“Oh yeah. Does this lead there?”

He grinned. “Nope.”

“Taschen,” she said, yanking on his arm. “Why are you being so deceptive?”

They rounded the corner. A large log cabin sat at the end of the circular driveway. The sprawling front porch stretched toward them. From where they approached, they could see a little of the porch at the back, where a hot tub waited. The deck glistened with fresh stain, and on the front porch, a red umbrella hung over two chairs with red cushions.

She gasped. “Oh my god. It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

She wheeled to face him. “We’re staying here?”

They reached the porch, where Kevin already danced, waiting to enter. Taschen dug into his pocket and held out a key dangling on a ring. “Well, I think we can stay here as often as we want since we own the place.”

Her jaw dropped. She clapped her hand over her mouth. Warmth spread through him as he wrapped her in a hug.

“In the forest,” she finally said, her voice shaky. “You talked about owning a cabin out here.”

He winked. “That’s right. But not just me. I want to own it with the woman I plan to spend the rest of my life with. The woman I fell for in these woods,” he said, gesturing to the thousands of acres of mountains and trees that they didn’t own but could definitely explore. Together.

She looked at him, her green eyes full of awe and... hope? “What did you say?” she whispered.

He kissed her forehead then her nose, caging her in his arms. He didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. “I said I want to own it with the woman I plan to spend the rest of my life with.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I want that, too.”

He smiled slowly because he wanted to remember this moment for the rest of his life. “Good. Because you’re going to help me paint, decorate, and get the hot tub fired up so we can spend every spare minute here.”

She placed her hand on his jaw, just as she’d done a hundred times in the last few weeks. Her touch filled him with everything he’d ever wanted. The promise of a wife. A family. A future together.

“Only if you let me watch you chop firewood.”

He threw back his head as he laughed.

“Shirtless,” she added.

“All right, all right. I can do that.”

She smiled. Happiness glowed in her eyes. “You’re going to make a damn good father—and husband one day.”

One day.

Little did she know that he didn’t want to wait for that day. He wanted to make his devotion to Sephie official. Right now.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black jewelry box.

Sephie stilled.

He dropped to one knee, opened the box, and revealed the glittering solitaire diamond ring he’d bought a few days ago. “Sephie, you mean everything to me. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted. I promise to be the best husband and father I can be—if you’ll have me.” The thickness in his throat made it hard to speak, but he forced out every word with precision, praying she understood the love he had for her and their baby.

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. “Oh my gosh.” She sniffled. “Look what you’re doing to this hormonal pregnant lady!” she shrieked, laughing.

“Is that a yes?” he asked, his heart thumping.

“Yes! Hell yes!”

He slid the ring on her finger then stood to kiss her smooth, perfect lips.

“I love you so much,” she declared.

“I love you more.”

She was everything. And he’d make sure she never forgot that.