jostled for a chance to greet him didn’t faze him anymore.
He liked it. His closest friends were all here, Catrina in a skunk-striped wig and sapphire blue dress. He shook his head. Jolie had told him she’d gone back to her old self—but now with wigs. Her recovery was even more entertaining firsthand.
“They give you a rough time in the big house?” somebody yelled.
“Eh, knock a few guys around with your metal leg, and the rest of them leave you alone.”
Laughter surrounded him.
Jolie hugged him tightly. The hour and a half plane ride in her rented jet hadn’t been nearly enough time after two months of dreaming about her. Her mussed curls and bright eyes said he’d done all right, though.
He was going to do all right by her for the rest of his hopefully long life.
Brayden tugged his arm and surreptitiously handed him a small box. “Right where you left it, buddy. If it smells like a hippie shop, it’s because your girlfriend drowned your altar in incense every day, sternly telling your ancestors what to do. If that had anything to do with the verdict, I say bravo.”
Hauk popped open the box to see the rose ring he’d made. He smiled. It was time. If she wanted him—and she clearly did, thank all holy powers—then it made no sense for them to be apart. He set his cider down on the table and motioned for some room with his hands.
Despite believing he knew the answer, his palms grew damp and his heart picked up speed as he turned Jolie to face him. She smiled up at him with a wicked sexy twist to her pink mouth, and he almost lost the ability to think. The crowd vanished in his mind as he licked his lips and dropped down to one knee.
Her smile changed to surprise as her fingers clutched his tightly.
She’d known, right? He thought she’d known he would do this. His breath stuttered as he sucked in air to say the words he’d been planning every night for two months. “Jolie Benoit, I love you. I love your bravery and your smile. Your wit and your talent. Your work ethic and your goodness. I want every night of my life to be with you. I want to go out into every day knowing I belong to you. And you to me. Marry me?”
She kneeled on the floor before him, crying. He thought they were happy tears, but he was too nervous to know. She leaned in and pressed her forehead against his, then her lips. He kissed her back, still waiting for her to say something.
She stopped the kiss long enough to say, “Yes. Yes. Yes.” Kissed him again.
The crowd came back into focus, hooting their approval. She laughed through her tears as he pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. Her smile beamed as she showed it around to the crowd. More cheers, and she kissed him again, deeper this time, her hands encasing his head and her body pressed against him.
He felt lighter than air as he kissed her back. A new man. A whole man. Nothing had to matter but their love and his mission. That was a good life and all he needed to be happy.
A crack of metal on tile. Somebody yelled. Jolie jerked back, shock on her face.
He shot up to standing and pressed her behind him, scanning for the danger.
But his circle of friends wasn’t facing outward. They faced him. Brayden’s jaw dropped as he studied Hauk up and down.
“What?” Hauk asked, suddenly self-conscious.
He sensed Jolie stand up behind him and turned to see if there was something the other way. More gasps from the crowd. Jolie stared at him in wonder as she reached up and tugged at the side of his head.
Without touching him.
He reached a hand up and found hair. His hair.
Jolie made noises of surprise as she smoothed her fingers across his face.
The adrenaline wore off and he realized he was standing with easy balance, not the cumbersome tilt of his ill-fitting, prison-issue leg. He wiggled the toes of his left foot. Gawked at the sudden appearance of an entire limb. “What the...?”
Jolie’s eyes moved from his face to her hand. Slowly she slipped the ring off until the metal was no longer touching skin.
Pain shot down his left leg as he felt himself wasting back. “Stop.”
She slammed the ring back onto her finger. Just as quickly the pain subsided.
He breathed