Taking the signed paper, Zeke turned and shoved the tray into Tori’s hands. “Would you mind? And while you’re at it...” He sneaked a wink at Mandy before adding, “Get some class, Tori, because you obviously have none.”
Her jaw unhinged, but Paul nudged the woman away, so Zeke could return his attention to Mandy, who still looked bewildered…and beautiful. She reached her hands up to his face, putting her warm fingers on his cheeks.
“I can only guess how, but...why?”
She didn’t know why? “Because I...” Love you. “I want you to be happy.” Which were one and the same, weren’t they? He would make her happy...forever.
“I am,” she admitted. “Happier than you can imagine. I saw the helicopter, and I thought...” She blinked a tear. “I hoped you’d be on it.”
“As if I’d be that much of a cliché. I leave the grand gestures to Becker. Paul and I drove in a few minutes ago.”
She stifled a half-laugh, half-cry. “I really wanted you to come back to me.” Her voice cracked, and that did such stupid things to his heart.
“You doubted that I would?” How could she?
“Of course. I lied to you. I hurt you. You disappeared in the middle of the night.”
“I had work to do, Mandy. Work to make it completely right for us to be together.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him to whisper in her ear. “I never considered for one second that I wouldn’t come back to you. But I wasn’t going to say another word until you were—are—a free woman.”
“I am free.” A soft shudder ran through her. “That’s all I’ve wanted. Not independence, freedom...to love. There’s a difference, isn’t there?”
“Huge,” he agreed, stroking her hair as he held her close. “As long as you love me, you can have all the freedom you want and need.”
She inched back, her eyes darkening. He couldn’t breathe as he watched emotions play over her face and realization settle on her heart. “I could,” she sighed. “I could love you.”
“What’s this ‘could’ business?” Without a second’s hesitation, he reached down and scooped her into his arms, getting a small shriek of surprise as he cradled her. A crowd had circled them, cheering and clapping.
“Zeke!” she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck. He hoisted her higher and started across the sand. “What are you doing?”
“What I should have done in high school,” he said loudly. The crowd parted as he powered through, the sound of her laughter and cries of joy almost drowned out by the cheering and the thump of the chopper blades as they started up. “Watch out, world. Ezekiel the Geekiel got the best girl of all!”
A few familiar faces came into his view, blurred like they were in high school, except for the one that had never been anything but crystal clear. The face of the woman he loved, holding on for her life.
Mandy laughed as he lifted her into the helicopter, and they both turned and waved at the crowd.
“I can’t believe you did that!” she said, breathless. “Oh, look!” She lifted her left hand, holding a balled paper towel. “I still have our contract.”
He snagged the paper, holding a corner so the document that brought them together fluttered like a dragonfly in the wind. “We don’t need any contracts except the one that says forever and ever.” He leaned over to kiss her. “And clothing optional.”
The paper sailed off over the Gulf of Mexico, floating on their love and laughter.
He yanked the door closed and pulled her into him. “Buckle up for the ride of a lifetime, Mandy Mitchell.”
“Is that my name again?”
“Not for long.”