Page 197 of The Path to Loving Him
Hattie smiles down at her niece. “Was Uncle Dad lazy and didn’t want to cook for you tonight?”
“Uh, can I just say the Uncle Dad thing is the cutest sentiment I’ve ever heard,” Echo says.
Same. It’s so freaking adorable.
“He said Uncle Hayes had hot dogs.”
“He does. Why don’t you go get one? Don’t forget to load up on the ketchup.”
Mac is about to take off when she scans the crowd and spots me. “Gabby.” She throws her arms around my legs as well, and I return the hug. The kid gives the best hugs. Each time we’ve had “playdates,” I’ve been given awesome goodnight hugs.They’re addictive. Like her uncle.“You’re here.”
“I am,” I say. “I heard there were hot dogs too, and I couldn’t pass it up.”
“Will you eat with me?” She tugs on my hand, and I start moving in that direction when Ryland calls out to her.
“Mac, grab Aubree too. Uncle Wyatt has a question for her.”
“Dear God in heaven,” Hattie says in frustration, making me chuckle. “This is why men were not invited. They clearly can’t function without us.”
Aubree and I head toward the house just as the lights go out, pitching the backyard into darkness.
“What on earth,” Hattie calls out. “Hayes, the lights?—”
The firepit goes out as well, leaving the sunset across the ocean as the only light, casting an orange pink glow around the backyard.
“What’s happening?” I ask Ryland as he keeps his eyes on Hattie.
He nods toward Hattie, and I turn around where I see Hayes playing a guitar and walking toward Hattie, looking like a godwith a guitar in hand. Echo moves away, holding her phone up. I assume she is recording the whole thing as Hattie turns to find Hayes walking toward her. Immediately, her hands go up to her mouth as he sings his new single,Electric Sunshine.
We’re joined by Maggie and Wyatt, and together, we all watch as Hayes plays to Hattie, sitting down on the bench together that’s in front of the fireplace. When he’s done, he spins his guitar to his back and then takes a knee in front of Hattie. I can hear her crying from here as my heart hammers out of my chest, watching this perfectly executed moment.
Hayes speaks softly to Hattie, holding her hand, and after a sob escapes her, she nods. Hayes scoops her up and kisses her senseless. Echo and Maggie take pictures. Ryland, Brody, Wyatt, and I all cheer while Mac runs up to them and hugs them.
“Oh my God, did you know this was happening?” I ask Ryland.
He nods. “I was sworn to secrecy. He had it planned this entire time. He was going to go more elaborate but then said he wanted to do it in the same place where he fell for her, during sunset.”
“It was beautiful.”
Hattie turns toward us and says, “We’re engaged . . . finally!”
We all laugh and walk up to the newly engaged couple to offer our congratulations. I let everyone move in first since I’m the newcomer and because I truly love watching Ryland interact with his family. The way he pulls Hattie into a great big bear hug, how he shakes Hayes’s hand but then pulls him into a hug, and how he lifts Mac up into his arms so she can high-five everyone.
It’s endearing.
And it just solidifies the feelings I have for this man.
He’s everything I’m looking for in a partner.
He’s kind, has a warm heart, and his family comes first.
He’s smart, loves baseball just as much as I do, and cares about the progress of the sport and those in it.
When it comes to me, he’s loving, protective, and he’s present, something Nathan never was.
“Come here,” Ryland says when he notices I’m standing outside the group. He unabashedly pulls me into his side and wraps his arm around my waist before placing a kiss on the top of my head.
Seriously shocked that he’s showing affection, I look up at him, and he just winks. And this exact reason is why I’m falling for this man. He keeps breaking his boundaries. He keeps growing. He keeps putting one foot in front of the other instead of regressing to his past.
