Page 59 of Murder In Dark Waters

“Come on in.” She held the door open wider so he could enter. His familiar scent wrapped around her as he sank down on the sofa. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine. How are you feeling?” His gaze held hers and she wanted to fall into the beautiful blue depths of his eyes.

She sat next to him. “I feel okay…maybe just a little bit tired and my wounds still hurt, but that’s to be expected. I was just getting ready to order some things I intend to sell in the store.”

“That must be exciting for you.”

“It is,” she replied. “I’m hoping to have the grand opening in about two weeks.”

“Wow, that’s a real fast track. Make sure you don’t overdo things.” There was a deep caring in his gaze.

“I won’t.”

“You do realize I’m going to continue to do everything in my power to find your mother’s killer,” he said.

“I know that, but Daniel, I do have a question for you. I was thinking about the night of the attack and I wondered why you showed up here that night? We hadn’t made any plans to meet.”

“True, we hadn’t made plans, but I needed to talk to you that night.”

She looked at him in confusion. “Talk to me about what?”

“About how much I love you.” His words hung in the air for a long moment, and then he reached for her hand. “Angelique,I’m deeply in love with you. I want to marry you. I want you to have my children and I want to build a future with you.”

“Daniel… I…” She started to pull her hand from his, but he held on tight.

“Look me in the eyes, Angelique. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t love me.”

She held his gaze for a long moment and then looked away. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t deny her love for him any longer. “Daniel, I am in love with you.” The words fell from her on a soft whisper. “But you know how I feel about these things. I don’t trust in love.”

“Dammit, Angelique, then trust in me.” He dropped her hand and instead stood and began to pace in front of her. “There is nothing for you to be afraid of with me. I will love and honor you for as long as we both live, and then I’ll continue loving you through eternity.”

He paced in front of her as he continued. “Fear is facing a killer who is holding a knife over your chest. Fear is not knowing when an attacker might strike again. But there’s no place for fear in love…not in the love I offer to you.”

He stopped pacing and fell to a knee in front of her. His eyes shimmered with a wealth of emotion that stole her breath away.

“If you love me, then believe in me,” he said softly. “If you really love me, then let your fears go. Make me the happiest man on earth…marry me, Angelique.”

“Okay,” she replied.

He stared at her for a long moment. “For real?”

She laughed as a rush of sheer happiness winged through her. “Yes, for real.”

He grabbed her hands and pulled her up and into his arms. “What made you change your mind?” he asked.

“I lived with fear the whole time Desiree was after me, and when you saved me that night it was like I was gifted a wholenew life. I don’t want to live in fear anymore. I want to live with you and be your wife. I want to have your babies and…”

His mouth took hers in a kiss that spoke of desire and an everlasting love. When the kiss ended, he held her gaze. “Do you promise to keep me safe from dancing deer in pink bikinis?”

She laughed. “I promise,” she replied. “You are such a goof.”

“I’m your goof,” he replied and then claimed her lips once again. She kissed him with all the love she had in her heart. She trusted in him. More than anything she trusted in them. Together they were going to have a marvelous life together, and she couldn’t wait for it to begin.