Page 100 of Raging Waters
“Katie’s adjusting well in their apartment.” They’d rented a unit not ten miles from Mackenzie’s parents’home. To be cautious in case any of her father’s crime syndicate might still be active, she was using an assumed name and probably always would. The local police were apprised of the situation, which further eased Mackenzie’s mind.
“Cordelia’s planning to come next weekend to introduce Katie to my parents while she looks for a new location for her stable.” The thought of it, their grandchild, her niece, the best part of Aaron and Cordelia, made a lump form in her throat. She’d already been picking out a few toys and activities she could share with Katie when they arrived. She intended to be the best auntie ever to hold the title. “My parents want you to come for dinner tonight, by the way,” she said, suddenly feeling butterflies in her stomach.
He gave her a wondering look. “Really? All these months and you haven’t exactly wanted me around the old homestead.”
Her cheeks warmed. “I wasn’t sure about ... things.”
“I am.” The shifting light turned his frank gaze from brown to honey. “You know how I feel, Zee, don’t you?”
She did. He’d told her he loved her, wanted a future with her, but he wasn’t going to push. The notion of being loved by and loving Gideon Landry thrilled her.
But she’d needed time.
To be sure her head was on straight.
To accept that Bullseye was officially dead.
To be certain the feelings pulsing in her heart were not a knee-jerk reaction to a harrowing escape. She was finally certain. Completely.
She took a breath and turned toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m sure now.”
He tilted his head and looked at her with such intensity her stomach flipped. Before speaking, he quirked a brow. “Would you like to expound on that?”
“I love you, Gideon. I think maybe part of me always has.”
His grin was as bright as the summer morning as he rocked her in his arms. “It’s ’cause I’m a stud, right? You want to hitch your wagon to a rising star? Gonna be a civilian and run a mega-successful wilderness survival company? And I’m also super handsome? And I know the nutritional value of a praying mantis? And I make the best cup of coffee in the civilized world? Right? Those are only a few of the many reasons you love me?”
“No,” she said quietly and put her finger to his chest. “It’s because of what you’ve got in here.”
His expression softened to an inexpressible tenderness before he kissed her. “I never thought God would give me a chance with you.”
“Maybe he figured if we survived, we belonged together.”
“We do. For now and for always. I love you, Zee.”
She knew she could never hear those words enough even if he said them a million times. “I love you too, Gid.” His kiss was long and lingering.
“This is the best day of my life,” he said.
“Only one thing would make it better. Are you ready to go fishing?” she said, breathless.
He swung her around and kissed her again. “As long asyou promise to keep us out of the water. I’ve had enough of that.”
“Okay,” she said, reveling in the joy of her new beginning. “But if you fall in, I promise I’ll rescue you.”
“Counting on it.”
Thermos in hand, he tucked her into the circle of his arm and led the way.
