Page 46 of A Charming Kiss
“Yeah, I’m talking about you,” he laughed tearfully, opening a black velvet box before her with the prettiest heart-shaped diamond solitaire lying there beside two other slim golden bands. He bought an entire set to propose to her. “How about we paint a few more rooms, work on decorating our pink one,” he whispered in a hushed voice – but the escalating blush on his face was everything. She laughed tearfully, remembering the theme they’d whispered to each other one evening. “And let’s fill that house, making it a home together. I want to take chances together, to make little Chances together, to fill that house so full of love that it makes everyone envious of what we’ve found… because I love you, Heidi. I cannot imagine life without seeing your smile,” he whispered raggedly. “I need you with me.”
“I need you, too,” she confessed, her voice aching. “I love how beautiful you love me. I’ve never felt like this before – and I never want it to end.”
“It won’t,” he promised. “I swear it.”
Nodding tearfully, she knelt down in the street before him and held out her hand. He took it in his hands, his hands trembling as he removed the ring from the velvet box and met her eyes. She didn’t care if they were both kneeling in the middle of a crowd on a very uncomfortable cobblestone street. She was here, before the man she adored, treasuring this moment for all time. That look on his beloved face would be one she never forgot so long as she lived.
“My heart will always be yours… as long as you’ll have me,” he promised, sliding the ring on her finger as he held her gaze.
“That’s a long time, Officer Chance,” she whispered.
“I certainly hope so – Mrs. Chance,” hereplied breathlessly. “Let’s do this. Let’s figure out what we want our lives to look like together. Let’s work together to get your café started and breathe new life into our town, one step at a time.”
“That sounds incredible,” she wept, touched by his words. “You’re my home… and I think you’ve always been.”
“I always will be, my love,” he vowed, pulling her to him as he kissed tenderly, their bittersweet salty tears mingling as a cheer rose up around them. As they parted, as their kiss ended, Jack didn’t let go of her. He remained there, cradling her face in his hands sweetly. “I love you so much, and I’ll be everything you could ever need, Sweetheart.”
“Just be yourself,” she beckoned, melting.
“I can do that.”
Seventeen
EVERETT
In the distance,leaving the business of the town behind him, Everett drove like a madman to reach his farm. His truck barrelled through the empty streets of Fate, grateful that the Jamboree was this evening, if someone was going to do something as crazy as parachuting at sunset. You could land in a tree, break a leg in a field somewhere, or drown if you landed in the water… and he had a large pond with a dock on his property.
The last thing he needed after breaking off the engagement with Becky Sue was to find a body floating in the water, tangled up in a parachute – and then he saw it.
There was someone flailing in the headlights of his truck – in the water. The words he swore would make anyone blush, including a salty sailor. He threw the truck in park, left it running, and made a mad dash through the fields toward whoever was struggling to stay above the water. He could see that they were wrapped in the lines, just as he feared.
“Hang on,” Everett shouted hoarsely and leaped fully clothed into the water. He began working hisarms frantically to reach whoever it was – and trying not to get entangled himself.
“Help…”
A woman’s voice.
There was a woman sinking under the surface of the pond – and he was either about to witness someone die, possibly join her, or hopefully drag them both out of the water safely.
“I’ve got you,” he promised, yanking his Bowie knife out of the holster – grateful he kept his hunting knife on him at all times. He used it for everything – fishing, dressing a deer, whittling, you name it… and this time, it was being used to free a woman from a watery grave.
He cursed again – and then felt her grasping for him. “I’ve got you,” he repeated several times, pulling her upward so she could suck in a breath. “I’ve got you. I’m here… I promise, I’m here.”
She was gasping and choking, her hair was everywhere, as she clung to him. He felt around blindly in the dark water, realizing that one of her arms was wrapped tightly in the line and bound to her leg. Yeah, she was trussed up like a Christmas goose in this mess… and he might not be able to get her freed in the water. Putting the knife in his mouth, he bit down and began dragging her bodily to the bank of the pond.
Panting, exhausted, and muscles aching, he finally laid her out on the shallow bank, in the muddy grass, and looked at her. Everett’s dark eyes met crystalline blue ones in the moonlight – and he swallowed.
“You saved me,” she whispered tearfully, her voice hoarse and aching. “Oh my… oh my gosh, I almost died and…”
“Shhh,” he breathed as his heart staggered wildly from the adrenaline rush. He just saved someone’s life – on hisfreakin’ property. “You’re gonna be okay. I’m gonna get you free and…”
She leaned up – and kissed him.
He’s always done the right thing… until now.
