Chapter Ten #3
Crouching, he released the kittens. They bounded off through the arch that led to Kenzie’s home office and the stairs.
He tried to think of a really good opening line. Too bad his mind was blank as a sheet of white paper. He hadn’t prepared and he felt like the fool he was.
Kenzie took pity on him then. “Coffee?”
“No.”
“Then…?”
“I need to tell you…”
“What?”
“That I…love you. Only you. That there was never anyone but you, not really, not in my heart.”
She gulped. “You mean that?”
“I do. I always did. I always will. Kenzie, I loved you so much way back then—loved you more than anything. I never should have left you.”
She took a step closer, laid her smooth hand against his cheek. His whole body burned at that touch. “That was then. Forget about then. It’s gone. Let’s just talk about now.”
He caught that soft hand of hers and pressed a kiss into the center of her palm.
“All the things I said last Saturday morning, I meant them, all of them. I want you and I want the baby. I want what I walked away from all those years ago—a life with you, the forever kind. I want a home with you, a future with you and with the baby—hell, with Tom and Ed, too… All of it. I want more kids later if that works for you. We can talk about that—I mean, if any of it is even possible, if you think that you might just maybe be able to love me, too.”
“Oh, Finn…”
He was still on his feet. Should he be on his feet?
No, he should not.
He dropped to one knee right there in front of her, then swept off his hat and pressed it to his heart. But it was just in the way there, so he tossed it over his shoulder.
She stifled a laugh. “Finn, what in the…?”
“Kenzie.” He still had her hand, so he pressed his lips to it.
And then he said, “I am so in love with you I can’t see straight.
The truth is, I always have been, ever since that first day I walked you home freshman year.
I was in love with you when we were fourteen and I never stopped.
And Kenzie, if you can see your way clear to giving me one more chance, I swear on my life, on all that I hold dear, that I will never let you down again. ”
Kenzie swallowed. Hard. “Finn?”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, Finn.” A tear slid down her cheek. “I love you, too.”
“Kenz. Please don’t cry…” He swept to his feet and gathered her into his arms.
And then they were kissing, deep and slow and oh, so tenderly.
When he finally lifted his head, he said in a rough growl, “Make me the happiest guy on the planet. Marry me, Kenzie.”
She blinked away more tears and nodded. “I will, yes. I love you, Finn. So very much. I’ve missed you so much since I sent you away. I’m so glad you’re here, so glad you didn’t let me chase you away.”
He drew a slow, ragged breath. “You mean that?”
“With all my heart.”
“Damn. I was scared to death you’d just say no again.”
“No way. The past five days without you have been hell. I love you, Finn Monahan. You’re the one for me. And yes, I will marry you.”
He kissed her again, claiming those sweet lips for the longest time. He could have gone on kissing her forever, but there was one more thing he had to do first. Carefully, he slipped the black velvet box from his pocket and took the ring out.
With a shy smile, she gave him her hand. He slid that ring on her finger. “It fits,” he whispered in relief and pure joy. He kissed the back of her hand. “I took a guess about the size.”
She stared down at it with a sigh. “It’s perfect. I love it so much. And I love you.”
And then they were kissing again, holding on tight to each other as he guided her backward to the short hallway that led to her room.
He started undressing her before they’d even reached the bedroom. She returned the favor. In no time, they were both wearing nothing but happy smiles.
They stood by the bed, their arms around each other.
“Let’s make it soon,” she said, and kissed him hard and quick. “I want to be married to you. We’ve wasted too many years already.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “Soon is great. I can’t wait, either. It’s about damn time.”
She kissed the scar on the bridge of his nose. “Nothing fancy. A few friends, my mother if she can make it. My dad, too. Your mom and dad and your brothers…”
“I’ll invite them. But, well, you know my dad. He’s usually nothing but trouble in an endless list of ways.”
“We’ll deal with him. He doesn’t scare me.”
“Okay, we’ll invite him, too,” Finn replied and then added, “But if my family can’t make it, I don’t want to wait for them. I want you to be my wife and I want that before the baby comes.”
“Yes,” she said, holding his face between her hands, pressing her forehead to his. “Yes…”
“I like your house,” he added after another endless, searching kiss. “I’m thinking we could sell mine. Is that okay, if we live here?”
“Of course.” She looked up at him, those beautiful eyes shining. “I would like that, too.”
“What else do we need to talk about?”
“Right now, not a thing,” she said with a wicked smile. “Right now, we’re going to consummate this union of ours.”
“That is an excellent idea.” He scooped her high in his arms, then carried her the rest of the way to her bed.
* * *
That Friday night, the Titans played the White Rock Coyotes at home.
The Titans were confident, ready to go. Oscar Abernathy felt the energy on the field and knew that the team would come back strong from last week’s defeat.
And they did. When the game clock ticked down to zero it was Titans 30, Coyotes 13.
And the Titans’ victory wasn’t the only good news that night. Everyone was talking about Coach Monahan and Nurse Osborne. She wore Coach’s ring on her finger.
Oscar wasn’t the least surprised to learn that Coach and Nurse Osborne were getting married. Coach was no fool.
He’d just needed a little nudge in the right direction.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Her Fortune VIP by Michele Dunaway.