Last Chance

by Christy Reece

  His mind on getting out of there without attracting any more attention, he barely noticed the slight stir in the ballroom until he heard several awed comments, including “What a stunning-looking woman” and “Who is that vision?”

  Seconds from going out the door, Lucas caught a glimpse of red out of the corner of his eye. He jerked to a stop. Turning slowly, he lost his breath. A vision indeed…one that appeared in his dreams nightly. Wearing his favorite of the dresses he’d purchased for her in hopeful anticipation that she would be with him tonight, McKenna was lovelier than he could have imagined.

  Her hair had apparently grown quite a bit since he’d seen her, as she was wearing it up in some sort of casual but chic style that emphasized the purity and delicate femininity of her elegant face. He’d always thought McKenna beautiful; tonight she went far beyond.

  She’d been gazing around a bit cautiously, as though uncertain of her right to be there. The instant she caught sight of him, a myriad of strong emotions played out on her face. And every one of them caused his chest to tighten.

  Sounds disappeared. Every person in the room ceased to exist with the exception of one. The only one that mattered. As if they were the only two people in the universe, Lucas began to move slowly toward her. He was reminded of the day she came to him in Paris and how he’d been afraid she’d disappear like the ghost she claimed to be. That same surreal feeling washed over him.

  She met him in the middle of the room, her expression one of such wonder and beauty that Lucas’s already tight chest constricted even more. Two feet from him, she stopped. He closed the distance between them and said huskily, “You came home.”

  Her smile holding every promise he could hope for, she whispered, “Yes.”

  Pulling her into his arms, he asked, “For how long?”

  Her heart in her eyes, she whispered the word Lucas ached to hear: “Forever.”

  “Thank God.” His eyes roamed over her; she was even more beautiful than he remembered. “You look stunning.”

  “So do you.” Her eyes twinkled. “I’ve never seen you in a tuxedo before. I’m surprised you’re not surrounded by a multitude of women vying for your attention.”

  He shook his head. “There’s no other woman who could catch my attention.”

  The palm of her hand touched his jaw in a tender, sweet caress. “Are you well?”

  “I am now.”

  Though more than aware that the entire room had almost stopped breathing as they watched them, Lucas didn’t give a damn. Nothing could spoil this moment for him.

  McKenna’s trembling smile told him she was a little less confident about attracting so much attention. “We seemed to have stopped the party.”

  “Only because the most beautiful woman in the world has arrived.”

  Instead of smiling as he intended for her to, her face went solemn. “I love you so much.”

  Privacy suddenly became imperative. Taking her hand, he led her through the giant ballroom. Ignoring the cameras flashing and whispered speculation, Lucas took her out a door onto a side veranda. Sparkling lights glittered the walkway as he stalked to the farthest corner of the long portico.

  “Where are we going?”

  “As far away from the party as possible.”

  “We could leave.”

  “We will soon; this can’t wait.” Finally reaching the end, Lucas pulled her into his arms. Covering her mouth with his, he savored the flavor and beauty of the lips he’d missed tasting.

  McKenna moaned under his hot mouth. How many nights had she lain awake, dreaming of this? Lucas’s reaction to seeing her was all she could have wanted.

  Lifting his mouth from hers slightly, he growled against her lips, “Never stay away from me that long again.”

  More than ready to give him that assurance and so much more, she whispered, “I promise.”

  Sealing that promise, he closed his mouth over hers and once again, McKenna lost herself to the magic. How she had missed his kiss, his taste.

  After several seconds, he loosened his arms, and asked, “How’s Jamie?”

  She smiled, anxious to share with him everything she’d learned about her little sister. “Amazing. She’s so savvy and incredibly smart. She has a degree in elementary education but has only been able to teach for a year. The guy she married ended up being a major jerk. It only took one time for him to get abusive and she was out of there.”

  “She sounds like a remarkable woman. And she obviously has a lot in common with her sister.”

  “I can’t wait for you to get to know her. She’s such a wonderful person.”

  “Did she come with you?”

  “No. I wanted her to, but she had to go home to get some stuff sorted out. We’ve promised to call each other every day, and she’ll either come here or I’ll go to the States to see her soon.”

  “She’ll definitely have to be here for the wedding.”

  Her heart stopped. “Wedding?”

  As if he hadn’t heard her, he continued, “And when we get back from our honeymoon, maybe she’d like to come stay with us. Or live with us if she wants to.”

  “Honeymoon?”

  “Where would you like to go?”

  Her breath coming in rapid pants, McKenna pulled away to stare up at him. “You want to marry me?”

  “You sound surprised.”

  “I just…” How did she tell him that she’d never in her life imagined anything so remarkably wonderful as to be married to him?

  “You just what?”

  “I never…”

  “McKenna?”

  There was uncertainty and vulnerability in Lucas’s expression. Something she’d never thought to see in him.

  Emotions clogging her throat, she swallowed hard. Tears sprang to her eyes and she didn’t bother to try to stop them. Her voice thick, she whispered, “I just never thought anyone as wonderful as you could happen to me. You’ve given me more than I could ever dream of having.”

  “I want to give you the world.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want the world. I just want you.”

  “And you have me. Always.”

  “What about the past?”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “The instant people learn who I am, they’ll delve into my past. Everything will come out.”

  “I can get the records buried, if that’s what you want.”

  “I just don’t want any of it to taint you or your family. I—”

  McKenna gasped when he grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly. “Do not even use that word. There is nothing about you I’m ashamed of or want to hide. The only reason I asked was for you. I don’t give a damn what anyone says, sweetheart. But the last thing I want is for you to be hurt.”

  A lump developed in her throat. How had she gotten so lucky? “You’re the finest man I know.”

  “I’m just a man totally and forever in love with the woman of his dreams. It’s that simple.”

  “Take me home and make love to me.”

  “There’s nothing I’d rather do, but before we leave, tell me if you want me to cover your past. The charges against you were dropped. There should be no problem in getting your record expunged.”

  McKenna took a breath. She’d been living in the shadows for too long. The things she had endured were horrific, but if she hid them, she would still be in the shadows, still hiding. So what if people knew? The two people she loved, Lucas and her sister, knew everything. What did the rest of the world matter? “Don’t do anything.”

  His smile told her he wholeheartedly approved. “Good.” Pulling her with him, they headed back inside. “There are a couple of friends I want you to meet.”

  Hours later, lying in bed, wrapped in Lucas’s arms, McKenna relived the evening. He had led her back into the ballroom without telling her what he was going to do, nodding and smiling at several people, all the while ignoring the cameras flashing like fireworks all around them. Nothing had sto
pped him until they approached a door with two British soldiers standing on either side of it. Lucas had murmured something and one of the men opened the door and they’d walked in the room.

  Lucas had said he wanted her to meet a friend. She was in the middle of the room before she realized that friend was the Queen of England. Flabbergasted was the word most descriptive of her feelings. She’d done her best to act proper, curtsied when she thought it appropriate, and stood in wide-eyed awe as Lucas explained that she was his fiancée.

  After that, meeting anyone else had been anticlimactic. Thankfully, Lucas hadn’t wanted to stay much longer. He sought out the prime minister and his family and did another introduction. On the way out the door, he stopped to say hello to his friend Jared Livingston and his wife, Lara. Then he was nudging her in the direction of the nearest exit. The second they were in the backseat of the limo, she was back in his arms, where she wanted to stay forever.

  Bringing her back to the present, his mouth at her ear, he whispered, “What are you thinking?”

  “That I could stay in your arms forever.”

  “And that’s where I plan for you to be.”

  She raised up on her elbow to look down at him. Moonlight reflected on his face, revealing his beautiful smile, his eyes glittering with a deep contentment. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  “If I hadn’t come back, would you have just let me go?”

  His expression grew serious. “I would like to say that yes, I would have, simply because if you hadn’t come back to me, I knew it would have been your choice. But I would never have given up hope and I probably would have eventually come for you.”

  “I’m sorry I put you through that.”

  “You’re here now. That’s all that counts.”

  She snuggled deeper into his arms.

  “I have a confession to make,” Lucas said.

  “What?”

  “I’ve been in touch with Noah McCall.”

  She smiled against his chest. She’d talked to Noah yesterday. He hadn’t told her he had talked to Lucas, but she had a feeling she knew what was coming.

  “About what?”

  “I told him I’d like to do some work for LCR from time to time.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’ve seen the good they do. The training I have should be used for something good.”

  “Think we’ll be able to work together without getting each other shot?”

  He held her tighter. “I’ll make sure of it.”

  “We’ll both make sure of it.” She pressed a kiss against his chest. “Thank you, Lucas.”

  “For what?”

  “For loving me.”

  Rolling her over onto her back, Lucas loomed above her and whispered against her lips, “Sweetheart, loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

  With a groan, McKenna surrendered her body to the man who had stolen her heart. She’d never thought she’d find happiness. Never believed she deserved it. But now, because of Lucas, all of that had changed. Her one chance for love had turned into a lifetime of happiness.

  acknowledgments

  It’s with enormous gratitude that I say thank you to the following:

  My husband, Jim, whose love and belief in me has made all the difference in my life. And to the darling little creatures who sleep at my feet and bark excitedly at everything and nothing while I work.

  My mom, sisters, and aunts for their support and encouragement.

  Danny Agan for his help with guns and knives, and Kerry Holder for her assistance with all things British. Any mistakes are entirely my own.

  Darah Lace, brainstormer extraordinaire, who always asks the right questions at the right time.

  Kate Collins, my kind and talented editor, who had a vision for this book and made it so much better with her insight. And to all the talented and wonderful people at Ballantine who made this book possible, with special thanks to Kelli Fillingim, Beth Pearson, and Sue Warga.

  Kim Whalen, my spectacular agent, for her enthusiasm and encouragement.

  To the readers of the Last Chance Rescue books, thank you for making the hard work so much fun.

  Last Chance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A Ballantine Books Mass Market Original

  Copyright © 2010 by Christy Reece

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

  BALLANTINE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

  eISBN: 978-0-345-51775-3

  www.ballantinebooks.com

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