by Cowan, Debra
“You should be with someone who doesn’t need you to change.”
“I want us to work, no matter what it takes.”
“Not this. Your job is who you are. You’re incredible at it.”
“And I like it, but I love you.” He took her hand, encouraged when she didn’t pull away.
She shook her head. “You’d be unhappy. Our lives just don’t mesh, Gage.”
“They could, if you’d let them.” He tamped down his exasperation. “I know what it’s like to be without you. That’s a price I’m never paying again.”
Tears filled her eyes and he felt a burst of panic when she said, “I don’t want you to do this.”
“Well, I am. Can’t you meet me halfway?”
“You’ll resent it one day.”
“Damn, you’re stubborn. What I’ll resent is not getting another chance. My time away has been one regret after another. If I let you walk away, that will be the biggest one of all.”
She stared at him. He’d refused his old job. For them.
“You still love me. You know you do.”
There was no denying it.
He dragged a hand down his face. “Is it that you really haven’t forgiven me?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“I’m on my knees here, Meredith. Giving you whatever you want.”
She wanted to believe things would be different this time, but she was afraid to. “Do you mean it?”
“Yes,” he said firmly, his gaze intent on hers. “Just a chance. That’s all I’m asking.”
The wall she’d built against him weakened. “It isn’t fair for me not to trust you the same way you trust me.”
“We’ll get there. I’ll earn it.”
“No!”
“Baby—”
She put her hand on his arm, the first contact she’d initiated. Hope flared. “No. You don’t have to earn my trust. If I decide to try again, I will trust you.”
His heart kicked hard. “If? Are you saying…Will you give it a shot?”
“Yes.”
Her voice was so soft he had to lean forward. Even then, he was afraid he’d heard only what he wanted. “Meredith?”
“Yes.” She moved into him, flattened her hands on his chest. “I want to try again.”
Emotion tightened his chest as he covered her mouth with his. After a long moment, he lifted his head. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. I never stopped.”
How damn lucky was he? “You’re never going to doubt me again. I’ll make it work this time.”
“We’ll make it work.”
“You’re really saying yes?”
She nodded, her arms going around his neck as she pulled him down for another kiss.
He turned her, walking her backward toward the bed before he realized he didn’t have everything he wanted. Lifting his head, he said hoarsely, “Wait.”
“Why?” She nuzzled his neck.
Holding her to him with one arm, he pulled a slim leather notebook from his suit jacket with his other.
“What is that?”
“My calendar.”
She laughed, her eyes full of the light he’d almost given up ever seeing again. “What are you doing? Writing this stuff down?”
He was going for it. All of it. His lips feathered across her forehead. “I’m talking marriage, too.”
She started.
He pressed her. “Meredith, tell me you mean marriage, too.”
“We don’t have to hurry—”
“Tell me.”
His voice was husky with emotion and his face held a raw vulnerability she’d never seen before. Was his hand shaking? He was putting himself on the line, hoping she’d say yes, but probably expecting her to say “maybe” or “no.”
Here it was—the total commitment she’d once wanted from him. How could she give him any less?
“I want forever.” His eyes blazed down at her. “I want you to want that, too.”
“I do.” When she’d been so angry last year, she’d tried and failed to imagine herself growing old with someone else. She didn’t want anyone else. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“What about April 21?”
“What about it?” She pushed his dark jacket off his shoulders, loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt.
He laughed. “For our wedding.”
She snapped to attention, her blue eyes searching his. “You want to set a date?”
“Yes.”
“That’s less than two months away.”
He kissed her. “Yes.”
“We don’t have to hurry.”
He tossed the calendar to the floor and wrapped both arms around her. “Did you agree to marry me or not?”
She nodded.
“I don’t want to give you a chance to change your mind, but if you’re not sure—”
“I just thought it might be a good idea to take some time.”
“And make sure I mean to do what I say?”
She studied him and whatever she saw in his face had a soft smile curving her lips. “Okay, April 21.”
“You believe me, right? Us first.”
“Hmm.” Giving him a look from under her lashes, she slid her arms around his neck and breathed in his ear, “Why don’t you convince me? Right now.”
And he did.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4657-1
THE PRIVATE BODYGUARD
Copyright © 2010 by Debra S. Cowan
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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*The Hot Zone
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