“Now, Katie Sara, it’s time for you to forgive you.”
“I think I’ve begun to, about the same time I forgave Daddy that morning. But I needed your forgiveness.”
He laid his head back against the swing, put an arm around her and drew her close, encouraged when she didn’t resist. He bussed her cheek, then with a growl, kissed her till she had trouble remembering her name.
“I’ll apologize for a lot of things I’ve done, but that kiss isn’t one of them. I’ve missed you.”
Katie Sara drew her feet up onto the swing and curled into Reiner’s side. He draped an arm around her and pulled her closer, remembering Felicity’s warning. Don’t mess this up. She’s the one.
“We could have more children,” he whispered.
She raised her head quickly, rapping him on the chin.
“Ouch!”
“What?” The single word floated out.
“Ace, I lost you once. I can’t stand to lose you a second time.” He cleared his throat. “I know this isn’t the way it should be done. And I know this last week’s been—well... Which is why this probably isn’t the right time, either.”
“Reiner, what are you trying to say?”
“Since I first touched you, shoot, since I first saw you, you’ve been a part of me.” He ran his hand down her arm. “Felicity’s mom called this morning. She’s comin’ home. I’ll be free to go, but I don’t want to. Paradox is where I belong. Right here with you.”
She stared at him, a deep furrow between her brows.
“Oh, hell, Katie Sara, I want—” He scooted off the swing and knelt in front of her in the grass. “Katie Sara, will you marry me? Will you be my wife?”
“What?”
He stared at her. “I said will you—”
“I heard.”
“Katie Sara, you’re tryin’ my patience here.” He dug a faded blue velvet box out of his jeans pocket. “I know this isn’t much. I bought it twelve years ago with the money I made deliverin’ flowers for Mabbs’ Greenhouse. I’ll get you another, but for now—”
She shook her head.
His shoulders slumped. “I should’ve figured. Why would someone like you want me?”
“We really have to work on that esteem problem, Broderick.” She laughed and laid her hands on the sides of his face. Then she brought her lips within a breath of his. “I meant, no, you won’t get me another ring.”
She plucked the small solitaire from the box, handed it to him so he could slide it on her finger. “I want this one. The one my high school sweetheart bought me.” Tears filled her eyes for the umpteenth time that day. Happy ones this time. “This means more than any flashy diamond you could buy me now.”
He shook his head. Felicity had been right again.
“Katie Sara, I love you.” Reiner brought his lips down on hers. It looked like they were going to get to play in that Super Bowl after all!
About the Author
LYNNETTE AUSTIN loves long rides with the top down and the music cranked up, standing by the Gulf of Mexico when a storm is brewing, and sitting in her local coffee shop reading, writing and enjoying a cappuccino. She grew up in Pennsylvania, accepted her first teaching job in New York, then moved to Wyoming. Now, she splits her time between the beaches of Florida and the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia. She's been a finalist in Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Contest, PASIC's Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie Contest. Having grown up in a small town, that's where her heart takes her—to those quirky small towns where everybody knows everybody...and all their business, for better or worse. Visit Lynnette at www.authorlynnetteaustin.
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