by Jill Shalvis
Too dignified to struggle, she went limp in his arms and glared at him. "Let me go," she snapped. "I said I'm not leaving. I'll come back with you and play house, dammit, now let me go."
"You think I was toying with you," he said in disbelief, staring down into her hurting eyes. "Lani—" A frustrated growl was all he could make for a moment, he was so surprised. And hurt. "Listen to me. I've never said those words before, to anyone. Never, Lani. Do you understand what I'm saying to you? God, the last thing I would ever do is fling it around like a joke."
Her eyes filled, not with hope or joy, but with hurt, and he felt sick. "Am I too late?" he whispered, pulling her tight to him just to feel her body heat. "I can't be, I won't let it be too late. I love you, dammit. I'm sorry I was so slow about it, but you scared me to death."
One tear fell, but she remained silent.
Behind him, in line, several women muttered to themselves about men and their stupidity.
"No," he said fiercely, forgetting everyone that surrounded them, most of them blatantly eavesdropping now, as he hauled her closer yet, banding his arms tightly around her. "Don't cry, I'm so sorry."
"Say it again."
He pulled back slightly and stared at her.
"Say it again," she demanded.
The small crowd pressed closer, listening.
Colin's pride was gone, he had nothing left to lose. "I love you, Lani. With all my heart and soul."
But the woman in his arms didn't move a muscle, not a one, and fear filled him. Why wasn't she saying something, anything?
"You have to believe in me," he said, desperate now. "I'm a slow learner but once I catch on, it's for keeps. I know now what I've been missing in my life and it's you."
Several women in the crowd let out a collective sigh.
"I know you've had it rough," he said, ignoring their audience the best he could. "I know deep down you're just as afraid as me, that you have been ever since you lost your parents so cruelly. But I can love you that much, Lani. I already do, all I need is the time to prove it to you. We can start over and make our own family."
She dipped her head down to his chest so he couldn't see her expression but he felt her shaking. God. He'd made her cry again. "I'm rushing you, I'm sorry—"
"Rushing me?" She lifted her head now and he saw that she hadn't been shaking with tears, but with joy. It blazed from her eyes, lighting her face and his heart.
"Colin," she said with a laugh. "I've loved you forever. You couldn't have fallen fast enough for me. Rushing?" She laughed again, the sound contagious.
The crowd grinned unabashedly.
"You just finally caught up with me," she said to him softly.
"Does this mean—" He didn't know, didn't have a clue and he was dying. "You're okay with… I can—"
"Promise me forever, Colin," she whispered, looping her arms around his neck.
"I'll promise you forever and a day if you promise to marry me. Fill my heart with joy and love for the rest of our lives."
She went still. "Really?"
"Marry me, Lani. For real this time."
Lani smiled, her heart overflowing. "Oh, yes," she agreed. Her future husband leaned down and kissed her, a soft, sweet, giving kiss full of love.
Above them on the departure board, the plane bound for Hawaii left the gate.
* * * *
