He smiled faintly, then grew serious again. "I swear on my life, I'll never hurt you or Lucy." There was something in his voice that made the words not so much a promise but a statement of fact. He would always deeply regret what had happened with Angela—Jayne knew that—but he'd put it into perspective and he was leaving it where it belonged. In the past.
"I know you won't." Her words were a statement, too. She knew him. She loved him. She had faith in him.
Rebecca had once said she believed Jayne was destined to rescue Tyler from his past and from himself. At the time Jayne hadn't given any thought to how she was meant to rescue him. Now she knew: with love and faith. The most powerful gifts she could give him.
He faced her on the bench, his fingers gently gripping hers. "I love you, Jayne."
"I love you more."
With a wry grin, he shook his head. "Not possible." Then he leaned closer to kiss her, his mouth brushing across hers before settling over it. His tongue slipped inside, and his free hand slid over her shoulder, coaxing her closer. He kissed her hungrily, needily, until they were both short of breath, until their body temperatures exceeded the morning's heat, until she trembled and so did he.
Finally he ended the kiss and gazed down at her solemnly. "It was all worth it."
"What was?"
"My life. My father. Everything that happened. I'd go through it all again to end up with you."
Blinking away the tears that filled her eyes, she rested her head on his chest. It was better than one of her books. They would marry, make a family for Lucy, have babies of their own, live and love and argue and make up, grow old together, grow contented together.
They would live happily ever after.
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SOMEBODY'S HERO Page 24
