A NASCAR Holiday 2: Miracle SeasonSeason of DreamsTaking ControlThe Natural
Page 26
“I can’t call him Buster,” he mused. “So I guess it’ll have to be Gorgeous.”
She half laughed, half snorted her amazement.
“George for short,” he elaborated.
Madison smiled, a happy smile that made Danny’s heart flip over.
“There’s a card.” She nodded toward the ribbon around the dog’s neck.
Danny opened the small gift tag. Just three words: With love, Madison.
He looked up at her. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth. He knew those three words came from her heart.
“I got you a gift,” he said, “but in a way it’s more for me than it is for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “That is such a guy thing to do.”
Carefully, Danny placed the puppy on the floor. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the jeweler’s box.
“Oh.” Madison knew she must look like a goldfish, eyes and mouth wide-open, but all reason had fled at the sight of that black velvet box.
Danny opened it.
“Oh,” she said again, displaying an embarrassing lack of imagination when faced with an enormous diamond in a gold setting.
“I’m hoping,” he said, “for a yes.”
Madison flew into his arms. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes.”
He laughed, tossed the ring onto the couch, then squeezed her so hard she could scarcely breathe. “I love you, Madison,” he said. “I know it’s crazy, I know it’s too soon, but I’ve felt happier the last few weeks than I have in my entire life. I don’t know if I can win the Cup with you in my life, but I know I can’t win without you.”
He kissed her thoroughly. “I want you beside me, and I want to be the kind of guy you need. I want to be a regular husband, a regular dad to our kids—hey, did I say something wrong?”
Madison rubbed at the tears that streamed down her cheeks. “You said it all right. Just right. I love you so much.” She kissed him until, if they didn’t stop now, they wouldn’t make it to Christmas dinner.
When Danny drew back, his dark eyes were serious. “Maybe you shouldn’t rush into saying yes,” he warned her. “I’m new to this regular-guy stuff. I’ve got a lot to learn about sharing, about loving you. Hell, what if I’m no good at it?”
Madison heard the thread of doubt in his voice. But she saw in his eyes his intention to do whatever it took to make this work. That two hundred percent focus of his would be channeled into their marriage, their family. With Danny, there was no other way.
She went up on tiptoe, planted a kiss on that firm mouth. “You’re a natural,” she breathed.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-0317-7
A NASCAR HOLIDAY 2
Copyright © 2007 by Harlequin Books S.A.
NASCAR® and the NASCAR Library Collection are registered trademarks of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING INC.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
MIRACLE SEASON
Copyright © 2007 by Pamela Britton
SEASON OF DREAMS
Copyright © 2007 by Gina Wilkins
TAKING CONTROL
Copyright © 2007 by Kenneth Casper
THE NATURAL
Copyright © 2007 by Abby Gaines
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