Over the last few days, Billy Joe had been moved to the state hospital in Evanston, and Max had told her to take off as much time as she needed from work. He then surprised her by saying the bank had contacted him, and if she was still interested in owning The Blue Creek, they'd work something out. It wasn't even something she could think about right now, but she was grateful for his offer.
And she'd come to the hospital, staying for hours, waiting for Gage to wake up. She'd lit a candle in the tiny chapel when they were told he was breathing on his own. And now…
Now he was going to be fine.
"You have no idea…" She paused when her tears caused her voice to crack. Thankful for this time alone with him, she knew she had to get through this, so she swallowed and tried again. "I am so sorry, Gage. I never wanted you to be hurt. Please, believe me. I love you…with all my heart."
She pulled the wrinkled paperwork and a pen from her purse. "I know I told myself I'd never say that aloud, but just this once, I wanted to say it…to you…even if you can't hear me. I know I'm not the right woman for you, for so many reasons, and you know that, too, but I'll never forget…"
Using the edge of his hospital bed, she unfolded the paperwork and flipped to the last page. The pen shook and she tightened her grip.
"Not…so…fast."
Racy gasped and looked up. "Gage!"
His blue eyes, shining brightly, looked at her as a small grin creased his lips. His fingers reached out and pulled the papers from her grasp. Shocked, she let them go and watched as he slowly brought up his other hand and ripped the document right down the middle.
"What—what are you doing?"
"You're not," he rasped, pausing to draw in a thin breath, "getting rid of me…that easily."
Her heart, lodged firmly in her throat, made it impossible to speak. Not that she had any idea how to respond. He dropped the torn papers to the floor, and reached out again to grasp her hand. His touch, strong as he curled her fingers in his, broke through her daze.
"Don't do this," she whispered. "We agreed—"
He shook his head and tightened his grip.
"Gage, I'm not what you need. I'm the poster child of bad choices and wrong decisions. I'm headstrong and hot tempered. I act without thinking about the consequences. I get more things wrong than right and I'm—"
"My wife."
The tears spilled from her eyes at his words. The certainty and confidence in his voice broke through her thin resolve. She desperately wanted to believe him. It was all she'd thought about since that moment in the cabin when she'd thought she'd lost him. She wanted to be his wife.
His free hand worked beneath the blankets. Then he pulled out a small black velvet box. He thumbed it open. Her heart jumped when she saw the rings they'd exchanged in Vegas.
He pulled out the smaller of the two, leaving the other in the box resting on his stomach. She allowed him to lift her hand, powerless to stop him as he slid the gold-and-diamond band onto the third finger of her left hand.
"You proposed to me…and I said yes because I've always known I wanted you in my life." His voice grew stronger. "Now I'm asking you to honor those vows and be willing to repeat them before our families and friends. I want you in my house, I want us to make it a home." He held out the velvet box. "I'm asking you to believe in me, in us. I love you, Racy Steele, and I want to be your husband."
Racy brushed away her tears. Could it really be that easy? Could she have what she'd always wanted by simply taking it? By believing in the power of the love she had for this man?
Yes, she could.
She removed the simple gold band and placed it on his finger. "I love you, too, and I want to be your wife. Forever."
He pulled in a deep breath and released it, closing his eyes. A single tear escaped from the corner. "Kiss me, please."
Her mouth trembled as she covered his lips with hers, pouring all her love into a gentle, chaste kiss.
He opened his eyes again, his thumb caressing her wedding band. "You need an engagement ring."
Racy straightened, pulling one hand free to touch his cheek. "I've got you. I don't need anything else."
Gage smiled. "I want you to have one. How about we have one specially made in Paris? I hear it's a great place for a honeymoon."
Happiness filled her soul. She returned his smile. "I think you better concentrate on recovering first."
"I'm taking you to Paris. In the spring. That's a promise."
And Racy knew it was a promise he would keep.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4636-6
THE SHERIFF'S SECRET WIFE
Copyright © 2010 by Christyne Butilier
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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 Sheriff's Secret Wife Page 21
