“Well, might as well go for the gold then.” Chris went down on one knee before her. “Katelyn Gertrude Handelmann, I know we haven’t been together long, but I’ve been waiting for you my whole life. I’ve known from the first time you smiled at me that I would never again be the same. Will you marry me?”
Both hands flew up to her face as she looked down at the man who had become her everything. Six months wasn’t long in the scheme of things, but she knew in her heart and soul that he was it for her.
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
He grinned and slipped the ring onto her finger. Then, he carried her up the stairs, and they spent the rest of the afternoon making love.
~ * ~
It was hours later when she woke up with a start and realized the sun was setting.
“Shit! Dinner!” She groaned and attempted to crawl out of bed.
Chris reached out and hauled her right back. “Sam and Sandy have it covered.”
“They knew?”
“I told them you deserved an afternoon off, and they agreed.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Seriously.” His grin gave him away.
“They didn’t say a word.”
“I swore them to secrecy.”
After making love again in the light of the glorious sunset, they went back to the trailer to shower and change and then walked over to the main building.
The place seemed oddly quiet.
“Where is everyone?”
“I don’t know. We can look for them after we visit the kitchen. I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry.”
“This is true, but I worked up quite an appetite this afternoon,” he said with a wolfish grin.
She couldn’t argue with that. She was feeling rather famished herself.
The moment they entered the darkened dining room, the lights went on, and they were met with a loud, “Surprise!”
Kate looked around and found everyone from Sanctuary there.
Glasses were shoved into their hands, and arms were raised in a toast when Heff called out, “Wait, did she say yes?”
She laughed and held up her left hand. “I said yes.”
“All right then, proceed.”
Matt cleared his throat and said, “To Mad Dog and Kate.”
“To Mad Dog and Kate,” the others echoed.
As Kate raised the glass to her lips and the champagne tickled her nose, she couldn’t help but feel a little sad that her family wasn’t there to share in the moment with her. Then again, they were celebrating another engagement.
Sandy had shown her the announcement in the Sumneyville Times. Karyn had been right about that, too.
At first, Kate had visited the store a few times when they drove into town. Things between her and her father had been strained at best, and, she’d stopped going in. She hadn’t talked to her mother or Kylie at all, and they’d made no attempt to reach out to her.
Kate hoped things would improve someday, but for now, she was focusing on building her new life. She looked out at those gathered and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Acquaintances who had become friends. Friends who had become family. And she knew, without a shadow of doubt, that she was finally home.
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About the Author
Abbie Zanders (and her naughty alter ego, Avelyn McCrae) loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really. Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too. Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true. She promises her readers two things: no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending. Beyond that, you never know...
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Shadow of Doubt Page 29
