Terms of Engagement

by Ann Major

  “I love you,” she said softly. “I was such a fool.”

  Rather than terrifying him, those three words brought a rush of joy.

  “I love you, too. More than anything.” He squeezed her hand tightly. “So much it scares the hell out of me.”

  It had only taken her admission to make him brave enough to admit his own feelings for her.

  With glistening eyes, she laughed softly. “You really love me?”

  “Yes. Maybe even from the first moment I saw you. I just didn’t know what had hit me.” He paused. “Jaycee’s here, along with your parents. We’ve all been so scared for you and the baby. Half out of our minds.”

  “They’re all here, too?”

  “Of course we’re here,” her father roared.

  Kira smiled radiantly up at them. “It’s almost worth getting hit by a motorcycle to have all of you all here…together, knowing…knowing that you love me.”

  They moved closer, circling her bed. Holding hands, they smiled down at her. “Of course we love you,” her father said. “You’re our girl.”

  “You gave us a terrible scare,” her mother said. “You’re very important to all of us.”

  “I’m so happy,” Kira whispered. “I’ve never been happier.”

  “By the way,” her father said, “your old boss called and said you’d better get well soon because you’ve got a big job at the museum waiting for you. So, no more waitressing…”

  Kira smiled weakly. “I guess that’s good news…but not nearly as good as all of you being here.” Her grip on Quinn’s hand tightened as she looked up at him. “I never, ever want to let go of you again.”

  “You won’t have to.”

  Quinn needed no further encouragement to lean forward and kiss her. Very carefully, so as not to hurt her, he pressed his mouth to her lips.

  As always, she gave her entire being to him, causing warmth and happiness to flow from her soul into his.

  She was everything to him. He would love her and cherish her always, or at least until the last breath left his body.

  “Darlin’,” he whispered. “Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”

  She nodded. “Never. I swear it. Like I said, I was a fool.”

  Circling his neck with her hands, she brought his face down to hers and kissed him again.

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  July the Fourth

  Wimberley, Texas

  Kira looked across the green lawns that sloped down to cypress trees shading the sparkling river. The air stirring through the leaves was warm, while the water was clear and icy.

  Kira couldn’t believe her happiness. Ever since that afternoon in the hospital, when she’d awakened to Quinn and her family gathered around her bed, her happiness had grown a little every day.

  Despite the pain in her shoulder and back, she’d seen the love shining in all their eyes.

  Love for her.

  Had it always been there? Whether it had or not, all her doubts about herself, about Quinn, about her adoption, had vanished. She’d simply known that she mattered—to all of them.

  She belonged.

  Knowing she was truly loved, her confidence had grown in every aspect of her life, including in her career as a curator. Naturally, Gary had been thrilled that she was to remain Mrs. Sullivan. Quinn had thrilled him even more by being most generous to the museum, stipulating with every donation that his wife be in charge of the funds.

  This lazy summer afternoon on the grounds of the Sullivans’ new weekend home on the Blanco was perfect for a July Fourth celebration that included friends, family and business associates. The star of the show was only a few months old.

  Thomas Kade Sullivan fulfilled his mother’s most fervent hopes as he sat on his red-and-blue quilt by the water, holding court. He shook his rattle while Aunt Jaycee laughed and held up a stuffed bunny rabbit. With his brilliant blue eyes, Tommy Kade was every bit as handsome as his father.

  Off to one side, a band played as their guests took turns swimming in the cool waters or serving themselves barbecue.

  Quinn left the men he’d been talking to and walked up to her. Grinning down at her, he circled her with his arms. Contentment made her feel soft and warm as he held her close. Never had she dreamed she’d feel this complete with anyone.

  She smiled at the sight of her mother ordering the caterers about. With her illness in remission, her mother was her old formidable self. When Vera had been well enough for Kira’s dad to leave her at home, Quinn had made a place for him at Murray Oil.

  “Murray Oil’s too big for one man to run,” Quinn had said when Kira had tried to thank him.

  Life was good, she thought as her husband brushed his lips against her cheek. Very good.

  “Happy July Fourth,” Quinn said.

  “The happiest ever.”

  “For me, too. Because you’re in my life,” he murmured huskily. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me…besides Tommy Kade. And you’re responsible for him, too.”

  “Stop. We’re at a party. We have to behave.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to behave.”

  He drew her away from the crowd into the shade of the towering cypress trees. Once they were hidden from their guests, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her long and deeply.

  “I love you,” he whispered. “I love you, and I always will. We have a real marriage, now—wouldn’t you agree?”

  The most wonderful thing of all was that she knew it and accepted it—down to her bones—because she felt exactly the same way. “I would! And I love you, too,” she murmured. “Oh, how I love you.”

  * * * * *

  ISBN: 9781459219311

  Copyright © 2012 by Ann Major

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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. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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