by Mari Carr
“You do?” she asked, and he nodded.
“More than anything in the world.”
“Mac,” she whispered, overwhelmed by his confession and the genuine look of affection in his gaze. Her entire life she’d waited and wished for a man just like this and now he was here, kneeling before her, opening his heart to her.
Despite their time together after her release from the hospital, neither of them had mentioned the future or their feelings. Each time she thought about telling him how he had laid claim to her heart, the words clogged in her throat—fear of rejection, fear of learning he didn’t share her feelings overwhelmed her—and she’d decided to take the coward’s way out, decided not to say anything until Mac did. Unfortunately, he hadn’t uttered a single word about his emotions during the entire time they’d been together. At least he hadn’t until this moment.
Mac continued speaking and she struggled not to blush under his intense gaze. “I love you, Kelly Finch, and I want to marry you. I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with you, taking care of you, listening to your work stories. I want your face to be the first one I see every morning and the last one I see at night. Say you’ll marry me, Kell, please.” When he finished speaking, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the most beautiful engagement ring she had ever seen.
She was only vaguely aware of the fact her jaw had dropped open and she was quite certain she must look like a fish out of water the way she was practically hyperventilating. “You want to marry me?”
“More than I want my next breath.” When he realized she was in serious shock, he stood up and took her face between his large palms. “Say yes, Kelly. Say yes and I swear I’ll spend every minute of the rest of my life making you happy.”
His thumbs brushed lightly against her cheeks and she realized he was brushing away the tears she hadn’t realized she was crying.
“Yes,” she whispered.
The room exploded as the students surrounded them, hooting and hollering and cheering loud enough to bring several teachers from nearby rooms, Meg included.
Mac placed the ring on her finger before picking her up and swinging her in a circle, adding his voice to the clamor.
“Woo-hoo!” he yelled and she had to laugh at the dizzy, crazy giddiness she felt spinning in Mac’s arms.
“What on earth?” she heard Meg ask.
“She’s marrying me!” he replied. “Ms. Finch is going to be Mrs. McNally by spring break.”
Meg giggled at his enthusiastic response. “Hallelujah!” she shouted.
Kelly said, “Spring break? That’s only a few weeks away.”
“Spring break,” he repeated and she knew his mind would not be changed on the subject. Not that she was complaining. She’d run off to Vegas with the man tonight, but she knew Meg and her mother wouldn’t appreciate that.
“I love you, Mac,” she whispered for his ears only.
Mac pulled back and gave her the heart-stopping grin that had laid claim to her heart the first day they’d met, and he bent forward to kiss her.
“Awww,” she heard Scotty say. “Now, Mr. Mac, you know PDA is against the school rules.”
Kelly and Mac broke away with laughter. “Well, then you’ll just have to be my lookout, Scotty, because I’m breaking that rule. Big time.”
And he did.
About the Author
Some people fall apart on their 30th birthday, others on their 40th. For Mari Carr, 34 was the year that took her down. After she spent the day crying and saying, “I haven’t done anything I thought I would,” her husband finally asked what was left undone. Her answer was simple—she hadn’t written a book or decorated her house. “So do it,” he said.
Five years later, the house is sparking with fresh paint and new furniture and her computer is jammed full of stories—novels, novellas, short stories, and dead-ends. The lesson: it’s never too late to achieve a goal or two!
High school librarian and English teacher by day and mother of two busy teenagers, Mari Carr finds time for writing by squeezing it into the hours between 3 a.m. and daybreak when her family is asleep and the house is quiet.
With the publication of her first book, her latest goal—publishing before 40—has been achieved with a couple of years to spare. Phew!
Mari welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Mari Carr
Black Jack
Cocktales 1: Party Naked
Cougar Challenge: Assume the Positions
Covert Lessons
Everything Nice
Inflamed
Kiss Me, Kate
Rekindled
Retreat
Scoring
Spitfire
Sugar and Spice
Three Reasons Why
White Knight
Wild Irish 1: Come Monday
Wild Irish 2: Ruby Tuesday
Wild Irish 3: Waiting for Wednesday
Wild Irish 4: Sweet Thursday
Wild Irish 5: Friday I’m in Love
Wild Irish 6: Saturday Night Special
Wild Irish 7: Any Given Sunday
Wild Irish 8: Wild Irish Christmas
Print books by Mari Carr
Retreat
Sugar and Spice, Everything Nice
Tease the Cougar anthology
Wild Irish: Wild Days anthology
Wild Irish: Wild Nights anthology
Wild Irish: Wild Times anthology
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
