by Janet Dailey
This new certainty of each other brought its own magic to their embrace. It twined around them, binding them with love and surrendering them to its demands.
An unexpected pain pierced through Angie, causing her to gasp sharply. Deke instantly relaxed the tight band of his encircling arms to ease the pressure on her injured ribs. His beard-growth scratched her cheek as he rubbed his jaw against it, but Angie didn’t draw his attention to that minor discomfort, strangely enjoying the rasping caress.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he declared roughly and shuddered again. “Everything I do seems to end up hurting you.”
“Your love doesn’t hurt. It turns all the pain into a little ache.” She drew her head back and curved her hand against his cheek. “I almost didn’t come today. If Marissa hadn’t convinced me, I’m not sure what would have happened.”
“I can tell you one thing.” The silver brilliance of his eyes burned over her upturned face. “This house wouldn’t be here. I would have torn it down with my own two hands.”
“Is that what you were trying to do in here?” A hint of a smile touched her mouth, remembering the destruction throughout the house.
“Initially, I was trying to exorcise your ghost from this place,” Deke admitted. “But when I reached the bedroom, I knew it wouldn’t work. The whole building had to be demolished. Even then, it wouldn’t get you out of my heart, or my head.”
“Mine, either.”
His hand trembled as he traced a tentative finger over her cheek where a tear had left a wet streak. “I would make love to you, Angie,” he said thickly. “But I know it’s too soon after you’ve lost the baby.”
“Just hold me. It’s enough for now,” she murmured.
“No, it isn’t enough just to hold you,” Deke refused to accept that. “It won’t be enough until you’re wearing my ring on your finger. Will you marry me, Angie?”
“Yes.” The simplicity of her answer was poignantly sufficient.
Deke started to kiss her, but a light knock on the bedroom door interrupted him. It surprised Angle, too. She had forgotten they weren’t alone in the house. She was too used to them being the sole occupants.
“It’s Marissa, I think,” she murmured in response to his frowning glance at the door. “She was going to wait outside for me. I imagine she’s anxious because I’ve been in here so long.”
“Shall I tell her to go away?” There was a trace of his former mocking charm in the glitter of his eyes.
The second knock was a bit more assertive than the first. “She’s been very worried about you,” Angie reminded him.
Deke sighed, and reluctantly called, “Come in.”
The door was hesitantly opened and Marissa glanced in. Her expression was apprehensive about what she might see, and it slowly cleared with relief when she saw Angie lovingly enfolded in her brother’s arms.
“Is everything all right?” she asked to be sure.
“It’s better than all right,” Deke stated and studied Angie with an open possessiveness. “Angie has agreed to marry me.”
“I hoped—” Marissa could barely contain her delight at the news. “I’m so glad it turned out this way. I was so sure you both loved each other.”
“We do.” Angie had just as much difficulty as Deke in looking at anyone else.
“What about Lindy? What will you tell her?” Marissa wondered.
“First, we’ll let her get used to the idea that she’ll soon be having a mother as well as a father,” Deke said, watching Angie to be certain she agreed with his plan. “Then, we’ll sit down with her and explain the whole story to her. Angie is her mother. And it’s important for Lindy to know that, even though it will be hard for her to understand in the beginning.”
“We can wait until she’s older, if you think it would be easier for her,” Angie said.
“No.” There was a firm shake of his head. “Our daughter has very keen hearing. She’s liable to eavesdrop on a private conversation. We’ll be honest with her—the way we should have been with each other.
“You’re right,” she agreed.
“Marissa,” Deke spoke to his sister without looking at her. “I know I owe you a great deal for persuading Angie to come here today, and for introducing me to her in the first place, but why don’t you get lost for a couple of hours. Go back to the ranch or something.”
“I will,” Marissa smiled, yet didn’t make any immediate move to leave. “Except you should know that the police are outside.”
Both of them looked at her. “The police?” Deke repeated. “What do they want?”
“Mrs. Osborne got worried when Angie and I didn’t come out right away. After all the racket she and the neighbors heard before we arrived, she decided to call the police in case something had happened to us,” his sister explained.
Deke released a heavy sigh. “I suppose I’ll have to assure them that everything is all right.”
“Shall I come with you?” Angie volunteered.
“No.” He pressed a hard kiss on her lips. “Just be here waiting for me when I come back.”
“Always,” she promised.
