Page 169 of At the Edge of Surrender

Maci sat on the island at his side, her back to me, hands animated where she waved them above her head.

“Just like that!” she gushed.

“No way,” he enthused, his love so distinct as he looked at the child.

“Yes, way!” She gave him an earnest nod. “I already told you I got a dragon and he’s blue and all sparkly and he’s got really sharpteef.”

She lifted her fingers like they were claws and snapped her mouth at him as if she was going to bite him. “Rahhhrr!”

“Whoa, that dragon sounds super scary. Are you sure you should be hanging out with him so much?” Kane teased, playing along with her sweet imaginings.

“He gots the sharpteefbecause it’s his job to protect me.”

An emotion swept through Kane’s features. So distinct my spirit wobbled.

Then he started making all these chomping noises as he leaned over and playfully gnawed at Maci’s arm and shoulder. “Like this?”

Maci shrieked with laughter, giggling and squirming as she put her hands out to stop him. “No way, Mr. Kane, my dragon is never gonna eat me! He really loves me and keeps me safe!”

Kane slowed, easing back as he gazed down at her, that rough voice tender. “That’s what I’m going to do, Maci. I’ll always protect you and keep you safe.”

Even from behind, I could see the way Maci beamed, her little shoulders hiking to her ears. “Because you love me?”

His thick throat bobbed, and devotion gusted across his strong brow. He set the knife aside and moved to fully stand in front of her. He dipped down to meet her gaze as he took her precious face in his hands. “Yeah, Maci, because I love you.”

I nearly came apart right there.

Broken.

Mended.

Destroyed and reborn.

Maci squealed and kicked her feet. “Are you my dragon, Mr. Kane?”

A jagged chuckle rolled out of Kane. “I guess I am, Angel Face. Your fire-breathing dragon.”

Emotion squeaked out of me. A riot of affection and fear. Hope and destitution.

His head jerked up.

Emerald eyes flashed, a rushing of greed that streamed through our connection. Memories of last night playing on repeat in our minds.

Our frantic kisses and our searching hands and the plea of our bodies.

It was all mashed up with the easiness he always met me with.

That sly, sexy grin that twitched at one corner of his mouth.

“Hey there, sunshine.” It was a gruff scrape of welcome.

I might as well have been with the way heat ate me up. A torrid blast that burst in the air.

“Good morning,” I managed.

Maci whipped around, her adorable face full of that heart-rending smile. “Auntie Em! You finally woke it up, you sleepyhead! I tried towake you up when the sun was sayin’ hi ’cause I got all the way hungry, but you was sleepin’ in Mr. Kane’s bedwifhim, and his eyes popped all the way open.”

She bugged out her eyes and spread her hands out extra wide beside them. “Disbig. And he said we had to be really extra quiet so you can get your rest.”

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