Page 76 of Reckless Curves
“Don’t look at me like that.”
Tom moved closer. “What?”
She shouted to be heard over the crashing thunder. “Don’t look at me like that!”
Just seeing Kendra’s beautiful face again filled Tom with hunger, but it was more than just physical. He hungered to always be with her, to share a life, and to be a family with her and Connor.
Maybe it was the storm, but Tom felt a torrent of emotion flood his heart and he couldn’t hold back. “Like what?” he yelled back. “Like I want you, and I need you, and love you? Because I do! I’ve never lied to you, not once Kendra. I may have run from you before, when I was young and stupid, but I’m not running now. Can you trust me? Can you let me into your life and heart?”
The moisture that filled her eyes broke his heart. He wanted to pull her against him and promise that everything would be all right, but he needed her to believe it, to believe in him.
She brushed her wet hair off her face. “I’m so sorry it’s taken me this long. I do trust you. I’ve been miserable without you and I can’t believe how wonderful you’ve been to both Connor and I, even when you thought I didn’t want a relationship.”
“I feel as if I’ve waited a lifetime for you Kendra, I’m happy to wait forever if that is what it takes to make you understand I’d never hurt you. I’d never leave you.”
She took a tentative step towards him. “I want, need, and love you so much it hurts when you are not around. If you still want me in your life, I’m yours.”
He softened his expression. “Do you really mean that? You’ve forgiven me the past and you trust me with your future? With your heart?”
“Yes. Is it too late? Have we wasted so much time we can’t find our way back?”
He grabbed her upper arms. “Do youwantit to be too late?”
Mustering her courage, Kendra shook her head. “No, I don’t want that! I want to plan a life with you and Connor. I want to have more children with you and I want you there with me.”
Cupping her face, Tom asked, “I can live with that.”
More thunder crashed overhead and Kendra had to scream to be heard. “You are all I want and I know you’ll never hurt me.”
“I want to kiss you.”
“There’s a small chance you might still get mono.”
“I don’t care.” Tom’s mouth descended on hers with a hunger borne of all three: need, desire, but mostly love. He didn’t care if he caught mono, it was worth the risk.
Fire met fire as she parted her lips and tried to convey all those things back to him.
His arms encircled her in a crushing embrace as they continued kissing while jagged lightning arced across the sky. Neither of them cared about a broken-down van, a dangerous storm, or being buffeted by sheets of rain. All that mattered was that they were together again.
Kendra was left reeling when Tom suddenly drew back from her. He jammed a hand in his suit pants pocket and pulled something out. “What are you doing?” she asked when he kneeled on one knee in a huge puddle.
“What I should’ve done four years ago.” Tom tried to remember the carefully rehearsed proposal that Lexie had helped him with, but only a few phrases came back to him. “Kendra, you’re the most amazing, brave, gorgeous woman I’ve ever met, and I was such an idiot and coward not to admit my love for you back then. I’m sorry that through my cowardice I hurt you so much—”
The sky split, making them flinch.
Tom resumed in a moment, “And wasted so much time because I was too scared to take a chance. But I promise—” More thunder intruded on what was supposed to be the most romantic moment of their lives. “I’ll not waste any more time or ever leave you and Connor ag—” The storm just wouldn’t give up. Tom yelled up at the heavens, “Shut up! I’m trying to propose to the woman I love here!” In a rush he said, “I loved you then, I love you now, and I’ll always love you.” He held up a ring box, removed the ring from inside it, and threw the box over his shoulder. “Kendra Black, will you marry me?”
Dumbfounded, Kendra stared at the ring and then into his eyes. He was all she’d ever wanted since she’d been sixteen, and she couldn’t believe that she was getting her wish. Love beat through her like the rain on her head. This man loved her and her heart flew free, flew straight to Tom and into his trustworthy hands. Before the next thunder roll, she said, “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”
Careful not to drop the ring, Tom slid it on Kendra’s finger and swept her into his arms. He twirled her around while they exchanged a damp kiss.
Parting from her, Tom said, “Get your stuff. I’ll come get this heap of junk tomorrow and send it to the junkyard. You’re getting a new car. Let’s get out of this storm.”
“Okay. Besides, I’ve probably made you sick with that kiss. I’m not supposed to be infectious still but…” She smiled sexily. “We should get out of these wet clothes.”
“That sounds like a great plan.” His eyes sparkled with desire.
Kendra hurried to the front of the van while Tom put the donut in the back and shut it. As soon as they were seated in the Mustang, the storm let up and by the time Tom started the car, there was only a light drizzle.
