Page 46 of Steers and Stowaways
While Chip was spilling his guts, Tucker threw out another puzzling question. “Where does Cruz fit into all of this?”
“He’s the one they were gonna keep at Mallory’s ranch after my parents moved to their next assignment.”
“Were?” Tucker hoped he would elaborate on why he was speaking in the past tense.
Chip shrugged. “Now that the police are on to him, their original plan is a no-go. He’ll be gone by the time we get back to the ranch. My stepdad will make up some story about how he caught him stealing or something. He’ll make it sound like he did you a big favor by letting him go.”
As Tucker drove past the Heart Lake welcome sign, he mulled over everything Chip had told them. “After everything that’s happened, I don’t like the idea of sending you two back to Evans Ranch alone. It’s too dangerous.” Sending them back with a security detail would tip their hand to the Silvas. There had to be a better way.
“What do you have in mind, partner?” Mallory reachedacross the console for his hand, making his mind momentarily go blank—in a good way.
He threaded his fingers through hers and said the first thing that came to mind. “Marry me.”
She made a choking sound. “Are you joking?”
“Nope.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “It doesn’t take long to apply for a marriage license in Texas. Pretty sure it only takes a few days.”
Chip settled into stunned silence in the back.
Since Mallory didn’t immediately shoot down the idea of marrying him, Tucker felt emboldened to press his suit. “If you can’t stand the thought of spending the rest of your life with me, we can make it a temporary thing. I think it’s called a marriage of convenience. We can have it annulled later.”
She yanked her hand from his to punch him in the shoulder. “I’m not trying on marriage like a pair of boots. It had better be the real thing, or no deal.”
He feathered his brakes to slow the truck and pulled over to the shoulder. After rolling to a stop, he turned to her. “Do you want me to do this outside on my knees or here?”
She blushed to the roots of her short, sassy haircut. “It’s too dangerous out there.”
“Then we’ll do it here.” He reached for her hand again and cradled it between his.
“Hoh, boy,” Chip muttered.
Tucker ignored him. “When we first met, I thought you were annoying, opinionated, and outspoken.”
“Thank you.” Her prim voice drew a snort of humor from him. He should’ve known they were qualities she would be proud of.
“And determined,” he added in a tender voice. “Loyal,honest, and so kindhearted that you assume the best about others, even when they don’t deserve it. You’re beautiful, Mal, through and through.” So beautiful that he could no longer imagine living without her. “Never thought of myself as the marrying type, but you’ve changed me. There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”And keeping you safe.He added that last part inside his head, unsure if she’d appreciate the idea of him watchdogging over her. “What do you say, darling?”
Her eyes glistened. “Nowthat’sa proposal I can say yes to.”
“Then say it.” He felt a little emotional himself.
“Yes, Tuck. I will marry you.” She reached over to curl a hand around his neck, drawing his head to hers.
As they sealed their newest agreement with a kiss, the sound of gagging noises rose from the backseat. “Come oooooooon,” Chip groaned. “I’m dying back here.”
Mallory smiled against Tucker’s mouth. “You were already dying. You said so yourself.” She settled back in her seat, looking uncharacteristically soft and vulnerable. “But my new partnership with Private Investigator Pratt might just be the one thing that keeps us all alive.”
Tucker’s gaze burned into hers, telling her without words that his heart was fully hers, along with his name and protection. After being alone and without a family for so long, it meant the world to him to belong to someone again.
“Fair warning.” She pursed her lips speculatively at him. “This isn’t a one-sided arrangement. I intend to protect you as well. Someone wants you dead, and I don’t think they’re bluffing.”
Her words touched him deeply. They also struck a reckless chord in him. “Wanna get married this weekend?” Hewaggled his eyebrows at her, fully expecting her to shoot down the suggestion.
She blinked in consideration. “That might be pushing it. I could probably scrape together a cake and flowers before Christmas, though.”
He could live with that. He could more than live with that. Without dropping her gaze, he directed his next question to the teenager sitting behind them. “Any interest in being my best man, Chip?”
Mallory’s eyes grew wide. “I figured we’d just go stand before the Justice of the Peace.”
