Page 57 of Secrets & Desires
They ate a small supper,sitting at the large picture windows of the cabin, overlooking the lit-up city. “It’s so peaceful here, soserene.”
“As long as there isn’t an avalanche,” Nox grinned as she squeaked in alarm. “Relax, I’m kidding.” He took her hand. “I love you, LiviaChatelaine.”
She beamed at him. “Love you too,richboy.”
He laughed. “You know, if you married me, it would be yourmoneytoo.”
Liviastopped. “What?”
Nox half-grinned. “Just something to thinkabout.”
Livia swallowed hard. “I wouldn’t marry you for yourmoney,Nox.”
“I know that,silly.”
There was a long silence. “Nox…it’s only been threemonths.”
“Which is why I’m not asking the questionyet,” he said lightly, but she could see the depth of his emotion in his eyes. “But make no mistake, Iwillbe asking the question. This is it for me. You are the love of my life, LiviaChatelaine.”
Tears dropped from her eyes then. “And you are mine, NoxRenaud.”
He lifted her left hand and kissed her ring finger. “Oneday.Soon.”
Later,after they’d made love, Nox lay with his head resting on her stomach, his hands under her hips. Livia tangled her fingers in his hair, brushed her thumbs gently overhisface.
“You handsome,” she sang at him. He pulled a face and blew a raspberry on her navel. She giggled. On all fours, he climbed up the bed until their faces were level. He gently bit her bottom lip and then kissed her. She pulled him down so his whole weight was on her and sighedhappily.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, kissing her neck all the way down to hershoulders.
“I’m thinking I wish I could erase the past twenty years for you and make this lastforever.”
“Well,” he rolled to one side. “I can’t erase the last twenty years. But I can promise this will last forever.” He grinned at her and ran his hand down her body, splaying his long fingers over her belly. Livia wriggled with pleasure and looked at him, seeing hisexpressionfall.
“Whatisit?”
He looked away. “I wish…I wish my family could have met you. My mom, Teague…even my dad. Liv, I’ve been thinking and thinking and I’mdamnedif I believe he killed my mom and brother. I want the case reopened. I knew my father,knewhim. There’s no way he would have done that. I think he was murdered andsetup.”
Liv sat up, nodding, energized by what he said. “Good. Good, Nox, I’m glad you’re thinking like that because I agree. Let’s find out the truth. Something tells me that it’s linked to what is going on now. I’m glad, sweetheart, and I’ll be with you alltheway.”
“He was a good man.” Nox said finally and Livianodded.
She pressed her mouth against his. “So are you. Theverybest.”
Nox started to shake his head. “No, I screw up toooften…”
She didn’t let him finish. “Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has their demons. You’re not perfect. I’m certainly not. No one is. But you and me together, well, I likethoseodds.”
She straddled him and he grinned upather.
“Oh, you thebossnow?”
She laughed. “I am Chief now. You may call me Chief…Always Ready forAction.”
“A fine NativeAmericanname.”
“Ithankyou.”
“Chief?”
