Page 111 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

Laurel tore her gaze from Gavin’s. “Oh, uh, no, Your Honor. Thank you.”

She and Gavin took their seats and he clamped his hand around hers.

“Mr.Walker, the floor is yours again. You may proceed with your closing statement.”

Darius quirked a grin. “I don’t believe I could give a more eloquent closing than the one already provided, Your Honor. So if it pleases the court, I’ll turn the floor over for your decision.”

“Very well then.”

Please God. Please God.They were the only words her brain could formulate.

“Guardianship cases are always difficult.” The clerk shoved his glasses onto the bridge of his nose. “There are two petitions here, and all involved seem to care about the child. It’s my job to decide which of these situations would better serve her, and it’s a duty I don’t take lightly. I can only hope that all gathered in this courtroom want the same thing: a safe and loving home for Emma. And in this case, I believe Emma’s interests would best be served as a ward of Mr. and Ms.Robinson, so I hereby grant them general guardianship.”

Laurel clutched her chest.Thank You, God!

Gavin grabbed her around the shoulders and pulled her close. “Thank God.”

The clerk continued. “I presume the two of you will now be sharing one household?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Gavin said with a wide smile.

“Very well,” the clerk continued. “I also think a relationship between the child and maternal grandmother would be in the ward’s best interest. And so, I hereby grant the Gordons visitationrights on the last Saturday of each month. Court is adjourned.” He rapped his gavel.

***

The gavel had no sooner dropped than the entire Robinson clan descended upon them. Gavin couldn’t have been more thrilled. But after a good five minutes of celebration, there was only one thing he wanted: a moment alone with Laurel. With the woman who—if he hadn’t dreamed it all up—had just agreed to marry him in front of a courtroom full of people.

He took Laurel’s hand and pulled her from the throng. She followed him down the hallway, where he took the first turn.

“Where are we going?” Laurel asked.

“Someplace my nosy family won’t find us.”

“Gavin.” Her chuckle contradicted her chiding tone.

“Hurry. Mom’ll be hot on our heels.”

At the end of the hall he made an abrupt turn into a quiet alcove, put Laurel’s back to the wall, then peeked around the corner. “Coast is clear.”

She gave him a wry grin. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you alone, that’s what I’m doing.” He homed in on her beautiful eyes. The shutters were gone—he could see all the way to her heart now. His own heart bucked in his chest. “You said some things in there.”

“So did you.”

He searched her eyes, loving the warmth radiating from them. “I meant every word. I never stopped loving you, Laurel. And I promise not to let you down this time.”

She framed his face. “I love you, Gavin. We won’t let each other down.”

A smile still on his lips, he brushed her mouth with his. The kiss quickly escalated. He pulled her close. She threaded her fingers into his hair. And when she made a little mewling sound, he nudged her lips open for more.

She surrendered to his kiss, returning his passion with equal fervor. He couldn’t get enough of this woman. He would never be so careless with her again. His head was filled with helium, his blood with fire. He left her mouth only long enough to drop a trail of kisses down her jaw and along her neck.

“Gavin,” someone called from a distant galaxy.

He made his way back to her mouth, hungry for more.

“Laurel?”another voice called.

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