Page 157 of This Heart Of Mine (Chicago Stars 5)

Horrified, she began to snatch it back, then stopped because he didn’t look upset, only calculating.

“Liar. Have you ever heard of the Saxeten River Gorge?”

“Can’t say as I have.” Had the fire alarm lost a few decibels? “It sounds boring. Did you hear me say I didn’t love you?”

“Yeah. Anyway, it’s in Switzerland, and it’s as treacherous as they come. But I’m prepared to rappel to the bottom, and once I get there, I’ll carve your initials in the rock.”

Yes, definitely not as loud. She tapped her foot in the grass. “Touching, but Switzerland’s almost as far away as the Super Bowl. Besides, when it

comes right down to it, all you’re talking about is a little graffiti, right?”

“There’s a sport called parapenting. You parachute off a mountain peak—”

“Unless you’re going to write my name in the sky on your way down, don’t bother.”

His eyes lit up.

“On second thought,” she said hastily, “you’d probably misspell it. And the closest mountains are on the other side of the state, so what about the here and now? Okay, maybe I do love you, but truth is, champ, all this Iron Man stuff might impress the guys in the locker room, but it won’t get you babies and home-cooked meals.”

Babies and home-cooked meals! A family that was all hers. And a man who satisfied her to the very depths of her soul.

Just like that, the fire alarm went still forever.

“So we’re going to play hardball,” he said.

Kevin understood her better than anyone on earth. He understood her so well that he still hadn’t thrown up his hands and stomped away. She listened to the glorious silence inside her and wanted to weep with the joy of knowing that this man’s love didn’t have to be earned with perpetual good behavior.

“I was willing to give up the Stars for you,” he reminded her, his expression shrewd. “But I guess that’s not good enough…”

“Oh, yes… “ Kevin without the Stars was unthinkable.

He didn’t take his eyes off her. “So I’ll have to give you something more.”

“Not necessary.” She smiled her love at him. “You passed the test.”

“Too late.” He grabbed her hand and began pulling her back toward the campground. “Come on, sweetheart.”

“No, really, Kevin. It’s all right. I was just—It’s the fire-alarm thing. I know it’s neurotic, but I wanted to be sure you really loved me. I—”

“Could you walk a little faster? I’d like to get this over with so we could start working on one of those babies you mentioned.”

A baby… And this time it would be all right. She realized he was pulling her toward the beach. “You don’t have to—”

“We’d better take one of the rowboats. Not that I don’t trust you in a canoe, but let’s face it, you’ve got a spotty record.”

“You want to go out on the lake? Now?”

“We have unfinished business.” He led her onto the dock. “You’re still looking for that great romantic gesture.”

“No I’m not. Really! I’ve already had the most romantic gesture you could possibly make. You were willing to give up the Stars for me.”

“Which didn’t impress you.”

“More than you can imagine. I’ve never been so impressed.”

“Could have fooled me.” He stepped down into the row-boat tied to the end of the dock, then pulled her in with him. “Apparently I still haven’t met the Dan Calebow Standard.”

“Oh, but you have.” She sat on the seat. “I was just being… careful.”

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