Page 71 of Forever His Girl

He skirted the bumper, walking toward the shore. Mary Elise knelt, releasing the card into the tide before standing. He wrapped his arms around her waist and watched with her until it disappeared in the surf. Her head fell back against his chest. With that unspoken connection between them in full working order, he could feel her pain easing into a swelling acceptance.

She tipped her head, looked up at him. “I can’t have children, Danny.”

“I know.”

“You’re okay with that?”

He could only think of one reason she would ask him that question. Relief nearly drove him to his knees. Exactly where he wanted to be, on his knees proposing, begging this woman to make their love official. Instead he stayed on his feet and let her find her own pace.

After all, he was a smart guy, and more than his own happiness, he wanted hers. “Yes, I’m okay with that.”

Her wise eyes held him. “That’s all you have to say? Danny, I’ve had years to think about this, to accept it. It’s more complex than just a single sentence.”

Maybe to her. Not to him. But if she needed more words, more—he gulped—emotional analysis, he would dig inside himself for the words and feelings to reassure her. He turned her in his arms to face him.

“Straight-up honest, yeah, it hits me right here—” he thumped the area over his heart “—to think we’ll never make a baby together, and I imagine you feel the same.” He cupped her face with both hands. “But I also know in that exact same place that I’ll love any child we adopt as much as any child we might have made.”

Her jaw trembled.

Without a wince she’d risked the retaliation of Rubistanian guards to climb in a box with two frightened boys. No crying, she’d stood down Kent McRae, her worst nightmare, for him.

But now, two big fat tears to rival any from Austin pooled, fell over her eyelids and down her cheeks.

He brushed away the tears with his thumbs. “A child shouldn’t be just an extension of me or you, or only my chromosomes and yours mixed up together. A child, our child, is a person.”

A watery laugh bubbled free. “I do so love your logical mind.”

“You do?” He knew but sure wouldn’t mind hearing it again.

Her tears evaporated in the warmth of her smile. “Yes. Of course. I’ve loved you since you slugged Buddy Davis for me in the third grade.”

She traced her hand gingerly over his bandage.

“Buddy’s punch back then hurt a lot worse than this.” He captured her fingers tracing featherlight paths over his arm as if to heal it. He brought her hand to his lips. “I love you, too.”

Whimsy lightened somber emerald eyes to spring grass. “More than snack cakes?”

“That’s a tough one.”

She slugged his uninjured arm.

Laughing, he pulled her close, inhaled the scent of honeysuckle shampoo and the promise of forever. He held her while the wind encircled them and could have sworn there was something symbolic in the moment. A strange thought for a man more comfortable in the mathematical realm.

He held her closer. “You know I’m not a flowery-words kind of guy. I wish I could tell you how much I love you with the poetry that you deserve. All I can say is that I love you. No measurements. No limits.”

Her hands hooked around his neck, she stood in his arms, unmoving while they both watched the fading sunlight stain the sky deeper hues of purple.

One hand slid from his neck to his shoulder, unzipping his sleeve pocket. He smiled, already planning his one-knee proposal once she passed him the ring.

Mary Elise inched away, the solitaire between two fingers. He reached to take it. She pulled her hand back farther. “Wanna marry me, Danny Baker?”

Surprise nipped and he wasn’t complaining at all. He was starting to like the way she assumed the aggressive role. “Yes, I do. Very much.”

She placed the ring in his palm and extended her fingers. He slid the engagement diamond in place again. Forever.

He sealed its placement with a kiss on her finger, followed by one on her lips, and knew without question he would be challenged, entranced, in love with this woman for the rest of his life. A strong woman who would demand the best of him. And would give her best in return.

Pulling back, he stared into eyes a shade of green he’d only ever found on one woman. “Are you ready to go?”

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