“Yes, a family,” Kane said, securing his hand within Megan’s. “Megan is my wife, and she’s a part of Andrew’s life now, too. We come as a complete package.”
“We’ll take it,” Harold said before his wife could issue any objections. “This rift has gone on too long. It’s time that it ends, here and now.”
Much to everyone’s surprise, Patricia gave a shaky nod and whispered, “Yes, it’ll end here.”
As soon as they entered the living room at home, Megan turned and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck, positive the love and adoration she felt for him was reflected in her eyes. “I’m very proud of you.”
His hands swept down her spine, molding her body to his. His gaze was clear, free of the emotional barriers that had kept them separated for so long. “Yeah?”
She nodded, threading her fingers through the soft hair at the nape of his neck. “You were wonderful.”
“How wonderful?” he asked, his darkening gaze zeroing in on her mouth.
She liked this new, unreserved Kane. “Wonderful enough to make me want to kiss you.”
“Yeah?” he asked huskily.
She smiled, welcoming the warm, melting sensation pooling low in her belly. “Yeah.”
“Go ahead,” he murmured, lashes falling to half-mast. “Show me how wonderful I was.”
He was a scoundrel, but she loved him, and she certainly couldn’t refuse his request. She drew his head down, and their lips met and parted on twin sighs. The silken slide of his tongue against hers sent a shiver coursing down her spine, ending where his hands linked and held her to him.
There was an awesome tenderness to the kiss, a special spark that transcended everything they’d shared before this day. No longer did she taste a loneliness that made her ache, and the need she sensed was of a different variety-more intimate and less urgent, as if they had the rest of their lives to satisfy every craving they had for one another.
He lifted his mouth from hers, but she didn’t mind, because she knew there would always be more, anytime she wanted it. She slid her hands down until they pressed against the strength of his chest. The wild heartbeat beneath her palms matched the staccato rhythm of hers.
He rested his forehead against hers, both of them breathless but in no hurry to rush the inevitable when they had the rest of the day and night alone.
“There’s something very important I want to ask you,” he said.
“Anything.”
He chuckled, his grin a combination of wickedness and sin. “I’ll hold you to that later, sweetheart, but for now… I want to know if you’ll help me learn to read.”
His hesitant request touched her. “I would have been hurt if you hadn’t asked me.”
Relief relaxed his features. He pulled back to look in her eyes but didn’t let go of her. If anything, his hold tightened. “There’s so much I want to do, so much I’ve missed as a result of being illiterate. I want to experience it all. With you.”
“I’d like that. Very much.” She smiled, tilting her head. “You know, there’s something I’ve been wondering.”
“What’s that?”
“How do you manage everyday life without being able to read?” She felt her cheeks flush at her personal question, but Kane didn’t seem to mind. “I mean, everywhere you look there’s something that requires reading of some sort.”
“You rely on other talents.” He shrugged, not knowing any other way to deal with his handicap. “I’m not exactly proud of how I’ve gotten by, but you learn where your limitations are and stay within them. You recognize labels, signs, packaging, that sort of thing.”
She found that aspect of his life fascinating, but knew something better lay ahead for him. “You won’t have to do that any longer.”
“Mm.” He claimed her lips and kissed her again. When he finally lifted his head, a pleasant buzz shimmered through her body.
“There’s something else I forgot to tell you,” he said, nuzzling the sensitive spot just below her ear.
She automatically tensed, thinking he had more secrets he hadn’t shared with her. “There’s more?” she asked cautiously.
“Yeah, lots more.” His lips skimmed her throat, and his hands began to roam. “Lots of love,” he murmured.
Cupping his face in her hands, she made him look at her. Striking green eyes shone with desire and a more powerful emotion that stole her breath.
“What are you saying, Kane?” she whispered, afraid to put too much stock in his words or that wonderfully cherishing look in his gaze.
“That I love you, Megan Fielding,” he said, as if she should have known.
Her heart soared, and tears of joy filled her eyes. “Oh, Kane, I love you, too.”
“Oh, and there’s more.”
This time she wasn’t worried. Releasing her, he dug into the front pocket of his jeans and withdrew a ring-not her wedding band, but a new band encircled with glittering diamonds.
The elegant, extravagant gift astonished her. Peeling her gaze from the ring, she looked at Kane. “It’s absolutely beautiful, but you didn’t have to, I mean, it must have cost a small fortune, and I don’t need anything fancy. Your mother’s simple gold wedding band is just fine-”
“I wanted you to have it,” he said, cutting off her babbling. “And you’re worth every penny. To hell with being practical.”
“I told myself that I married you for practical reasons, but our marriage has been anything but practical.”
“Or predictable.”
“Especially predictable.” He grinned, but his gaze was soft with the love he’d professed. “Practical bit the dust the moment I realized I love you. Now we’re partners.”
“I like the sound of that.”
He picked up her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger, making her his wife once again. “The woman at the jewelry store told me they call it an eternity band. And since you’re stuck with me for eternity, I thought it was appropriate.”
“Very appropriate.” She laughed and threw her arms around him for a hug as warm as sunshine, and a soul- deep kiss that wrapped around their hearts.
They came up for air, and Kane gazed at her reverently. “Ah, Megan, I didn’t realize how lonely and empty I was until you came into my life. I love you and I need you,” he said, his voice rough with passion. “But right now, at this moment, I
She gave him a sultry, upswept glance full of sass and desire. “How much do you want me?”
“More than my next breath.”
And then she stole his breath with a kiss that promised an eternity of love and laughter and tender, special memories.
Andrew could hardly believe his eyes. His mom and dad were talking to Grandma and Grandpa Linden. And they were all smiling!
The church bells tolled, announcing the beginning of Sunday service. Everyone started filtering into the white building. Megan turned, her gaze scanning the yard. When she found him playing with Corey and Tanner, she smiled and waved at him to come join the family.
He skipped toward them, joy nearly filling him to bursting. He had a family! It had taken some time, and his father had been very stubborn at first about Megan, but he’d known his dad would eventually fall in love with her. How could he not?
He slipped his hand into Megan’s and beamed at her. He had a mom he loved. His dad had a wife who made him laugh and smile a lot. At night, when they thought he was sleeping, he heard their soft laughter and whispered words drifting from the living room. And his grandma and grandpa weren’t angry with his dad anymore.
He’d found the perfect woman for all of them.
