“I know. I admit, when you first told me, I was feeling pretty sore, but when I had time to think about it, I could understand how you must have felt.”
She gave his arm a squeeze. “I’m glad you understand.”
“What made you decide to tell me, after all?”
“It was when we were on the island, waiting to be rescued. We had come so near death, I knew I didn’t want to lose you without you knowing the truth about me.”
“So why didn’t you tell me then?”
“I didn’t have time.” She sighed. “And then Harrie asked me to come and see you, and I took it as a sign. I knew it could be my last chance to tell you. So I drove out to the Landing.”
His lips found her ear and sent shivers of delight down her neck. “I love you, Claire Spencer.”
“And I love you.” She smiled. “How do you think Harrie will take the news of us getting married?”
“She will be absolutely over the moon. She’s been nagging me to ask you for days.”
“Did they close the case on the murder?”
“Yes, they did. From Harrie’s description they identified the guy as Ray Newberg’s killer. I don’t know what they found when they went in after him in the forest, but I imagine they were able to identify the body.”
Claire shivered and drew him closer. “I’ll never be able to smell woodsmoke again without remembering.”
“Me, neither, but all I’ll remember is that it brought us together.” Again his lips nuzzled her ear. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? And no one can build a fire quicker than we can.”
She turned to face him, wrapping her arms around him to hold him close. “So show me, Turner Mitchell.”
And he was right.
* * * * *
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8701-3
Where There’s Smoke
Copyright © 1994 by Doreen Roberts
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