She met his gaze with a determined expression. “Logan, to be perfectly clear, the answer is yes. Besides, you are exactly who I think you are.” She laid a hand against his cheek and looked him straight in the eye. “My hero.”
He felt a flush heat his neck and face. What in the hell was happening to him? Even his most daring heist had never given him this much of a rush. He grinned shyly and rubbed the back of his head. “Aw, shucks.”
Violet smiled in return.
Turning serious, Logan took her hand from his cheek and held it firmly. “Now that we got that resolved, I have one more question.”
“Yes?”
He went down on one knee and gazed up at her. “Violet, will you marry me?”
She gasped in surprise.
Logan tensed. Had he misjudged her feelings? Obviously, he had broken some kind of social rule about these things. Would his forwardness scare her away?
Sudden panic overtook him. He couldn’t live without her, that much was certain. He rose and pulled her against him. They were nose to nose. “I won’t take no for an answer,” he whispered fiercely. Disgusted with himself, he let her go. “I’m sorry,” he said, turning away in shame. “I don’t know what came over me. It’s your choice, Violet. As long as you’re safe, I’ll be happy.”
“Logan, please look at me.”
Anxiously, he turned to face her again.
“The thought of saying ‘no’ never entered my mind,” Violet breathlessly responded. “The answer is yes.” Her eyes shone with tears of happiness.
Logan reached for her. She fell into his embrace. His lips found hers, and he kissed her. With unbridled enthusiasm, she kissed him soundly back.
And, damn, what a kiss! It felt breathtaking. Heavenly. Better than that, even. The touch of her soft lips made him feel clean and whole. But even though Logan wanted to kiss her forever, his injuries were protesting. Never mind the fact that he must have looked and smelled terrible.
He pulled back slowly. “I hate to stop,” he murmured, “but I suppose we oughta find some place more private.”
A furious blush stole over Violet’s face.
He winked. “I mean, some place where I can clean up first.”
Her expression turned dreamy. “Whatever you need. We can go to the hotel now.”
He offered her his elbow and she linked her arm through his. It was, in Logan’s opinion, a perfect fit.
As they strode through town together, victorious at last, the morning sun cast its warm light upon them. Logan still couldn’t believe how much his luck had turned in so short a time. Ever since he’d been forced to strike out on his own, he’d run into hardship at every turn. Living a life of thieving and danger was the only way he’d known to survive.
He thought back to his first encounter with Violet. The loneliness he’d seen on her pretty face had tapped more deeply into his own than he’d expected. At first, his plan had been to simply make her smile and alleviate her sadness for a few moments. But in trying to make her happy, he’d realized how much he craved the same kind of human connection. And yes, love, the kind that he’d thought had been lost to him once the Iron Scorpion destroyed his family. That must have been why he had agreed to help rescue her father. He’d been in that much need, no matter the risks.
For once, Logan felt good about himself. Violet had shown him the way toward reclaiming his self-respect and burying his ghosts. Not only that, but she’d helped him end the reign of the Iron Scorpion. By joining with her, his lonely, aimless life was at a definite end.
Logan grinned. That particular ending was the happiest one of all.
* * * *
Dear readers, here ends the tale Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts . In next week’s issue of The Lady’s Fireside Collection , you’ll encounter All New Adventures including our Thrilling series featuring Arthur the Automaton in Metal Man Desperado !
About Heather Massey
Heather Massey is a lifelong fan of science fiction romance. She searches for sci-fi romance adventures aboard her blog, The Galaxy Express: www.thegalaxyexpress.net.
She’s also an author. Her stories will entertain you with fantastical settings, larger-than-life characters, timeless romance, and rollicking action. So sit back, relax, and pour yourself a cup of space java as the stories unfold. You deserve it.
When Heather’s not reading or writing, she’s watching cult films and enjoying the company of her husband and daughter.
To learn more about her work, visit www.heathermassey.com.
Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts
9781616504458
Copyright © 2013, Heather Massey
Edited by Dianne B.
Book design by Lyrical Press, Inc.
Cover Art by Christine Griffin
First Lyrical Press, Inc. electronic publication: February 2013
Lyrical Press, Incorporated
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
Published in the United States of America by Lyrical Press, Incorporated
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Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts Page 19