by Lisa Ruff
Evan paused and scanned the faces in the first two rows. “The Berzanis built the marina and boatyard from virtually nothing into a place where people come to work and to play. They will bring the same dedication and thoughtfulness to this new development, making it just as much a part of the community, if not more. I hope my own children will be involved in it. I hope they will share part of the legacy the Berzanis started with their love. Miriam, please accept my apology.”
There was a smattering of applause.
Miriam Shermer was not pleased, an unhappy scowl on her round face. “Very heartfelt, I’m sure. Is that all, Mr. McKenzie?”
“No, it isn’t. Tonight was our second appearance before this committee. You did not need to grant us that chance, but you did. We thank you all. But I need another second chance. Tonight, I want to start over with Anna Berzani.”
Evan turned and looked at Anna. Her eyes were dark with an emotion he couldn’t name: anger, embarrassment, terror, nausea? She simply stood there. He could see a fine tremor run through her, but she remained silent. Evan swallowed, his heart sinking. The worst was happening. He had pushed her too far, left his plea too late.
Then the most wonderful thing happened. Anna rose on tiptoe, slipped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. Her kiss held love and forgiveness in abundance. Evan clutched her tightly to his heart, offering his own promises for their future. The cheers, laughter, whistles and catcalls from the audience went unheeded. Even the chairman left his gavel alone.
Then Patrick called out, “Ask her to marry you again, McKenzie!”
“I should leave that until after the vote,” Evan said, lifting his mouth from Anna’s and looking deep into her eyes. “I don’t want to hold things up any longer.”
A ripple of laughter filled the room as the microphone picked up his words.
“Coward,” Patrick said loudly.
“I advise you to make it quick, Mr. McKenzie,” the chairman said. “This is a planning-commission meeting and we still have work to do.” But he was smiling, as were three other commissioners. Even Miriam’s sour look had softened.
Evan looked down at Anna. She was blushing, but her eyes shone clearly and unmistakably with her love. Slowly, holding her gaze, he released her from his arms and stepped back a pace. He dropped to one knee before her. Lifting her hands to his lips, he kissed each one tenderly.
“I asked you this once before, but this time, I ask from my heart.” Evan looked up at her intently. “Anna Berzani. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, Evan McKenzie.” Anna’s voice was shaking. “Yes. I will.”
Evan rose and swept her into his arms, his lips finding hers again in an instant. The room erupted in cheers, but he barely heard them. His own heart was drumming in his ears, blocking out all other sounds. His heart and Anna’s beating together, forever.
Epilogue
As Evan reached the top of the stairs, a faint wail sounded from the back of the condo. The closer he got to it, the louder it became. Anna appeared in the doorway of their bedroom. Her red curls spilled over the shoulders of the oversize white shirt she wore. She had requisitioned it from his closet, as usual. When she was large with pregnancy, she had gotten in the habit of wearing some of his clothes. He never complained. Why would he when she looked small, sweet and infinitely sexy in them.
“He was asleep when I put him down ten minutes ago,” she said, frowning in the direction of the nursery. “He’s been fed and changed, too.”
“I’ll get him,” Evan said, handing her the two glasses he was carrying. He dropped a kiss on her lips. “He’s probably just upset that the Ravens lost again.”
“Like father, like son,” she said with a grin.
Evan went to fetch his son. Looking down into the crib, he saw four-month-old Anthony James McKenzie blinking up at him owlishly. “What’s up, little man?”
Scooping the baby up in his arms, Evan carried him across the hall, through the bedroom and out to the deck where Anna sat. Dropping onto the love seat beside her, Evan settled Tony onto his chest. Taking the glass of wine that Anna handed him, he sipped, sighed contentedly, then set it aside. It was another perfect September evening: warm, not too humid, with a bit of a breeze. The sun had dropped behind the trees on the opposite bank of the inlet, bringing a mellow light to the water in front of them.
The baby squirmed a little, working to lift his head. As usual, the gleam of the gold chain around Evan’s neck had attracted his attention. A little starfish hand reached out and seized the prize. The four buttons, one white, the others pale green, slid on the chain and squirted out of his grasp.
“He goes right for them every time,” she said with a soft smile.
“A man who knows what he wants.”
“That’s not his father’s trait,” Anna teased.
“Oh, I knew what I wanted,” Evan said in lazy protest. He ran his gaze over his wife in a slow, sensual appraisal. “I just didn’t think I deserved it.”
A blush colored Anna’s cheeks. Her eyes warmed to molten chocolate and Evan knew she felt the same rush of desire he did. He slipped his free hand through her hair and cupped her neck, bringing her in for a long, luscious kiss. Anna leaned into him, her body curving against his, setting his pulse pounding.
A sudden indignant cry forced them apart.
“He doesn’t like being ignored.” Anna’s voice was husky.
“Just like his mother.”
When Anna laughed, Tony smiled the toothless, lopsided grin that thrilled his grandparents. He wriggled in Evan’s arms, making a chortling sound of glee. Anna buzzed her lips against the side of his neck and he squealed with delight.
“He’s going to be awake for a while. I can tell.”
“That’s okay. We can wait.” Evan laid his head back against the cushions.
“Anticipation,” she said, lifting her glass of juice and smiling at him over the rim.
His body tightened. He remembered that night as well as she did. Soon, they would replay those wonderful moments and build new ones. Just as they had been doing since that night back in October when he finally came to his senses and proposed.
It never ceased to amaze him how satisfied he was with his new life. Why had he ever thought living alone was a pleasure? Anna had moved back to Crab Creek, despite Evan’s protests and offers to relocate to San Francisco. She wanted to be near her family as much as he. When her boss, Carl, learned that he might lose his second-favorite architect, he proposed that she open an east-coast branch of the company and become managing partner. After its nearly unanimous approval by the planning commission, the Berzani boatyard had become the fledgling company’s first project.
They had married two days after Christmas and eagerly planned for Tony’s arrival. Evan had been at Anna’s side when their son made his debut in late May. Now they traded off baby care with his ecstatic, doting grandmother, Elaine. Though Evan’s own mother and father were distant figures in Tony’s life, Evan knew his son would get all the love he ever needed in Crab Creek.
Anna put her drink down and looked out at the water.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Remember that first day I came here? To work on the project?”
“Are you kidding? It’s etched in my memory forever.” He shook his head with a laugh. “I remember hearing you on the second floor. I knew exactly when you stepped inside my bedroom. It was all I could do to not come up and keep you here for the rest of the day.”
“I only went about a foot inside!” A flush colored her cheeks.
“Annie, an inch would have been enough,” Evan said with a chuckle.
Anna joined his laughter and Tony gurgled again. She let him grab her finger and tug on it. Her eyes on the baby, she continued, “I stood in the doorway and imagined you drinking wine with some woman who was wearing your shirt. It was horrible.”
“Annie, I—”
“I’m not asking about your past, Evan,” she said g
ently, her gaze meeting his. He could read the love in her face as clearly as if she had spoken the words. “I just wanted it to be me, out here with you.”
“You know, Annie,” he said softly, slipping his free arm around her and pulling her close. “I don’t think you saw my past that day.”
Nuzzling her face into his neck, she asked, “What do you mean?”
“I’m sure that woman I was with had red hair. And if you’d looked closer, I think you’d have seen a baby with them.”
“You’re much better at seeing the future than I am,” she whispered, snuggling against him.
Surrounded by his family, Evan’s heart was full. Tony cooed his satisfaction at having his two favorite people so close. Evan kissed the downy head, then Anna’s tempting lips. She laid her head on his shoulder and they were quiet for a while. Tony seemed to sense the contentment and settled at last, relaxing onto his father’s chest. His squirming ceased and he yawned.
Evan tightened his hold on the two most important people in his life. Anna was wrong; his view of the future was still foggy. But the visibility was improving. He had Anna and Tony; with them, his future shone bright with endless potential. All he had to do was dare to reach out for it through the mist. Even now, it surrounded him, warm, loving and loved. His home, right here in his arms.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6488-9
BABY BOMBSHELL
Copyright © 2010 by Lisa Ruff.
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