by Kim Alexis
“The engraver’s all set to make a new one if you don’t like it,” Marcus told her quickly. “I wasn’t sure if—”
“No”—Juliette hugged him tight—“no, it’s perfect just like this. It’s absolutely, positively perfect.”
Little did she know, it was about to get even better.
At Marcus’s request, they sat on the bench together, and then he pulled an envelope from his pocket, which he handed over. She pulled out the contents, looked the papers over for a moment, and frowned. She looked up at him. “Marcus, what does this mean?”
His grin broadened. “Well, as you know, my company is all about disaster preparedness. We teach a lot of classes to the community, including a six-week program every fall on self-defense. Those classes are for paying customers, of course, but I wanted you to know that I talked to my partner and we’ve decided to earmark an amount that will fund scholarships specifically geared to young women who are on their own for the first time and just starting out. We’re calling it The Raven Fund.”
Of course she totally lost it then, tears of gratitude welling up in her eyes. It wasn’t just the money that touched her so. It was the gesture itself.
It was this man, Marcus Stone.
The one that got away.
Turning to him, Juliette took his hands in hers and looked into his eyes and thanked him from the bottom of her heart. “You know, if this counterfeiting thing isn’t over, there is one silver lining. I just might need some more protecting.”
He smiled. “I think it’s pretty clear you can protect yourself, ma’am, but I agree that an extra pair of eyes wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
She nodded, sliding closer. “And an extra pair of arms?”
He pulled her in tight, resting his chin on her head. “Um hmm, not to mention an extra pair of lips.”
She looked up and he tilted his head down for a kiss.
The one that got away?
Not this time.
Not a chance.