“I like the staying in California part of that plan.”
“Then you’ll like it even better when I tell you I’m meeting with a real estate agent to look at homes in Santa Barbara. Which, coincidentally, is quite a bit closer to Malibu,” she added.
“Even better. Does that mean you’re not quite as mad at me as you were?”
“It wasn’t you,” she said seriously, then rolled her eyes. “Okay, it was. For a minute. I thought you were another Bruce. But even when I was freaking out, I knew that wasn’t true. I know why you did what you did. Bruce could make God’s patience snap.”
He wiped his forehead as if relieved to have dodged a bullet. But she wasn’t completely letting him off the hook. “That doesn’t mean I want you making decisions for me. If we’re going to have a relationship, I need to know that you respect me and value my input—on the big things and the little things.”
“I do. I will. How little?”
She gave him a look her daughters knew all too well. He merely grinned and changed the subject. “Did you just say we’re going to have a relationship?”
“It’s a given…when you love someone. Don’t you know that?”
He reached over and unsnapped her seat belt then pulled her onto his lap. “I do now. Say it again.”
She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I love you. I tried to deny it, but I was flat-out miserable thinking I’d never see you again. That’s when Miranda and Hailey decided to consult the Magic 8 Ball.”
“So they told me. I’ve never tried one. Is there a chance it could have said, ‘Run for the hills?’”
“I don’t believe that’s an option, but according to Miranda, four out of four tries came back with the same answer. Bet on it.”
“What was the question?”
“Does Mommy love William?”
The look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. She might have forgotten how to trust in love, but her daughters hadn’t.
“So Miranda and Hailey were the ones who did the asking? You didn’t actually participate in the séance or whatever it’s called?”
She shook her head. “They were giving me permission to try again. That was the higher power I was talking about.” She’d immediately tossed all her women’s magazines and post-divorce advice books in the garage sale box. Her daughters were telling her it was okay to risk her heart one more time. On a man with a bit of a hero complex. But heroes had their place in the world so long as one had a strong heroine to keep him grounded.
William’s kiss said more than words ever could, but all communication stopped when Lucas hollered, “We’re at the Grapevine, William. Do you want to take her from here?”
“I certainly do,” William said, his gaze never leaving Daria. He helped her up, then kissed her hard and fast before walking to the pilot’s seat.
Before donning his headphones, he called out, “Buckle in tight, Daria. Things can get a little bumpy from this point on.”
She did as directed, grinning the whole time. Things had already been a little bumpy. But without lows, how could you appreciate the highs? And the best part of the journey was having someone to travel with.
She was ready to fly—anywhere—with William.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6930-3
THE GOOD PROVIDER
Copyright © 2010 by Debra K. Salonen
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at [email protected].
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com
*Spotlight on Sentinel Pass
*Spotlight on Sentinel Pass
*Spotlight on Sentinel Pass
*Spotlight on Sentinel Pass
*Spotlight on Sentinel Pass
*Spotlight on Sentinel Pass
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Good Provider Page 22