“Thanks for coming, Mac. It’s good to see you,” she said, tightening her grip, wishing she never had to let him go. Instead, when he released her a moment later, she let her arm fall to her side. She remained standing near the sofa, watching him cross the vast lodge lobby. Watching as he walked away. She blinked back sudden tears.
He’d dropped by because he was in the neighborhood. Not because he’d come especially to see her.
Only—Mesa Verde wasn’t in any neighborhood. It was a destination in itself. And it was more than a five-hour drive back to Colorado Springs. No one came that far just to say hi.
“Wait,” she called, suddenly thinking of something. Not much, but it would hold him here another few moments. Would something brilliant come to mind by then?
He turned and waited while she hurried over.
“Can you pick me up at the airport when I get back home?” she asked.
He looked surprised. “You’re coming back?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I live in Atlanta.”
“Only until you get a job here. Charlene said she didn’t expect you back.”
“She did? Huh. I didn’t know that. Anyway, I don’t have a job here and don’t expect an offer for one.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry. Something will turn up, just wait.”
The word sweetheart about melted her heart. The look of compassion in his eyes touched her.
“It’s not quite like I thought it would be,” she said slowly. Hoping she was doing this right. Please, let it come out right.
“Why is that?”
“I love it here. It’s beautiful. I’m making a difference in the trail. All summer people from all over the world will be coming to walk on the trail I’m helping to repair.”
“And you want to be here to see that,” he said.
She shook her head slowly. “I want to be where the people I love are.”
Mac didn’t say anything and her heart dropped. He had never said he loved her. She had never told him she loved him. But these weeks apart had shown her as nothing else could how much she missed him. How much she’d yearned to hear his voice, to know he was safe and happy. To be part of his life.
“I want to be where you are, Mac,” she said in a rush.
He dropped his jacket and reached for her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her like he had before. Those wonderful kisses that rocked her world. Sam couldn’t say a word, so she just held on and kissed him back.
Endless minutes later he pulled back a scant inch. “I never thought I’d hear you say that, Sam. If you don’t want marriage, we can be friends, do things together, though I love you so much it’ll be hell on earth if you don’t say you’ll marry me. I thought I could do this when you said no. Send you on your way and be glad you were happy. But these last weeks have been horrible. As bad as when Chris died. I never thought I’d fall in love again, or so completely that my life isn’t my own anymore. But I have. With you. Oh, my love, say you’ll share my life until we are both ancient and beyond.”
“You love me? You never said.”
“I didn’t?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I love you, too. Only I was too stupid or too blind to realize it until I got here. I thought I ruined everything. Coming here is exactly like I thought it would be. But I’m not like I thought I’d be. I can’t stop thinking about you. Wishing I was with you. To cook dinner together or take Tommy to the park or tuck him in bed together. To talk about everything under the sun. I want to be with you.”
“Will you marry me?”
Before she could respond, he put a finger across her lips. “Think about what you want to say. I can’t take another rejection like last time.”
She threw back her head and laughed, then hugged him tightly. She couldn’t even imagine what had gone through her mind that fateful morning. How could she have been so blind to her true feelings?
“I might have answered differently if you’d started that proposal with an I love you. Oh, Mac, I so love you! I would be very honored to be your wife. I’m sorry for that refusal. How dumb can one woman be? But I had this dream for so long, I didn’t realize when it changed. Learning about these temporary volunteer positions is great. When I get the urge, I’ll volunteer. The rest of the time, I want to be with you. Raise Tommy. Have a half dozen kids of our own. Watch Charlene take off. But mostly—always—to be with you.”
“That can be arranged,” he said before he kissed her again. A kiss that warmed her to her toes, and assured her their future would always be bright together.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2656-6
NANNY TO THE BILLIONAIRE’S SON
First North American Publication 2009.
Copyright © 2008 by Barbara McMahon.
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