by Nikki Duncan
“Burke.”
“Better.” He grinned. “The time alone with you has been beyond amazing, if challenging at times, but I love being with you and your kids.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. The soft flesh would plump up and taste heavenly when he finally kissed her again.
“Mags.” He leaned back a little. Space and less touching would help focus. She muddled his brain when she got too close. “I never thought I’d be doing this with you naked.”
“Burke, are you…”
“Maggie Sullivan,” he interrupted. “I want to stay with you. I want to spend my life loving and cherishing you as much as I do this second. I want to know when I wake up in the middle of the night I can reach out and find you there. I want to come home to you after a rough day. I want to be there for you when the kids drive you crazy, as I’ve no doubt Jared does often. I want to see your children grow up and become the best people they can.”
He opened the box, pulled out the ring and held it in front of her. It was an antique, platinum setting with an intricately engraved filigreed design. The single carat, heart-shaped diamond in the center was set off by a sapphire baguette on each side.
“Burke.” Tears thickened her voice and filled her eyes.
“I want to spend my life with you, the woman who rescued me before I could rescue her. Mags, will you marry me?” He held his grandmother’s ring out, waiting eagerly for her answer.
She swallowed deeply as tears streamed down her face. Every nuance of her face was forever ingrained in his memory. Regardless of the next words to come out of her mouth, she’d never looked more beautiful than in this moment. And he knew by her eyes she loved him.
She just had to accept him.
She leaned forward, put her hand on his cheek, kissed him gently, and then laid her cheek against his. His shoulders knotted as he braced for her refusal.
“Marriage,” she whispered, “is serious business.”
He’d pushed too far, too fast. “I know. I love you. I don’t want to live without you.”
“I love you.” Her warm exhale brushed over his ear, sending goosebumps down his spine. “I don’t want to live without you either, Detective Burke Harte. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He pulled her closer. His breath swept across her skin. She wiped away tears and pushed away so she was facing him.
“On a couple of conditions,” she added.
Nothing came easy. Burke knew the rule, and more precisely the truth of it in relation to women—especially this one. He hated conditions, but for Maggie he was game. “Name them.”
“Jared has to agree.”
“Logical.” He wouldn’t love her as much if she didn’t think about her kids first. And he could bribe Jared.
“I want the wedding to be small.”
“As long as there is one.”
“I want it to be soon.” She smiled and leaned forward to kiss him.
“I think I can get behind that idea.” He pulled a little away, took her left hand and grinned. “You took Mike’s ring off.”
“It was time.”
“Maggie.” She’d reached the point of wanting to move on. With him.
She tightened her grip on his hand and shook her head. “Do I get that rock or not?”
He chuckled and nodded. His grin made his cheeks hurt as he slipped on the ring.
She gaped at his ring on her finger and when she looked up, tears shimmered on her eyelashes. Her voice was barely a whisper. “It’s gorgeous.”
He smiled and ran his thumb under her eyes, gently wiping her tears away. “It was my great-grandmother’s. My great-grandfather spent years mining the materials to make this with his own hands. He thought he was being funny when he used a heart in the design.”
The tears were now streaming down her face. “I love it even more because of what it means to you. I love you, Burke. You are my heart.”
“And you’re mine.” He kissed the tears from her cheeks, and then slowly rained kisses over her face working his way back to her lips. Giving her one last brief kiss, he pulled away from her. “I can hardly wait until you’re Maggie Harte.”
“My granddad told me something once before he died.” She gripped his hand and squeezed until her knuckles turned white. “Love is the noblest emotion you can feel. It’s what gives a man hope, and the courage to not give up. You give me hope and courage, Burke.”
And she gave him so much more.
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About the Author
Heart stopping puppy chases, childhood melodrama and the aborted hangings of innocent toys are all in a day’s work for Nikki Duncan. This athletic equestrian turned reluctant homemaker turned daring author, is drawn to the siren song of a fresh storyline.
Nikki plots murder and mayhem over breakfast, scandalous exposés at lunch and the sensual turn of phrase after dinner. Nevertheless, it is the pleasurable excitement and anticipation of unraveling her character’s motivation that drives her to write long past the witching hour.
The only anxiety and apprehension haunting this author comes from pondering the mysterious outcome of her latest twist.
More can be found out about Nikki at her website www.NikkiDuncan.com. Nikki is also on Twitter www.twitter.com/nduncanwriter and Facebook at www.facebook.com/nduncanwriter.
Look for these titles by Nikki Duncan
Now Available from Samhain Publishing:
Sensory Ops
Sounds to Die By
Scent of Persuasion
Tulle and Tulips
Tangled in Tulle
Coming Soon from Samhain Publishing:
Tulle and Tulips
Twisted in Tulips
Whispering Cove
Wicked
Burned
Her Miracle Man
Table of Contents
Chapter 6
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
About the Author