A Forever Kind of Hero Read online

  He was making it hard for her to think. Megan drew her head away. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I need a few answers.” His eyes held hers. “No,” he amended. “Actually, I just need one.”

  Was it her, or had the heat suddenly been turned up in her office? “And that is?”

  Garrett measured his words. After all was said and done, he didn’t know if he was about to tread on solid ground or quicksand. “Well, the answer I need is ‘yes.’”

  “What’s the question?”

  His eyes held hers. Didn’t she know what was in his heart? Couldn’t she see? Was he going to make a fool of himself after he’d climbed out on this limb? “What do you think it is?”

  Nerves scrambled through her. Looking away, she began shuffling papers on her desk, wishing the phone would ring. Anything to break this tension. “Look, I’ve got a lot of work to do. I don’t have time for this.”

  “Make time.” Taking hold of her shoulders, he forced Megan to look at him. “Stop running for once in your life, and make time.”

  Indignation rose in her eyes. He’d found the right button to press.

  “I am not running.”

  “Yes, you are,” he countered calmly. “You’re running just as fast as those gorgeous legs of yours will go.”

  Who the hell did he think he was, leaving her hanging and out to dry without so much as a word for six weeks, then waltzing in and gloating about it? “We had a couple of nice nights.”

  She tried to break free, but he wouldn’t let her. She was going to hear him out even if he had to sit on her to make her do it. “We had more than that, and you know it. I’m not leaving, Megan, and what’s more, you don’t want me to.”

  “Look, Wichita—”

  “Garrett,” he corrected. “You called me Garrett on the airstrip.”

  Megan stiffened. He couldn’t possibly know that. “You were unconscious—”

  He shook his head, his smile curling into her belly. “My eyes were too heavy to keep open, but I wasn’t unconscious. I heard you, Megan. I heard you call me Garrett, and I heard what you said afterwards.”

  He was here to gloat. She shrugged him off. “I don’t remember what I said.”

  But he caught hold of her again. The press of his hands was gentle, but firm.

  “Yes, you do. You said you loved me. Which works out really well, because I love you.” The stunned look on her face encouraged Garrett to continue. “I’ve tried just as hard to get you out of my mind these last six weeks as you’ve worked to get me out of yours.” It wasn’t a guess. He knew her, knew how her mind worked. They were alike, he and Megan. Two halves of the same soul. “I didn’t succeed, how about you?”

  When she said nothing, he drew her into his arms gingerly, his left arm still hurting.

  “Megan, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but easy’s boring, and you’re not the type who likes to be bored any more than I am. Now, listen to me.” He looked into her eyes, speaking to her heart. “I don’t intend to walk out of your life, so you’d better get used to having me around.”

  It took Megan a moment, but she believed him. Believed that he was here for good. Forever. From where she stood, that had a very, very nice nng to it. “Would you like to ask your question now?”

  All or nothing, here it went. He took a deep breath. “Will you marry me?”

  She kept her face expressionless. “Is that my only choice? Marriage?”

  She was toying with him, right? he thought. He hoped. “Yes.”

  The sober look melted into a warm smile. Megan wove her arms around Garrett’s neck “Then I guess the answer is ‘yes.’”

  “Good, because I’ve got a minister on twenty-four-hour standby.” He kissed her then, sealing the bargain. Sealing his life. She tasted better than cool spring water on a scorching hot day. Garrett drank deeply. “God, but I’ve missed you.”

  The quick rap on the door interrupted them. “Megan, I’ve got a new case for you.”

  Megan and Garrett turned in unison to look at Cade as he entered the room.

  The other man stopped abruptly, assessing the situation.

  Staying right where she was, in Garrett’s arms, Megan shook her head. “I’m afraid that you’re going to have to give the case to Sam or take it yourself, Cade. I’m going to be busy.”

  He raised a brow. “Doing what?” he asked, though he had a hunch he knew what was coming.

  She looked up at Garrett. “Getting married.”

  Cade slipped the name and number into his pocket. “Congratulations, you’ve come up with the one excuse I’ll accept. I’ll take care of this one myself.” First Sam, now Megan. Cade smiled to himself. It was nice to see good people happy, he thought as he closed the door, giving Megan and Garrett privacy.

  “He’s very accommodating,” said Garrett.

  Megan smiled. “I taught him everything he knows.”

  He lowered his head toward hers. “Show me.”

  “With pleasure,” Megan replied. She stood up on her toes and met him halfway.

  Be sure to look for Cade’s story,

  HERO IN THE NICK OF TIME, coming only

  to Silhouette Intimate Moments in October.

  ISBN : 978-1-4592-5896-9

  A FOREVER KIND OF HERO

  Copyright © 1999 by Marie Rydzynski-Ferrarella

  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 editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S A

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S A.

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