Page 39 of The Texas Cowboy's Rescue

“You look like you’re feeling much better than when I last saw you.”

“I’m all better. So we can go swimming soon, right?”

“Brooke, let the poor man rest. Take the popcorn and set it on the table. Your movie is about to start.”

“Okay. Can Ranger watch with me?”

“If they have time. That’s up to Mr. Deke.” Kenzie knew he would try to find an excuse because he expected that she wanted him to leave. “Yes, they’ve missed each other. If you have time to spare, I can fix some coffee or tea or whatever while they enjoy their visit.”

“And here are some of your favorite cupcakes that you can have when your mom says you can. Just as I promised.”

Brooke gave him a hug, and she set the box on the table next to the popcorn. “Thank you, Mr. Deke. You’re the best.”

“Coffee? Something cold?”

“Tea would be fine.”

He followed her into the kitchen, keeping some distance, his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

It was silence as she took down a glass, filled it with ice, and then poured the tea. Her grip on the pitcher was tight, as her hands might shake too much otherwise. She handed him the glass and he took a sip.

“We could sit on the porch,” she offered. “There’s a breeze.”

“Okay.”

They reached the rockers, and he was about to sit when Kenzie knew she had to say something. “Look, this feels really awkward. And it’s my fault.” He looked like he was about to interrupt, but she didn’t give him a chance. “I was hateful to you. I accused and didn’t let you defend yourself. I jumped to the wrong conclusions because I was scared. I was scared that the person I thought you were might not be the person I wanted you to be, and I was tired of being the fool. But I was wrong. I should have known better. And I hurt you and ruined everything and... well, I don’t know what to say.”

He was silent for a couple of minutes... really long minutes. He took another sip of his tea and set it on the table at the railing. “I’m glad you ran out of words. I was afraid my ice would melt before you finished and I could take a drink.”

“I see.” What else was she to say?

“I don’t think you do. But let me havemysay now. I don’t need hero worship or to be put on a pedestal. I did what I did because I made a promise that I would be there for Brooke if she were ever afraid or in trouble. I wasn’t going to have her think I didn’t mean that. I knew I had to try. I had done worse flying jobs overseas. And I knew that if you lost her, it would break you into a thousand pieces. There was no question that Ranger and I would get her. I did it and it’s over. But there’s something more important to settle.”

“More important?”

“You should probably just listen right now because I don’t make speeches, and I am going to make one stab at getting this right. I’m here today because of Emily. You met her, you talked. You know that she is very special in my life. So when she arrived on my doorstep this morning, she wasn’t very nice about it. She told me I was acting like a stubborn, pig-headed mule of a man. And a few other things I won’t repeat. But when Emily gets that riled up, she is always right. And I listened and I gave it a lot of thought. So I went to the bakery, got the cupcakes with an extra helping of sprinkles for good luck, and here we are. I figured you might slam the door in my face, or if I got inside, maybe the cupcakes and Brooke would persuade you to let me stay a minute... or two.”

“Good plan.”

“There is not one word I have said to you since the moment I met you that has not been true. I’m nothing like your ex. I would hope you can see that by now. I don’t give my heart away easily. The first time was a mistake. The second... well, the jury is out on that one. But once it’s given, that’s it.

“I can say without a doubt that I have fallen in love with you, Kenzie Calhoun. I hadn’t expected to do that. And I realized something that shocked me even more when I could say that—I am in love for the first and, hopefully, the last time in my life. What I felt or thought was love the first time around was certainly nothing in comparison to what my heart feels when you do as little as smile at me. And that is a daunting admission.

“I was stubborn for a day or more... and then I was afraid that if you felt anything for me now, it would be because you were grateful for my bringing Brooke home. All I wanted was to be loved because you trusted inus, the three of us, together now and forever.

“I just want to restore your trust, to make you laugh more, to ease the burden by being the person you can share your load with when it gets too heavy, to know you’ll want to be there to remind me to enjoy life with the ones who you love and who love you right back. And if that person happens to be an angel with the blue of the sky in her eyes and will fly away beside me now and then, that will make my life complete. Our job is to rescue people. But I believe that we rescued each other.”

Then he confused her. Instead of taking her in his arms, he turned toward the open front door. “That’s your cue, I believe.”

Brooke came rushing out, Ranger right beside her. They both looked at her. Brooke raised her hands and she presented one of the cupcakes to him... one with lots of sprinkles. And then Kenzie saw it. Instead of a cherry on top, there was a ring... a glittering, sparkling ring with a sky-blue diamond solitaire in the center of smaller ones. Deke went down on one knee with that smile that had won her heart from almost the very first moment.

“You were in on this?” Kenzie looked at her daughter, who had the biggest grin ever on her face. She nodded. “We made the plan in the hospital, but you didn’t know he was there. You have to say ‘yes’ now so he can get up and we can eat cupcakes.”

“I think you and Ranger can go inside right now,” Deke said with a grin. “I think I can handle the rest.”

“You got it!” The pair left them.

“I believe...” he began but didn’t get to finish.

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