Page 66 of Hot Soldier's Rescue

She waited him out while he caught up with the conversation. Sometimes men could be so slow on the uptake. Although in his defense, he was badly injured.

“…does that mean you don’t hate me?” he asked tentatively.

“I don’t hate you,” she confirmed.

“And does that mean you might actually like me a little bit?”

“It does. And I do.”

“Like me?”

“No, you big, sweet idiot. I love you.”

He sat up fast and she reached for him reflexively as he sucked in a hard breath. In spite of his obvious pain, he reached for her with both arms and drew her close in the big, warm hug she would never tire of. She laid her head carefully on his good shoulder.

“How much do you love me?” he asked cautiously.

“Why?” she replied with equal caution. “What did you have in mind?”

He paused a long time and then asked soberly, “Has Father Ambrose already found a family to adopt Mia and Emanuel?”

“Not to my knowledge. He usually spends a few months helping refugee children acclimate to American culture and learn a little English first. He likes to get to know the children so he can place them in a home that will be ideal for the kids based on their needs.”

“What do you suppose the odds are that he’d consider us to adopt them?”

She leaned back to stare at him in confusion. She said blankly, “But we’re not even married.”

He grinned down at her. “That’s easy enough to fix.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are planning to marry me, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes. But I figured I’d have to spend a while longer convincing you that you can’t live without me.”

He laughed and winced simultaneously. “I’m already there. Thing is, can you live without me?”

“Not a chance.”

“So you’ll marry me? Even if we don’t get the kids?”

“Absolutely…Ted.” His real name felt strange on her tongue. “Yeah. That’s weird. I may have to keep calling you Drago—”

But then he was kissing her and she didn’t care what his name was. Cheering erupted from somewhere behind them and Mia and Emanuel jumped on top of her and Ted. They opened their arms to include the children in the embrace and Ted manfully swallowed his pain. If possible, she loved him even a little more in that moment. She’d never met as generous a man in all her life.

She glanced up and met Grandma’s smiling gaze. “I suppose now’s as good a time as any to tell you I’m not really a nun.”

“I’ve known that all along, child.”

“But how?” Elise stuttered.

Grandma laughed gaily. “Father Ambrose told me that day when you called him.”

“But you said—”

“And I meant it. Any woman who would risk her life to save two children she’s never met deserves to be a saint. And any woman who would risk her life for a man, like you have for this one, deserves a long and happy life with him.”

Elise laughed and looked over at her man. “From your lips to God’s ear, Grandma.”

---