Page 102 of Sergeant's Christmas Siege

“I don’t really see how that’s relevant.”

“I think we both know that means that you do, but I want to hear you say it.”

“I trust you to show up when you say you will,” she said grudgingly. “You keep your promises, I’ll give you that.”

He dropped his head a little and laughed, but it wasn’t his usual foundation-rocking laughter.

Then he came to his feet in that way that never ceased to make her catch her breath. And the only reason she didn’t cut and run when he started toward her was because she knew that he would catch her.

Or she told herself that was the reason, anyway.

When he got to her, he took his time reaching down and taking her hands in his.

And that was unfair.

Because his hands were so big, and hard, and hot around hers. She could feel his heat, and that electric thing that had buzzed between them from the start.

And this time, she knew exactly where it went. She knew exactly what he could do.

She had to remind herself that was the problem.

“It seems to me that the real problem here is Samuel Lee Holiday himself,” he said after a moment.

“He usually is,” Kate said. Maybe a little dourly.

“What worries you is that you might be like your mother.”

Kate shuddered. “Yes.”

It was one of the hardest things she’d ever said.

But Templeton didn’t condemn her. He didn’t seem to notice.

“The real issue is that when your mother fell in love, it was with a psycho. So here’s what I promise you.” His hands tightened around hers. And she was suddenly sure that he could see all the way inside her. Every secret. Every fear. Every scrap of hope she’d ever gathered inside herself and hidden away. “You can love me as much as you want. As big and as wide and as crazy as you like. I can take it.”

Kate couldn’t breathe. Still, his name was on her lips.

But he wasn’t finished. “And in return, there will be no whackadoo ritual to prove your worth. I already know that you’re worthy. You’re more than worthy.” He pulled her closer, and she went. Easily. “You’re beautiful. Tough. You make me laugh, and you’re not afraid of me. I havethe feeling that if I let you, you’ll make me into a better man. I don’t need you to prove a single thing to me, Kate.”

“Templeton...”

“Maybe I can’t save you. But I promise you, I will always keep your heart safe. You will never end up on a compound, and I will never end up in prison. Loving me is not going to lead to you with an anchor in the middle of a winter sea.”

Kate never cried, but she could feel the tears on her cheeks then. One more thing she would have sworn she’d never do, and then did.

Because of him.

“I want to believe you,” she whispered. “But I never have believed in anything I can’t see.”

“Then stick around,” Templeton urged her, his voice low. And, she realized, certain. As if he already knew exactly how this was going to work out, and she would love it. And him. Forever. “All you have to do is stay, baby. I promise.”

He moved his hands until he could lace his fingers through hers. And she was the one who raised up their linked hands, so she could move closer to the great wall of his chest. Because when she tilted her head up, his mouth was there.

Right there.

Templeton looked at her as if he were some kind of sun. Bright enough to make even the darkest December in Alaska feel like summer.

“And what about you?” she asked, even though she was afraid she didn’t want to know. “What do you get out of this?”

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