Close to Home (27 page)

She frowned and bit her lip in worry. “You don't want to go?"

He waited a minute before answering. Not that he really needed to decide, but he needed to say this to her in a way she couldn’t possibly misunderstand. “I can't report on an international scene and have my life with you, Kacie Jo. War reporting almost killed me. You saved my life. I'm not going back."

When they returned to Kacie Jo's house, Donovan recognized the breaking news tones playing on the TV and the sound of evening prayers the networks liked to play when covering Muslim countries.

"I can turn it off," Kacie Jo said, sensing his tension.

He shook his head no and followed her into the living room where Anaj's picture was inset top right with a list of atrocities against women below the photo. The main picture showed a reporter in front of the palace in B'en Ai reporting live on the trial of the man accused of burning his wife to death.

Donovan wished it didn't hurt. Wished he could see the picture, hear the words and not feel momentary panic.

"I'll be right back," he said, then left through the kitchen door to sit on Kacie Jo's back steps and enjoy the beauty that was Caldale, Texas. The door opened and closed behind him, and Kacie Jo sat beside him, dropped her head on his shoulder.

"I’m sorry it hurts you so much," she said. "I wish I could take the pain from you, wash your mind from the horrible memories."

With her words, something had shifted.

"I don't," he said, and he meant it. "I wish those horrible things hadn't happened, but they did, and they're part of me, part of what makes me tick. I'm okay with that now.”

Kacie Jo held out the veil he'd brought her all those months before. "It really is a beautiful part of the world,” she said.

And then she looked up at him. "Are you sure you don't want to go to London?"

He closed his eyes envisioning the grand old city, reliving the adrenaline rush of the big story. That rush had nothing on the adrenaline rush of convincing the woman he loved that he wanted to spend forever with her.
 

For the first time in his life, Donovan knew the meaning of forever. Forever wasn’t something you thought about when the sex was hot or the relationship was smooth sailing. Forever was the fight, the knowledge that there’d be stumbling blocks along the way. Forever was knowing all that and not caring because as long as they had each other, they never had to face the tough stuff alone.

"Kacie Jo, I'm not going anywhere without you. Not ever again. I love you."

Kacie Jo cupped his face in her hands and leaned into him.

"I love you, too," she said.

At her words Donovan lowered his lips to hers in a kiss that started slow and easy and became something much, much more.

When he broke for air, Kacie Jo fished his phone out of his pocket. "You better call Sam and tell him."

He turned his phone off and pulled her into his arms. "Sam will figure it out," he said.

And then he lifted his wife into his arms and carried her inside, determined to make the next few hours the best in both their lives.

The knock on the front door signaled visitors. Donovan couldn’t ask for a more perfect moment. “Think she’ll hold on a few more seconds?”

“She’s your stubborn daughter," Kacie Jo said. "And sleep seems to be her favorite mode these days.”

He’d already crossed the room to the front door. “My stubborn daughter, huh?”

Kacie Jo nodded as he opened the door. “Absolutely.”

Ali walked in followed by Sam and Grady. In a few seconds all three men surrounded the two most beautiful women Donovan had ever seen. He still couldn’t believe he was so lucky.

“Man, Tex, who’d’ve thought you could make such a pretty baby.”

Kacie Jo smacked Sam's shoulder. “Hey there. He had some help, you know.”

Some help and then some. Donovan reached down for the tiny little girl he still couldn’t believe was his. “She’s her daddy’s angel.”

Then he turned her so Sam and Ali could get a better look. “Gentlemen, meet Alana Lynn Nelson.”

As he spoke the words Alana’s eyes opened and she grabbed Donovan’s thumb with her tiny fist. Kacie Jo brushed the tuft of strawberry curls from her daughter’s forehead and smiled up at him.

"She's going to have you trained to her beck and call if you're not careful."

"Like some other woman I know, I suppose," he said. And then they both laughed because the other men in the room wore expressions that said they didn't get it. Donovan and Kacie Jo knew the secret, though. All it took to understand was love.

About the Author

Liz Lee lives in North Texas with her family and her dog Emmie.
 

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