Freefall (35 page)

"And he's not real impressed with SEALs."

"I've heard there's a great deal of competition among the various branches of the service. So that's probably a positive thing. Makes everyone play their best game."

"There is that. He also thinks I ought to keep you."

"A brilliant man."

"You won't get any argument from me on that." He dragged a hand down his face. Cursed. "When I realized that monster had you, thought about what he might do to you, that he might even
kill
you, I was more terrified than I'd ever been in my life."

"I wasn't."

He shot her a disbelieving look.

"I wasn't," she insisted. "Oh, I was shocked. And horribly upset. But I knew that somehow you'd rescue me."

He shook his head in a blend of disbelief and admiration. "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

"I do. Which is handy, since I love you that much back."

"I'd planned to do this right. Get all dressed up and take you out to some fancy dinner over in Somersett, ply you with imported wine, get down on one knee, dazzle you with a diamond—"

"You dazzled me years ago, Zach. I certainly don't need a fancy dinner, or wine, or even a diamond."

"Are you saying you'll marry me?"

"I think that's an excellent idea, since we're going to be having those children. And a dog. A big furry one that sheds all over the furniture and that'll chew up my expensive Italian shoes and dig holes in the garden. I was never allowed to have one when I was growing up, and I always swore if I ever settled down anywhere, I'd get one."

"Whatever you want. It's yours."

"Well, then, that's easy." She leaned over, framed his face between her palms and kissed him. "I want you."

"Hoo-yah."

"I take it that's another SEAL affirmative?"

He grinned as he twisted the key in the ignition. "I'll demonstrate exactly how affirmative when we get home."

Home
. Was there any more beautiful word in the English language? It didn't matter where they lived, she realized. Swann Island or Timbuktu. So long as they were together, they were home.

She laughed as he floored the accelerator, pushing her back against the leather seat.

"Roger that."