Last Chance (46 page)

McKenna lost herself to the magic. How she had missed his kiss, his taste.

After several seconds, he loosened his arms, and asked, "How's

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Jamie?"

She smiled, anxious to share with him everything she'd learned about

her little sister. "Amazing. She's so savvy and incredibly smart. She has a

degree in elementary education but has only been able to teach for a year.

The guy she married ended up being a major jerk. It only took one time for

him to get abusive and she was out of there."

"She sounds like a remarkable woman. And she obviously has a lot in

common with her sister."

"I can't wait for you to get to know her. She's such a wonderful

person."

"Did she come with you?"

"No. I wanted her to, but she had to go home to get some stuff sorted

out. We've promised to call each other every day, and she'll either come here

or I'll go to the States to see her soon."

"She'll definitely have to be here for the wedding."

Her heart stopped. "Wedding?"

As if he hadn't heard her, he continued, "And when we get back from

our honeymoon, maybe she'd like to come stay with us. Or live with us if

she wants to."

"Honeymoon?"

"Where would you like to go?"

Her breath coming in rapid pants, McKenna pulled away to stare up at

him. "You want to marry me?"

"You sound surprised."

"I just..." How did she tell him that she'd never in her life imagined

anything so remarkably wonderful as to be married to him?

"You just what?"

"I never..."

"McKenna?"

There was uncertainty and vulnerability in Lucas's expression.

Something she'd never thought to see in him.

Emotions clogging her throat, she swallowed hard. Tears sprang to her

eyes and she didn't bother to try to stop them. Her voice thick, she

whispered, "I just never thought anyone as wonderful as you could happen

to me. You've given me more than I could ever dream of having."

"I want to give you the world."

She shook her head. "I don't want the world. I just want you."

"And you have me. Always."

"What about the past?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

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"The instant people learn who I am, they'll delve into my past.

Everything will come out."

"I can get the records buried, if that's what you want."

"I just don't want any of it to taint you or your family. I--"

McKenna gasped when he grabbed her shoulders and shook her

slightly. "Do not even use that word. There is nothing about you I'm

ashamed of or want to hide. The only reason I asked was for you. I don't

give a damn what anyone says, sweetheart. But the last thing I want is for

you to be hurt."

A lump developed in her throat. How had she gotten so lucky?

"You're the finest man I know."

"I'm just a man totally and forever in love with the woman of his

dreams. It's that simple."

"Take me home and make love to me."

"There's nothing I'd rather do, but before we leave, tell me if you want

me to cover your past. The charges against you were dropped. There should

be no problem in getting your record expunged."

McKenna took a breath. She'd been living in the shadows for too long.

The things she had endured were horrific, but if she hid them, she would still

be in the shadows, still hiding. So what if people knew? The two people she

loved, Lucas and her sister, knew everything. What did the rest of the world

matter? "Don't do anything."

His smile told her he wholeheartedly approved. "Good." Pulling her

with him, they headed back inside. "There are a couple of friends I want you

to meet."

Hours later, lying in bed, wrapped in Lucas's arms, McKenna relived

the evening. He had led her back into the ballroom without telling her what

he was going to do, nodding and smiling at several people, all the while

ignoring the cameras flashing like fireworks all around them. Nothing had

stopped him until they approached a door with two British soldiers standing

on either side of it. Lucas had murmured something and one of the men

opened the door and they'd walked in the room.

Lucas had said he wanted her to meet a friend. She was in the middle

of the room before she realized that friend was the Queen of England.

Flabbergasted
was the word most descriptive of her feelings. She'd done her

best to act proper, curtsied when she thought it appropriate, and stood in

wide-eyed awe as Lucas explained that she was his fiancee.

After that, meeting anyone else had been anticlimactic. Thankfully,

Lucas hadn't wanted to stay much longer. He sought out the prime minister

and his family and did another introduction. On the way out the door, he

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stopped to say hello to his friend Jared Livingston and his wife, Lara. Then

he was nudging her in the direction of the nearest exit. The second they were

in the backseat of the limo, she was back in his arms, where she wanted to

stay forever.

Bringing her back to the present, his mouth at her ear, he whispered,

"What are you thinking?"

"That I could stay in your arms forever."

"And that's where I plan for you to be."

She raised up on her elbow to look down at him. Moonlight reflected

on his face, revealing his beautiful smile, his eyes glittering with a deep

contentment. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"If I hadn't come back, would you have just let me go?"

His expression grew serious. "I would like to say that yes, I would

have, simply because if you hadn't come back to me, I knew it would have

been your choice. But I would never have given up hope and I probably

would have eventually come for you."

"I'm sorry I put you through that."

"You're here now. That's all that counts."

She snuggled deeper into his arms.

"I have a confession to make," Lucas said.

"What?"

"I've been in touch with Noah McCall."

She smiled against his chest. She'd talked to Noah yesterday. He

hadn't told her he had talked to Lucas, but she had a feeling she knew what

was coming.

"About what?"

"I told him I'd like to do some work for LCR from time to time."

"Why?"

"Because I've seen the good they do. The training I have should be

used for something good."

"Think we'll be able to work together without getting each other

shot?"

He held her tighter. "I'll make sure of it."

"We'll both make sure of it." She pressed a kiss against his chest.

"Thank you, Lucas."

"For what?"

"For loving me."

Rolling her over onto her back, Lucas loomed above her and

whispered against her lips, "Sweetheart, loving you is the easiest thing I've

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ever done."

With a groan, McKenna surrendered her body to the man who had

stolen her heart. She'd never thought she'd find happiness. Never believed

she deserved it. But now, because of Lucas, all of that had changed. Her one

chance for love had turned into a lifetime of happiness.

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