More Than Scars (47 page)

             
His eyes darkened.

             
“Anything that is yours?”

             
“Anything that is mine you may have Nerissa! Tell me…it’s yours my love!”

             
I smiled and let the tears I had been holding back fall. That boldness that I got only when I was with Liam came over me. I wrapped my arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around me and our lips were so close I could take in his breath as he breathed out. I let out a sigh and laughed.

“
Nerissa, just tell me,” he growled. He nipped gently at my lower lip and his strong arms flexed about me.

I found my fingers in his hair and it gave me courage. “Fine,” I murmured. “I…I want your last name,” I whispered tenderly.

His chest expanded on a deep breath, nearly crushing the breath from me. “Wh…what did you say?”

“Your last name,” I whispered again. “I want it.”

He faltered, stumbling back with me in his arms, but he kept his footing. He steadied me, letting me go and running his hands through his hair. I wasn’t sure if he was having a heart attack or what!

“Liam?”

Suddenly he was laughing and falling to his knees, hugging me about the waist. He buried his face into my stomach and continued laughing.

“Liam?”

“Oh God! I thought I was crazy,” he cried out. “I thought…for sure I was just nuts to think you would feel the same way I would feel. You would laugh in my face and question my motives and, well, turn me away! Say it was too soon!” He looked up at me.

I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”

He smiled that devastating smile. “You love my cologne?”

I laughed.
“Absolutely!”

“The day I met you…” he ducked his head. “I had Stewart helping me shop for more than cologne…because I knew…I just knew…and I approved of this purchase.” And from his pocket he pulled a little black box.

I fell to my knees before him. “Liam?”

He laughed softly.
“Since you beat me to the punch.” He opened the box and there sat the prettiest diamond I had ever seen. “You can have my last name, but you have to say yes to one little question first.” He smiled. “Are you sure Stewart didn’t tell you I was going to….”

I shook my head, unable to speak through the tears.

He reached for me then, pulling me into his arms and claiming me with a kiss. It wasn’t a little peck or a brushing of lips…it was a claiming. And once he had me good and breathless he helped me to my feet gently, and then lowered to one knee. His eyes danced up at me.

Out of my peripheral I saw the girls run out on the stoop, but I couldn’t turn my eyes from Liam. I smiled down on him now and started to laugh softly, willing him to please just ask.

“Nerissa Meadows, will you please put me out of my misery and be my wife? Marry me…take my name…take my money…my time…distract me…wear me out…I am begging you!”

I laughed and grabbed his collar, dragging him up to me now. “Yes, yes, and yes to all Mr. Byrne.” I jumped him then and he easily took my weight as my arms went around his neck and my legs around his waist.

I kissed him with all of my might and he kept up, despite our audience…my Mom, the girls, the driver. It didn’t matter. In fact, it wasn’t long before the girls were wrapped around Liam’s legs and my Mom around the both of us as we rejoiced.

It was as it should be. We had so much ahead of us…still a lot of growth and healing…but we were on the right path. Life was so much more now!
More than the scars hidden and seen. Yes…we were proof of that…we were more than our scars!

And I got my happy memory…in the snow.