Just Perfect (27 page)

She planted a hand on the back of his head and pulled him down for a long ravenous kiss. His body responded eagerly as he pressed his instant arousal into the juncture between her thighs. She moved against him, her greedy hands sweeping up under his T-shirt, stroking his heated skin.

A desperate idea involving the exam table sprang to mind just as Buddy whimpered and pawed his leg, trying to squeeze between them so he could greet Chris. Alec tried to nudge him away while nibbling along her neck. “Get your own girl, pal. This one’s mine.”

Buddy whimpered louder, and Christine started to laugh. Voices sounded out in the hall, along with footsteps passing the door.

“Wait. Stop.” She pulled back enough to look at him even though her leg remained twined around his hip. “Buddy’s right.”

“Buddy’s neutered. What does he know?”

She pressed a hand against his chest, leaning back to evade his lips—which put them in dance’s dip with her back nearly parallel to the floor. “He has more sense than us at the moment.”

He smiled down at her, relishing the feel of her in his arms. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Her eyes smiled up at him. “And don’t you dare drop me.”

“You mean like this?”

She shrieked as he pretended to let go, then snatched her back against him.

“I’d never drop you.” He straightened, releasing her leg so it slid slowly down along his. “Let’s go somewhere and get naked.”

“I get off duty in an hour.” Flushed and breathless, she smoothed her hair.

“An eternity.” He presented her with the flowers. “Buddy insisted on roses. He’s a traditional kind of guy.”

“Thank you.” Her expression turned mushy as she buried her nose in the red blossoms.

He wiggled his brows. “Wanna lock the door and play doctor?”

“Tempting.” She grinned up at him through her lashes. “But I have work to do.”

“Spoilsport.”

She shook her head, staring at him in wonder. “I can’t believe you’re here. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“Because if I had, you’d have given me the whole speech about how our relationship has no future and we need to end things once and for all.”

“Probably. So where are you staying? How long will you be here?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t know. That depends on you.”

“Oh?”

“I could get a hotel room near your apartment.”

“Or… you could stay with me.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He pulled her into his arms.

“You’ll wind up sleeping at my place anyway, so why waste time and money?”

“I love a practical woman.”

“Opposites attract.” She rubbed her nose against his.

“Hey!” He mocked offense. “I resemble that remark.”

She gave him a quick, laughing kiss. “Let me get my purse from my locker and give you my key. You can settle in and I’ll see you when I get home.” She started to step away, then hugged him instead. “I’m glad you came. This is probably a terrible idea, but I don’t care. I’m so happy to see you.”

Christine thought the last hour of her shift would never end. When it did, she raced home through the gathering dusk. Singing along with the radio, she turned onto the steep road to her hilltop apartment complex on the northwest side of town.

A ridiculously battered Jeep sat in her parking slot. She wondered if he’d borrowed it, or bought it for the trip, since he couldn’t very well drive the county vehicle. Although, for all she knew, he’d already owned the ugly thing. Smiling, she parked behind it, then hurried down the breezeway to her front door. The city lights sparkled in the distance as day gave way to night.

Finding the door locked, she gave it a rap. “Alec? Let me in. You have my key.”

He opened the door with a playful grin and spoke in a falsetto. “Hi, honey. Welcome home. How was your day?”

“Who are you? Lucy?”

“No.” He scowled. “Laura Petrie. You know, the
Dick Van Dyke Show
?”

“Dang.” She gave him a smacking kiss. “Now I can’t say, ‘Oh, Loo-cy, I’m ho-me.’” Bending over, she ruffled Buddy’s ears. “This is much better than coming home to an empty apart—” She stopped abruptly when she saw the main room of her small two-bedroom apartment.

An ice bucket sat on the coffee table in the living area flanked by two lit candles. Beyond that, the small dining table in front of the sliding-glass doors to her balcony had been set with a tablecloth, more candles, and the roses he’d brought, which she’d asked him to put in water for her.

“Oh, Alec.” She moved over to admire the flowers. “You’ve been busy.”

“I hope you don’t mind me snooping around your kitchen.”

“Not at all.” She noticed he’d also changed into a white dress shirt even though he still wore his jeans, and his face looked freshly shaved. The scent of something cooking drifted from the kitchen, which opened on to the main room with a granite-top breakfast bar. “Are you cooking?”

“I’m not sure I’d call it cooking. I stopped by the market and got a rotisserie chicken, Caesar salad in a bag, a jar of Alfredo sauce to pour over pasta, and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert.” He lifted a bottle of champagne from the ice bucket. “And since it’s Valentine’s, I also got this.”

Her eyes widened. “Boy, you really know how to spoil a girl.”

“I see you’re onto my nefarious plan.” He wiggled his brows. “Shall I go ahead and pop this so we can have a glass before dinner?”

“Let me change first. If we’re going to have a Valentine’s dinner, I’d like to enjoy it in something nicer than scrubs.”

“Need any help?” he asked eagerly.

Laughing, she gave him a quick kiss. “How about I let you help me undress later?”

“You are so on.”

Ducking into the bedroom, she noted the suitcase sitting in the corner and smiled again, as she’d been smiling for the past hour, at the idea that Alec had driven all the way from Silver Mountain to see her. She slipped into a short black tank dress, fastened on pearl earrings and a diamond drop necklace, freshened her makeup, but left her feet and legs bare.

When she emerged from the bedroom, she found Alec sitting on the sofa, staring out the sliding-glass door. A rare frown wrinkled his brow, as if he wrestled with a mental dilemma. Her heart swelled at the mere sight of him. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

He turned at the sound of her voice, and the frown instantly vanished. His gaze roamed down and back up as he rose from the sofa. “Wow, you look great.”

“Thanks.” A warm thrill went through her at the gleam of desire in his eyes. “Do I get that glass of champagne now?”

“You bet.” They both stood as he removed the foil and untwisted the wire cage. The cork popped out on its own, startling a laugh from both of them.

She dove for the glasses as champagne bubbled out. “Here, quick, pour.”

“Got it.” He managed to fill the tall Waterford flutes with remarkably little spillage. “See, all those years of opening sodas at high altitude pay off.”

“Should we make a toast?”

He looked steadily into her eyes. “To following your heart, not your head?”

She touched her glass to his. “If that’s what brought you here, I’ll drink to it. Mmm, very nice. I love champagne. Nearly as much as I love a good cold beer.”

He chuckled as they took a seat on the sofa. She let him pull her feet into his lap and nearly melted in pleasure when he started massaging them. “Oh, man, you really are trying to spoil me.”

“Just getting you mellow before I tell you my news.”

“News?” She tipped her head, noticing his frown was back.

“Drink a little more wine first.” He nudged the glass toward her mouth.

“I hope it’s not bad news.” She sipped.

“I hope not either.” He studied her so hard, her stomach tightened.

“You’re starting to scare me a little.”

“I’m scaring myself a little too.” The line between his brows deepened. “I was going to wait until after dinner, but the suspense is killing me, so I’m just going to go ahead and tell you now.” He took a deep breath. “You know the day of the parade when we both said the end of Peter Pan was bunk? That a better ending would be for Peter to grow up and live with Wendy in the real world?”

“Yes.” Her body started to shake as hope blossomed inside her.

“Well… what would you say to me moving back to Texas?”

“Are you serious?” Happiness squeezed her throat, making the words hard to force out. “You’d give up search and rescue?”

“Hopefully not. I’m on two weeks of vacation right now. So with driving time, that gives me eight days to look for a job down here. I’m hoping one of the counties around Austin has a paid position open. It won’t be alpine search and rescue, but it’ll be close enough.”

“Yes, but the mountains. skiing. Snow. Your friends. You love living in Silver Mountain.”

His gaze held hers. “I love you more.”

“Oh my God. I can’t think.” Her mind whirled with the realization that for once life was handing her what she wanted without a huge price tag. She could have everything she wanted and give up nothing. Her breath hitched as she tried to take it all in. “I can’t—I can’t—believe—this.”

“Hey.” Concern lined his face as he took the glass from her. “Here, lean forward.” He moved her feet to the floor and urged her to put her head between her knees. “Are you okay?” His hand rubbed circles on her back. “I thought you’d like the idea”

“I do!” Tears filled her eyes as she laughed and cried at the same tune. “I love the idea!”

“Take a deep breath.” He massaged her neck.

“I’m okay.” She sat up and smiled at him. “Oh, Alec… are you sure about this? That’s a lot to give up just so we can date.”

“Ah, well, here’s the catch.” His words made her freeze in fear. “I don’t want to date you.”

“Y-you what?”

He smiled slowly. “
I
want to marry you.”

“Oh my God!”

He frowned. “I hope that’s a good ‘oh my God.’ ”

“It’s a very good ‘oh my God.’ I can’t believe this.” She squeezed his hand. “Are you really, really sure?”

“About wanting to marry you? Absolutely sure.”

“But you’re giving up so much. What if it doesn’t work out? What if I’m not enough to make you happy? What if you come to resent me?”

“Stop.” He placed a hand over her mouth, and she realized he was laughing. “It’s going to work out, because I love you. And even though you’ve never said it, I know you love me too.” Doubt flicked through the amusement. “You do, don’t you?”

She sagged as he lifted his hand. “Oh, Alec. Yes, I love you.”

“Thank goodness.” This time, he covered her mouth with his. She wound her arms about his neck and kissed him back with all the wonder and happiness filling her to overflowing. When he lifted his head, she saw all those emotions shining in his eyes. “Then it’s settled,” he said. “Now all you have to do is say yes.”

“But what if—”

He cut off his words with another kiss, this one brief. “That wasn’t yes.”

“But—”

He kissed her again, then gave her a stern look. “You’re supposed to say yes. Now let’s try it again.” He held her hand against his heart. “Christine, will you marry me?”

She smiled into his eyes. “Yes, Alec, I would love to marry you.”

“Thank God.” He pulled her to him for a very long kiss.