Authors: Jean Brashear
On His Honor (24 page)
For a long moment he stared at her, and she could see their future hanging in the balance.
“Why not?” he said at last.
Violet felt like she could breathe again.
“Spot says hi, by the way,” he said.
“Who’s Spot?”
He looked aghast. “You’ve forgotten our furry child so soon?”
“You named that cute little kitten
Spot?
”
“Well, she’s young, so she could learn a new one, I guess. But to have any input, you’d have to come see her, get reacquainted.”
“I guess I would.”
“I have three livable rooms now. My folks stayed at my place while I was in the hospital, and the Camerons aren’t all that good at twiddling their thumbs. When I got out, Dad stuck a paintbrush in my hand and called it physical therapy.”
“Are they still there? I’m dying to meet them.”
“They went home a couple of weeks ago. It’s just me and Spot. Place feels pretty empty.” He drew her close again, placed his lips on her throat. “Especially the bedroom.”
Her head fell back as she tumbled into bliss. “How’s the claw-foot tub?”
His mouth cruised over her jaw. “Coulda sworn I heard it cry the other night. Damnedest thing.”
Her thoughts kept flitting away as her eyes rolled back in her head. “Um…do I have to fly back economy with you?”
“We’ll flip a coin at the airport. Now how far away is your bedroom?”
“Too far. But my driver can get us there fast,” she panted. “If I could corrupt you with just one more little luxury.”
“I was afraid of that.” His lips brushed hers. “Okay, Hollywood…do your worst.”
“In a minute. First…tell me again that you love me.”
“I love you, Violet. You as you are, inside and out. And I want to be around to see you at eighty-five, like my grandmother. You’ll be beautiful, too.”
After all the mistakes, here he was, at last, the man she’d dreamed of and hoped for and tried to keep faith in. “I want to build a life with you, make a family with you.”
“Then I think we’d best get started, Hollywood.” He bent to her, his eyes warm, his arms strong.
“Me, too. I love you, JD.” She sank into his embrace, into the first kiss of their new life.
The forever-after life of her dreams.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459226494
Copyright © 2012 by Jean Brashear
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