A Father's Sacrifice (25 page)

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Authors: Mallory Kane

She sat and clasped her hands in her lap, noticing they were trembling.

“What about it, Tasha? Want to have a home and a life?”

She gaped at him, trying to sort out his words. “A home and a life? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about just what you said. A home, a life, work. What do you say?”

“I—I’m not sure what to say.”

He raised his brows. “Special Agent Rudolph doesn’t know what to say?”

“No. I mean yes. I mean—” She stopped, her cheeks burning. Too afraid to make an assumption in case she was wrong.

Dear God, don’t let me be wrong.
“I don’t think I know what you’re saying.”

His face turned serious and his expression softened. “I’m asking you to marry me.”

She’d have sworn her heart hit the floor. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. She sucked in air, forcing her lungs to work. “Have you been hitting the morphine button?”

He chuckled. “No, I haven’t been hitting the morphine button. And before you ask, yes, I do know what I’m saying.”

She leaned closer. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to get married just to give Ben a mom,” she whispered.

“That’s not why I’m asking,” he whispered back.

“It’s not? You mean you—”

“I mean I’m in love with you. I think I have been since the first time I saw you.”

Her throat closed up. “I never thought—” she croaked.

“You never thought I’d ask?”

She laughed. “I never thought I’d get married.”

“Well?”

“I fell in love with you in the tunnel-house, when you told me what you were afraid of. I just can’t believe you love me.”

“Believe it. Now kiss me.”

She leaned over the bed and kissed him. His good hand cradled her head and his kiss wasn’t a sickbed kiss. It was an erotic lovers’ kiss.

“Hey,” he said against her mouth. “What’s this?” He touched her cheek with a finger. “More tears?”

“Happy tears.”

“Well, before you get too happy there is one condition.”

“Oh?” She couldn’t stop smiling, but her heart did a little anxious jump.

“Yeah, if we’re moving to D.C. it’s going to be your job to tell Alfred. I don’t have the courage.”

Before he finished the sentence, Alfred came into the room.

“Alfred!” Ben shouted, holding out his arms.

He picked Ben up and bounced him in the air. “What’s up, pardner?”

“Tasha and Daddy are going to get a home and a life.”

Alfred’s eyes snapped from one to the other. “Is that right? Don’t I get any say in this?” His face was stern but his eyes sparkled.

Natasha smiled at him. Alfred just wanted Dylan to be happy.

Convincing him to mov
e to D.C. would be a piece of cake. She knew him. As long as he
had an escape route, he’d be happy.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-0721-3

A FATHER’S SACRIFICE

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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