Mad enough to marry (21 page)

**I should," she whispered, her voice lost somewhere between terror and unwarranted, silly joy. *'I should say yes and then let you suffer through a wild, tempestuous marriage."

The guarded look in his eyes evaporated and he smiled. It was that easygoing, charming Logan smile, but she sensed something new in it, an intent, a determination, that had her nerves dancing along the surface of her skin.

"I dare you," he said.

Again, her heart jolted in her chest. ''Dare me?"

Mio Dios. Logan hadn't forgotten her. He hadn't stood her up. He'd shown up. On time. Because he loved her. To ask her to marry him.

And he'd done it in just this way, because he knew

her well enough to know she'd never be able to resist a challenge. Some new emotion bubbled through her.

It wasn't passion, she'd always felt that for Logan.

It wasn't love...that she was famiUar with too, because he'd been h^ first love and now it looked as if he was going to be her last.

This new feeling was...trust.

Trust that this man would do whatever he must to have her. And because of that, she could trust that her heart would always be safe with him.

Finally, after all the years, the fight, the fear ran out of her.

**Oh, Logan." She threw her arms around his neck. **Oh, Logan, I love you."

He caught her to him. **I demand it."

There was such certainty and such happiness in his eyes that her heart pounded harder. **And I'll marry you."

**I demand that too."

Then he kissed her, and Elena heard the strangest, sweetest sound. She heard it later too, as Logan led her to the center of the auditorium for their long-postponed prom dance.

He looked down at her quizzically. '*Do you hear something?" he asked. *'Besides the song, I mean."

She smiled, and across the room caught Gabby's eye to blow her a kiss. **Yep, I do."

His arms closed around her. **Well, what is it?"

Elena ran her gaze around the exotic decorations, then she closed her eyes to savor the moment. *This is Paradise, isn't it?"

The blissful voices she heard sounded just like her mother's and grandmother's. We did it, Mama. See, Nana? Your girls are happy.

Elena laid her cheek against Logan's shoulder. 'It's the angels singing."

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