The Texas Ranger's Family (Lone Star Lawmen 3)

She loved just looking at him. He was beautiful in a rugged, manly way. He opened his eyes, catching her in the act of feasting her eyes on him, but his gaze reflected concern. Why?

Natalie said the first thing that came into her mind. “You got ’em, cowboy.”

He sighed deeply. “Not without help. Cy saved my hide when he told me to duck. If I hadn’t...”

“Let’s concentrate on the fact that you put away four felons. In honor of that spectacular feat, I have a surprise for you.”

“Tell me it’s your mint brownies.”

“You can’t eat those yet, but I’ve brought something I can guarantee will make you really happy.”

“Is it edible?”

“I don’t think you’d want to eat it, no. I’ll give you a clue. I discovered it while I was watching a soap opera this afternoon. Maybe you saw it, too.”

“I slept through reruns of Bonanza.”

“Well, luckily I didn’t sleep through my show.” She brought the tray table forward, taking care not to disturb the IV. “Are you ready?”

Natalie put the small suitcase on top of the table and opened it.

Kit’s eyes flickered then blazed. That’s the look she’d wanted to see.

“Four-hundred thousand! It’s all there. It was dirty business, but I counted it.”

He stared at her. “Where in the hell did you find it?”

“Well, on this program today the culprit hid some diamonds in a packet inside the fireplace. I thought it was hilarious, but then again it was the only place in my house I could think of that hadn’t been searched. Just for fun I stuck my hand up the chimney and voila!

“Those four dirty envelopes had been fastened to the inside with tape. You can tell your captain you’ve found the stolen money, at least what’s left of those millions. It’ll make you a bigger hero than you already are. I’ll never say a word. But that’s enough excitement for now.”

She closed the lid and put the case back on the floor, then moved the table away.

When she returned to his side, he reached for her hand and clasped it hard. “When the captain finds out, he’ll make you a Ranger.”

“Oh, no, there’s only one Texas Ranger in our family.” She’d been so happy, she’d gotten carried away, said something she hadn’t meant to say out loud.

“I heard that,” he said softly. “You can’t take it back.”

Natalie’s mouth went so dry she could hardly swallow. “I don’t want to. I love you, Kit. I’ve been in love with you from the start. I would never have agreed for Father Segal to live with me if I hadn’t sensed I’d met the love of my life.

“I was afraid you’d think badly of me for having been married to a killer. The thought is so distasteful to me, I can’t imagine what kind of thoughts you must have had at the beginning.”

“If you’ll lean over and kiss me, I’ll give you an idea of what my thoughts were when you invited me into your house for the first time.”

Natalie was already there. “I adore you,” she whispered. “I’m glad you’re a Ranger. I’ll never complain about you going out on a case, as long as you always come home to me.”

“I promise I will always come home to you, Natalie. Marry me. Right away—I mean it. We’ll work out all the details later, but I want everyone to know you’re going to be my wife.”

“People are going to think we’re rushing things.”

“I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’ve been waiting for you for years.”

“Oh, Kit—” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I hated to leave your condo yesterday. I wanted to be there when you got out of the hospital, but Cy showed up to help me move my things back home.”

“I asked him to do it.”

She kissed his mouth again. “Why?”