Her smile deepened. “You needn’t worry. No one said anything against you. Everyone agreed that they worry about you, they sometimes want to hit you in the head and they wish you would be a bit more helpful making plans and schedules, but every one of them admires and respects you. Some of them even love you. And they don’t seem like people who give their respect foolishly.”
She had finally figured out that Scott was the one who thought of himself as unworthy and undependable, not those who cared about him. What had his embittered grandparents said to him that had made him feel that way? What had he said to himself?
As daring and reckless and charming and successful as he had become in the past twenty-odd years, there was still a very small part of him that was an angry, lost boy who needed to be loved. Who needed a home and a family to make him feel worthwhile. And she knew just the woman to give him those things. A woman who needed them every bit as badly for herself.
“I love you, Scott,” she murmured, leaning over to kiss him. “And, just as important, I trust you.”
His eyes gleamed bright in the shadows. “I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say that.”
She couldn’t help laughing a little. “A long time? Hardly. We’ve only known each other a couple of months.”
He shook his head. “I’ve been waiting all my life for you,” he said simply.
That made her smile waver. “I know the feeling,” she murmured, and lowered her mouth to his again.
He put a hand behind her head to hold her to him, kissing her with renewed urgency. “Blair,” he said with a gasp when he finally drew back for air. “We can have the longest engagement in history if you want, but you’ve got to say you’ll marry me. Give me that much, at least.”
Funny how easy the decision was, after all. Especially considering how much she’d worried about this moment. “I’ll marry you. And, although I want to take our time and do this right, I don’t think it will be the longest engagement in history.”
Scott looked stunned for a mo
ment, and then elated. “That was a yes.”
“That was a yes,” she confirmed.
And then giggled when he rolled her beneath him and proceeded to show her exactly how much her answer had pleased him.
*
JEFFREY DID NOT want to leave the ranch Sunday afternoon, even though Blair reminded him that she had to work the next day, and he had been invited to a birthday party that he’d seemed interested in attending. He was on the verge of one of his infamous tantrums when Scott skillfully interceded, promising him that he could come back the very next weekend.
“And when your aunt and I get married, you’ll spend as much time here as you like, okay?”
That got his attention. He went still, his jaw dropping. Blair sighed. She and Scott had agreed not to announce their engagement immediately, until she’d had time to get used to the idea herself. She had known when he’d solemnly assured her he understood that he wouldn’t keep quiet about it for long.
Scott was still the fast-talking crazy man she’d tagged him the first day she met him. And she wouldn’t have him any other way.
“You guys are getting married?” Jeffrey demanded, looking from Blair to Scott and back again.
“We’re discussing it,” she replied, searching his expression for his reaction.
“You said I could ask her out,” Scott reminded Jeffrey with a grin.
“I just said you could date her,” the boy retorted.
“I tend to get carried away with things occasionally.”
Jeffrey snorted. “No kidding.”
“So...how do you feel about it?”
The boy tilted his head, considering the question. Blair held her breath.
“Am I still going to live with you?” he asked her.
“You have a home with me for as long as you want,” she answered firmly. “Nothing will ever change that.”
“I feel the same way, Jeff,” Scott seconded. “I think we make a great team, don’t you?”