That First Special Kiss

His adorable, “evil-child grin” flashed across his face. “Good. Because I think I’m about to blow our secret.”

And then he reached out and pulled her into his arms, completely oblivious to anyone around them.

She thought she heard someone gasp when his mouth covered hers. Several exclamations of surprise. And someone—Molly, she thought—saying, “All right, Shane!”

Kelly discovered that she simply didn’t care. She was tired of pretending she wasn’t deeply, totally, irrevocably in love with Shane Walker.

Her arms were around his neck, and his were locked behind her back when he lifted his head. “I love you,” he murmured.

“I love you, too,” she replied with a misty smile.

“You won’t ever have to feel like an outsider in this family again,” he assured her. “Once we’re married, there’ll be no further question about who really belongs and who doesn’t.”

Her legs went weak. She clung to him more tightly. “Uh—married?”

“Married,” he repeated firmly. “That’s what we do in this family when we find the one we want to spend the rest of our life with.”

The rest of their lives. Shane wasn’t the type to make such a commitment lightly, Kelly realized in wonder.

And neither was she.

“What on earth is going on here?” Brynn demanded, standing close by with her fists planted on her hips. “Shane, did I just hear you ask Kelly to marry you?”

Still holding Kelly in his arms, Shane grinned at his cousin. “Yep.”

Obviously stunned, Brynn looked at Kelly. “And did you accept?”

Kelly smiled at her best friend—the sister of her heart—and then turned her eyes back up to Shane. “Yes.”

He kissed her again as the room burst into pandemonium around them. Kelly and Shane were suddenly surrounded by family, everyone congratulating them, showering them with questions, expressing surprise, delight, and complete acceptance of this wonderful new development.

And Kelly knew then that she would never feel like an outsider again.