“Few cuts Dan already cleaned up and bandaged for me. Nothing worth a trip to the emergency room, I assure you.”
She breathed a sigh of relief and swiped at the fat drops rolling down her cheeks. “What happened?”
The others had filed out of the diner and gathered around.
Ryan said, “Our thieves have been apprehended. One shot in the leg, thanks to the sheriff. The other went down a bit easier. Tackled him.” He winked at Ginger.
More tears flowed and she flung her arms around his neck again. He held her tightly as everyone congratulated and thanked him. When he finally let go of Ginger, he said, “I already typed up my report. I’m ready to call it a night.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Me too.” Her nerves were shot, after all.
The group dispersed, leaving Ginger and Ryan on the sidewalk. He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed the backs of them. Then he asked, “Willing to take in a stray, sweetheart?”
Her heart melted. She sniffled from her crying jag, but managed to say, “If it’s of the six-foot-two-inch, Adonis-like variety.”
Ryan chuckled.
In a more serious tone, Ginger added, “I know I said I couldn’t do this. I don’t know how I’d survive it if something happened to you. But the truth is… I can’t be without you either way. So, yes. Come stay with me.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately, right there on Main Street for everyone to see.
When they came up for air, she said in a breathless tone, “Everything you do is so over the top, Ryan Bain.”
He grinned at her. “Liked the flowers, did ya?”
“That bouquet is one for the Wilder history books.”
“And what about the card?”
She pulled away. “Oh darn it. I never got the chance to read it. What’d it say?”
He gave her a coy look as he told her, “I know we agreed to not make any premature declarations, but Ginger Monroe, I am very much in love with you—and felt compelled to tell you as much on that card. And in person.”
Her insides lit up brighter than a Wilder night sky on the Fourth of July. She couldn’t contain her smile. Or her feelings. “And I am very much in love with you, Ryan Bain.”
“Well, then. I guess it doesn’t matter what anyone has to say about me kissing you on a street corner.” And he did it again—much to Ginger’s delight.