Hot to the Touch

Now she couldn’t stop smiling, aware she was taking an absurdly long time to answer. Same way she’d taken forever to respond a month ago when he asked her at Esmee if he could buy her a drink. When she’d fallen in love with him at very first sight. And oh, what a life-changing answer that turned out to be.

“Or…no?”

This moment was life-changing, too. She was looking toward eternity with a man who was male every way she’d dreamed a man could be. Strong enough to tell her when she was wrong. Strong enough to admit when he was. Caring enough to put himself on the line to ensure she was protected, to make sure she felt loved and adored.

There was only one answer to give.

She pulled his head down to her, kissed his sexy mouth, following the certainty in her heart that this time she’d found love that would stay this beautiful, strong and full of joy forever.

“Yes.”

Epilogue

“WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR FINGER, young lady?”

“That?” Marie blinked innocently at Darcy. “Oh, that’s Quinn’s fortieth birthday present to me. My engagement ring. Like it?”

“Your what?” Darcy shrieked so loudly Candy and Kim immediately detached themselves from their nearby conversations and came running over.

“What is it?”

“Check this out.” Darcy grabbed Marie’s hand and showed the ring around. “Mrs. Quinn Peters-to-be.”

“Marie!” Candy flung her arms around her. Kim beamed and took her turn next.

Darcy kissed her on both cheeks, French style, then added a fierce hug. “It’s about time. I didn’t think you’d ever admit that you wanted a man in your life, missy.”

“Okay, okay.” Marie’s smile stretched ear to ear; she glanced at Quinn. Was it her imagination or did he look even more movie-starlike than usual? She’d finally relaxed into the reality that he loved her, and she couldn’t believe how much she was looking forward to their life together. “Guess it was time to practice what I preached, huh?”

“Obviously.” Darcy sent Troy yet another I-love-you look.

Marie couldn’t believe the instant change in her. In the last few days since Darcy had finally stopped fighting what she felt for Troy, a lifetime of suppressed warmth had been pouring out of her. She seemed to adore everyone and everything. In fact, she could compete with Kim and Candy in the nauseatingly-in-love department. And with Marie, who had never thought she could be this happy again.

“When are you getting married, Marie?” Kim asked.

She beamed at Quinn, who interrupted his conversation to beam right back. “As soon as possible.”

“Honeymoon?” Darcy asked.

“Oh, nothing much. London, Sydney, Paris and ending up with a week on St. Thomas.”

The girls squealed.

“Rough, rough times,” said Candy, without a trace of envy. In fact, Darcy and Kim looked nothing but happy for her, too. Good friends, all of them. She was so glad she’d been able to help them find love—and herself in the process. A miracle she’d never take for granted.

“It is rough.” Marie bowed her head meekly. “But I will have promised myself for better or worse, so I feel bound to put myself through it.”

“You are a saint.” Candy patted her shoulder.

“Darcy, have you and Troy set a date yet?”

Darcy shook her head, glowingly happy, the same face Marie saw each time she looked in a mirror. “Too much upheaval ahead. I’m in no hurry and neither is Troy. I’ll sell my house and move in with Troy as soon as possible, then we’ll wait until Gladiolas is settled in its new location. When we can breathe again, we’ll pick a date and do it quietly, preferably somewhere warm.”

“That sounds perfect,” Kim said. “Anyone else with news? Seems it’s all good these days.”

“Me!” Darcy raised her hand like a schoolgirl. “Troy heard that the preorders for his and Justin’s book have been really strong.”

“Yes!” Candy clapped her hands. “Stronger even than the publisher hoped, which is awesome. Except it means they’re going to have to write another one, and will therefore be working hard and not able to attend to our every need as they should.”