Chapter Forty-One

For an evening that had started off with a disaster, Charles couldn’t complain about how things ended. To his surprise, Kathy had gotten out of the car with him at his house.

“Do you mind having a house guest tonight?” she asked in a low voice.

He tipped his head to the side. “Really? No, not at all.” His eyes searched hers, and he could hardly wait to get inside and find out what she was thinking. “So I guess… we’ll see you all tomorrow for dinner at my mother’s.”

Jack saluted him with two fingers. “I guess so. Night.”

With Kathy’s hand in his, they watched Jack back the car out and drive away, then they climbed the steps to the porch.

“How do you think that went?” he asked as he unlocked the door. The stench of burnt food hit his nose when he walked into the hall, but it wasn’t as bad as he’d feared.

“Pretty well,” Kathy said. “What do you think about him?”

Charles wrapped her in a hug. “I liked him. Gilly too. They’re something else with that baby.”

“Hmmm, yes. They’re utterly besotted, I think, and that’s as it should be.” Kathy tipped her face up for a kiss. “We need to talk.”

“Uh-oh.”

She shook her head and smiled. “It’s not bad. We just need to have a discussion about certain things.” But as she spoke, she’d started undoing his shirt.

“Not that I’m not eager to get your hands all over me and vice versa, but maybe we should talk first. Otherwise, I won’t be able to focus on what you’re saying.”

Kathy rose up on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Or maybe we should strip each other down first and talk later.”

Charles pulled back, staring at her. “You’re very cheerful this evening.”

“I am. I’m happy.”

He touched her cheek, traced her hairline with his fingertips, and smiled. “Yeah? What are you so happy about?”

She sighed deeply and shrugged. “I happen to be in love, and from what I understand, that’s supposed to make a person happy.”

Charles’s hands tightened on her shoulders. The words were so unexpected he couldn’t respond right away. “What?” he finally asked, his voice barely a whisper.

“I love you, Mr. Kelly.”

Though she came across as confident, he saw a bit of uncertainty in her eyes, her posture.

“You… Kathy.” His heart felt as if it had exploded as he framed her face with his hands. “Say it again?”

She touched his wrists. “I love you.”

He kissed her. There was no way he could form words at that moment, but he needed to demonstrate his feelings somehow, so he kissed her. And he didn’t stop kissing her until she pulled back, laughing and crying. When she touched his cheeks, he realized he was crying too.

“Why are you crying?” she whispered.

Charles smiled against her mouth. “Why are you?” With a loud whoop, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her. “You love me. You love me. I didn’t imagine you saying that.”

Kathy laughed at him. “No, you decidedly odd man. Dare I take this reaction to mean you’re pleased?”

He secured her legs around his waist and carried her to the bedroom, where he let her down on the bed. “What do you think?” He followed her down, bracing himself above her. “I think I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you, Ms. Browning. Something in me recognized something in you, and I knew you were for me. At least I hoped you were. God, Kathy… I love you so much I can’t begin to tell you.”

She pulled him down and kissed him again. “Does that mean you aren’t going to try?”

“Oh, no. I’m going to try and try and try again.”

As he sank into her arms, he could hardly believe he wasn’t dreaming. All the yearning and longing and need… those emotions were still there. But she was in his arms, and the fulfillment of all of his dreams was within his grasp. Right now, that was all that mattered.