Chapter Forty-Two

The first time Kathy had become engaged, well, she’d basically found herself in front of a preacher with her irate father and Randall’s father standing behind them. She’d had no choice in the matter, no real say, because as she’d repeatedly been told, she’d already made her choice.

Now, lying in Charles’s arms after having made love—after having really loved—she was trying to find the confidence to ask the man to marry her. It was unconventional, yes, but they’d not exactly had the most conventional courtship. Ideally, she would get him on the beach and ask him there, but she didn’t want to wait. That was surprising given how recently she’d been reluctant to consider the idea of marriage. But Charles had been surprising her from the first time they met, so maybe that fit the pattern of their relationship as well.

“I’ve been thinking about your kitchen problem,” she said. She was lying somewhat on her side, her back pressed against his side. One of his arms was over her shoulder and across her chest as she played with his fingers.

“Have you now?” He stroked her hair back off her face, tracing her ear. “Have you come up with any solutions for me?”

“Mm, I have. I think you should get married.”

Charles froze, then he carefully extricated himself from her, sitting up to stare down at her. “You think I should…”

“Get married. Yes.” She propped herself up on an elbow and traced a finger down his chest, making the muscles jump. He was terribly ticklish, and she teased the skin around his belly button. When he grabbed her hand, she shot him an impish look. “I hear a lady at the department store has taken a fancy to you. I’ll bet she’d be amenable.”

Using that captive hand, he bore her back down on the bed, coming to rest between her legs. “Would she now?”

His heat was intoxicating, and Kathy ran her hands up his chest and across his shoulders, enjoying the play of his muscles under his skin. “Uh-huh. I think so. And since it’s a leap year, she can ask you to marry her. But maybe she’s concerned that you aren’t ready for marriage, so she’s a little afraid of what your answer might be.”

After a kiss that had her closing her eyes, he asked, “Why would she be afraid? She knows I love her.”

“Mmm, she’s starting to believe that, I hear.” She looked at him. “Do you think she should ask you?”

“Only if she wants to find herself engaged.”

Kathy touched his chin. “Do you think you might want to marry me someday, Mr. Kelly?”

Charles rested his forehead against hers. “Nothing would please me more, Ms. Browning, but I don’t want to marry you someday. I want to marry you soon.”

A few tears slipped from the corners of her eyes and ran down into her hair. “I’ve got a lot of things to work through still.”

“I know. That doesn’t scare me in the least.”

“The medication might stop working. I don’t know how I’ll be if it does.” She shrugged. “You might be getting a real lemon.”

“Well, if you said you were a peach, we’d have a problem.” Though the words were playful, his tone and eyes told her he was serious. “But as it happens, I’m fond of lemons. So yes, to answer you, I will marry you and gladly, Kathy Browning.”

She kissed him. “My decidedly odd friend, I love you. I’m so glad you found me that day on the beach.”

Charles nodded. “So am I. Oh, Kathy, so am I.”