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“We do make a good team,” she said, tentatively. “We’ve fought our way out of some highly unusual and perilous predicaments.”
He cupped her cheek with his hand. “I’d rather we avoided the perilous part.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible. There will be snakes. And madmen. There are always madmen. And probably there will be fraying rope bridges across steep ravines. There may even be more gigantic opponents to subdue.”
“Are you saying you’ll accept me as your partner?”
“I might be.”
He snapped his fingers near her ear and a coin rolled into his palm.
“Where did that come from?” she asked, startled.
“Had it up my sleeve,” he said with a devilish grin.
He handed her the coin.
There were two clasped hands on the face of the coin. “Is this... is this the coin I chose for you, Raven? You kept it?”
“You’re not the only one who kept a talisman. I’ve carried this coin with me every day of my life. I hollow out a chamber for it in my boot heel. It’s my good luck charm. I believe it’s what kept me alive that dark day in Athens. Some part of me must have known that I needed to live, in order to give it back to you.”
“I can’t believe you still have our coin.”
“Whatever happened to the rest of the coins?”
“I donated them to the British Museum. They’re in a drawer somewhere gathering dust.”
“Not this one.” He closed his fingers over the coin. “This one is yours.”
He drew her into his arms. “I’m yours, Indy. I’ve always been yours. And I swear to you that I will love you faithfully until the day I die.”
His eyes were the same color as the coin she held and just as polished with hope and promise.
The most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.
“Do you remember the day you gave this to me?” he asked.
“Like it was yesterday.”
“We lay down together, with our heads touching, and we talked about our dreams.”
“It was such a perfect day, until it all went straight to hell.”
He kissed her, or perhaps she kissed him. All she knew was that their lips met somewhere in the middle.
She stretched out on the velvet divan and he covered her with his body.
Her heart beat against his chest. He was so solid and rooted and strong.
This exchange of strength was such a gift. To give and receive. To open her heart. To allow herself to feel. And to know she never had to carry her burdens alone again.
“I love you,” she whispered in his ear as he kissed the sensitive hollow at the base of her throat.
“I love you,” he responded. “I want to help make all your dreams come true.”
Epilogue
A few weeks later...
