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“Yes. Well I lead the way.” Myra batted her eyelashes at Ike.
“That’s right,” Ike said. “I’d follow her anywhere.”
“Ah, thank you, Shnookums.” Myra released Ike’s hand and snuggled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Shnookums? The silly nickname definitely didn’t fit the tough-looking Ike but he only grinned bigger and cuddled Myra close.
“It’s incredible to meet you,” Myra said.
“Nice to meet you,” Ike said.
“You both as well, but …” She turned to Aiden, unable to hold it in. “Girlfriend? I thought the Porter men didn’t … fall in love.”
“The smart ones fall in love,” Ike said.
Aiden’s blue gaze was as beseeching as she’d ever seen it. Because he had to explain one more time why they couldn’t be together?
“Oh, love …” He stared at her then glanced at his brother and Myra. “Pardon us, please.”
“Oh, by all means.” Ike seemed to be getting a kick out of this.
Aiden tilted his chin up to both of them and then escorted her out of the building and around to the side. Red and blue police lights raced their direction and faint sirens could be heard. They wouldn’t have long. She was safe, but far from the dream of her and Aiden staying together. Having him rescue her, kissing and holding him again. It would be even more devastating to watch him walk away one more time.
It was quieter and a little darker around the building. Aiden kept his arms around her, studying her face. “Chalisa … you told me once that you would always forgive me.”
“Yes, I did.” She would. But forgive him for having to leave her again? It was devastating.
“Do you still feel that way?”
“Yes, Aiden.”
He visibly relaxed, but it was obviously hard to get out what he needed to say. “I need you to forgive me for being a stubborn idiot and missing the picture completely and breaking both of our hearts.”
“Aiden?” Was he saying what she’d prayed for? “Missing what picture?”
“I can’t live in fear of relationships and miss out on you. My dad wasn’t in his right mind when he extracted the vow from me, and I realize now that he would want me to be happy.”
She clung to him, feeling faint and full of hope. “Are you saying…? You won’t walk away from me again?”
“Never,” he whispered fiercely, kissing her and then pulling back. “At least only for jobs, but I will always come home to you. Unless I go to heaven first.”
Thrills raced through her. “What changed?”
“Sutton and Ike set me straight. My dad is at peace, and he still wants Ike and me to excel, but he wants us to be happy and loved and have families. I know that now. The miracle of us finding you here confirms it. I was coming for you when Dallin and Nick called that you’d been captured by Jorge.” He shuddered. “I humbled myself and dropped to my knees. I prayed.”
She smiled, her chin trembling.
“I asked Ike, Sutton, and all of my men to help me find you. Some computer genius named Tippin found a request for a jet from Cancun, Mexico, to land at Bob Maxwell Memorial Field. We searched cameras and confirmed it.” He paused and studied her face. “My prayers were answered.”
“No. Mine were.” She arched up and kissed him.
He grinned against her lips. “I love you, Chalisa.”
Her eyes widened. She never thought she’d hear him say those words. She was safe, she was loved, and she was home.
Thank you.
“I love you,” she repeated.
