Page 49 of Engaging his Enemy
She gasped, her hand quickly covering her mouth.
“Davina Murphy, will you marry me? Will you live in this house with me and be my wife? You’ve already given me a son. Now I want us to be a family.”
She nodded furiously. “Yes!”
He stood and kissed her lips, the feel of his strong arms around her anchoring her to the earth. She leaned back and laughed, unable to stop the giddy feeling that filled her. Nothing in the world could ever be as right as Zach Sato proposing to her by this gorgeous river, in the house of her dreams. “Wyatt’s going to flip.”
He nuzzled her neck. “You ever made love in a house with no walls?”
“Really? Here? Right now?”
“We can go to the bedroom if you want.” He pulled her ten steps to her right. “There, is that better?”
She laughed out loud and sank down to the concrete floor with the man she loved more than anything.
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“Piggy, get out of that river!” Davina shouted, the dog barely raising its head. He was chasing fish, one of his favorite pastimes, biting at the water and barking with glee. “Damn animal’s going to be covered in mud.”
She rounded the walkway to the deck overlooking the water, her arms laden with food. There was a tray of deviled eggs, a cold jug of sweet tea, and a charcuterie board full of all Wyatt’s favorites.
Ben and Laney shared the porch swing, their arms around each other, while Wyatt and Zach played chess on the picnic table. “It’s all about anticipation. You have to see the moves your opponent will play before you move your own pieces,” said Wyatt.
Zach shook his head. “I still don’t understand.”
“It’s okay. When I first joined chess club, I didn’t get it, either. You’ll learn.”
Laney’s three-year-old daughter splashed in a kiddie pool full of bubbles on the deck. “More bubbles, Ben?”
“No more bubbles, sweetie, but I’ll get some toys to play with.”
“I’ll help,” said her slightly older son, who followed Ben around like a shadow.
Davina smiled at Laney. “It’s good to see Ben so happy.”
“I’m happy, too. I tell him every day, it’s a good thing you almost went down for murder, or we might never have gotten back together.” The women laughed.
Zach popped a deviled egg in his mouth and crossed to Davina. “What’s so funny, you two?”
“Oh, just girl talk. You should probably start up the grill.”
“I can do that.” His cell phone vibrated on the table, and he shot a guilty glance at Davina. “I’ll get rid of whoever it is.” He looked at the caller ID and frowned. “Honey, I’ve got to take this. It’s Mac.”
He stepped off the porch toward the river and answered it. “Hey, Mac. What’s going on?”
“I heard you got married. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, old man. It was a long time coming, but I couldn’t be happier.”
“A good woman will make you, and a bad one will break you just as fast. That’s why I’m calling. It’s my wife, Ellie. I found her, but I could really use your help. Can you come out to Denver for a few days?”
He was working remotely for HERO Force, but if anyone would accommodate a time-off request to help Mac, it was Razorback. “Of course. When do you want me there?”
“As soon as you can. I think she’s in trouble, Moto. Real trouble.”
“Let me talk to Davina. I’ll call you back tonight with my flight information.”
“Thank you, Moto. You’re a true friend.”
He hung up and stared at the river. Mac didn’t sound like himself, and Moto wondered if he might be drinking again. Whatever he needed and whatever shape he was in, Moto would be there for him.
After all, they were brothers, as surely as kin.
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