Page 67 of Scent of Murder

Especially when you added the eleven dogs and three kids to the mix.

After his initial tense meeting with Chase three weeks ago, their relationship had gotten better. Kendra was right, her siblings and their respective spouses and kids welcomed him into the fold as if he were one of them.

And in a way, he supposed he was. Or soon would be.

The ring burned a hole in his pocket. He thought it would be the perfect Christmas gift for Kendra, but now that the time had come, he was nervous.

“Relax,” Griff said as he came to stand beside him. “I just got a call from my boss. Jake and Jennifer admitted to their part in shooting at you and Kendra and killing Helen Gingrass. Thanks to Levy’s cooperation, they found and arrested Bartoli. Levy had apparently wanted to spend his retirement in the lap of luxury, which was why he’d gotten involved. The Krugerrand has been returned to South Africa. The danger is over for good.”

“Yeah,” Doug agreed, coming up to stand on his other side. “You don’t have to worry about going into WITSEC now.”

“I have a feeling the Sullivans wouldn’t have allowed me to do that anyway,” Dom admitted with a smile. “Not after Kendra threatened to go with me.”

“True.” Griff grinned. “They’re an interesting bunch, aren’t they?”

“That’s an understatement.” Logan slapped Dom on the back as he joined them. “Takes a strong man to marry a Sullivan woman.”

Dom arched a brow. “How did you know I’m planning to propose?”

“We’ve all been there.” Doug smiled as his gaze landed on his very pregnant wife. “And we’re here to support you, Dom, in any way we can. Us non-Sullivan guys need to stick together.”

“Yep.” Griff elbowed him in the ribs. “You’re going to want to make your move soon, though. While the kids are preoccupied with the dogs for the moment.”

Dom appreciated their camaraderie. He’d quit his job and was interviewing for a different job with the FBI based on Griff’s urging. He planned to put his house and hangar up for sale after the first of the year. He liked living on the ranch. Maybe being a part of the family wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Chase had given his blessing, so that was a good start.

He pushed away from the wall, crossed the room, and snagged Kendra’s arm. Then he turned to the group. “If I could have a moment?”

Everyone was still talking, so Doug Bridges whistled loudly between his fingers. Instantly, a hush came over the room. Doug nodded encouragingly. “Go on, Dom.”

Drawing a deep breath, Dom turned to Kendra and dropped to one knee. “Kendra, I love you. Will you please do me the honor of marrying me?”

“Really? Are you sure?” Kendra searched his gaze as if half expecting him to bolt. “Maybe we should wait . . .”

His heart sank. Was she having second thoughts? “I love you. I want to marry you. But if you need more time . . .”

“It’s not that,” Kendra said quickly. “We’ve only known each other a few months. I thought you’d want more time.”

The tight band around his heart eased. “I’m ready. If you are. Please marry me?”

“Uh, Kendra? You’d better hurry and say yes.” Maya stood and waddled toward them. “Baby Boy Bridges is about to be born.”

“Wait, what?” Doug paled. “That’s not possible. We just saw the doctor yesterday. He said it would be a few days yet, up to a week!”

“He’s wrong.” Maya winced as her belly tightened with a contraction. “Trust me. We’re having a Christmas baby. Luke Bridges will be born tonight or tomorrow morning.”

Dom stayed focused on Kendra as everyone else turned their attention toward Maya and Doug. Talk about being upstaged. He held her gaze, waiting for her answer.

“Yes, Dominic. Yes, I absolutely want to marry you.” Kendra smiled, wiped a tear from her eye, then tugged him up to his feet. She threw her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss. Behind her, Doug continued babbling about how the baby shouldn’t be coming so soon. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into,” she whispered, before capturing his mouth with hers in a deep kiss.

As her family burst into applause, cheering them on, Doug and Maya hustled toward the door. The loud cheers gave him an inkling of what she meant. There was no privacy with this bunch, that was for sure.

But if the other guys who’d been brave enough to marry Sullivan women could do it, so could he.

Because love and family were all that mattered.

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