mine. Her chin was all yours, kind of squarish, very determined. She had my nose. Her eyes were a dark blue, of course, but I swear I saw a hint of gray in them, too.”
“I would give anything—”
She pressed her fingers to his mouth. “Shh. I know. And she knows.” Wrapping her arms tight around him, she whispered, “I like to think that my parents and grandparents are watching over her now.”
His voice thick, he said, “I like that idea, too.”
“I have something to tell you.”
“What’s that?”
“My sisters and I have been talking. I want to start a security agency here in Midnight. I’ve asked them to consider moving back here and working with me.”
He rolled onto his side. Their heads sharing a pillow, their lips almost touching, Zach said softly, “You don’t want to go back to Nashville? I was planning to quit my job and find something there. You’ve worked so hard to achieve what you have. I don’t want you to give it up.”
“I’m not giving it up … I’m just refocusing. I don’t have the training that Sammie and Bri have, but I’ve got the investigative skills and I know the law. I would love to give it a try.”
“Years ago, you told me you couldn’t wait to leave Midnight.”
She smiled. “And like you, I’ve discovered there are a lot more good things about Midnight than bad. You’ve already made a difference in this town. I want to stay here with you and make a difference, too.”
He reached for her hand, kissed it softly, and held it against his heart. Her fingers spread against his chest, she treasured the reassuring thud of his heartbeat.
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what I want, too.”
“Being with you, building a life together here … that’s what I want.”
“Then that’s what you’ll have. Anything and everything you wish for, I want to give you.”
“You’re all I want.”
He closed the distance between them and she felt the smile on his lips as he whispered against her mouth, “Then, baby, I’m yours.”
EPILOGUE
ONE WEEK LATER
His hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, Zach stood on the porch, waiting for someone to open the door. He had this planned down to the last detail, except he hadn’t counted on his date not showing up. Finally the door opened and Bri said, “What are you doing out here?”
Feeling like an idiot, since they all knew he had a key to the house, he said, “I’m picking Savannah up for our date.”
Sabrina grinned and stepped back. “Oh, I didn’t get that. Come in. I’m sure Savannah will be down soon.”
Entering the house, he stood just inside the door, feeling as nervous and awkward as he had ten years ago on their first date together. And just as it had on that first date, his breath caught in his throat the instant he spotted Savannah coming down the stairs.
He had told her nothing about his plans. Somehow, though, she had recognized the significance, because he could swear she was wearing an exact replica of the dress she’d worn their last night together. Hard to believe she could outshine the beauty she had been that night, but she did. Blond wavy hair flowed over her shoulders like a bright rippling waterfall. Her skin, slightly golden from the sun, glowed with an inner light, and her full lips glistened, making him want to cover them and drown in her taste.
She stood before him and gave him that shy, sweet smile he had dreamed about for years. This night was the culmination of ten years of fantasies.
“You look beautiful.”
She whirled around the same way she had that night and said, “Sammie and Bri helped me dress. Just like old times.”
Holding out his hand, he pulled her into his arms and whispered against her mouth, “Let’s go see what else we can re-create.”
Savannah watched Zach’s hands on the steering wheel. She remembered looking at his hands on their first date and thinking how strong and capable they seemed. Now they were even more so. Large and thick veined, with a sprinkling of dark hair, those hands spoke of maturity and experience. And they could give the most delicious pleasure.
“Are you hungry?”
“Starving. I’ve been locked in Granddad’s study doing research all day.”
“Brody and Logan able to help you?”
She nodded, thinking how Zach’s friends had been invaluable. Not only had Brody and Logan offered to send business her way, they had answered innumerable questions.