The Daddy Dance (21 page)
She stared at him—at the good humor that twitched his lips into a smile. At the confidence that squared his shoulders. At the power that rippled down his arms, in the strength of his cunning fingers. At the man who had seen her heart and understood her soul, who knew who she was, and what she needed to be.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, Rye Harmon, I’ll marry you.”
His kiss was long and deep and satisfying. He was laughing, though, as he pulled away. “You do realize that we have to get back to the park. Everyone is going to be waiting there, worried.”
She quirked a grin. There’d be time enough to follow up on the promise of that last kiss. “We can’t have that, now, can we?”
She started to reach for her seat belt, but he shook his head. “Not so fast!” he taunted.
“What?”
“I drove Noah’s car over here. You’re going to have to drive this thing back to the park.” He scooped up the keys from the floor mat and pressed them into her yielding palm. “Go ahead,” he said, darting in for a quick kiss. “You lead. I’ll follow.”
Confident that Rye was with her—would be with her forever—she barely glanced in the rearview mirror as she pulled out of the parking lot.
Epilogue
K
at stood at the stove, flexing her ankles and testing her balance as she dropped biscuit dough into a pot of stewed chicken. The motion reminded her of the exercises she had led for the Advanced Showcase students, just that afternoon. The girls had outdone themselves at the barre. In fact, little Taylor Sutton might be ready to audition for the National come spring, if she continued to work hard under Kat's watchful eyes. And, of course, if she wanted to travel so far away from home.
A gust of wind rattled the windows, and Kat peered out at the gathering winter storm. She was glad Rye had installed the new storm windows. For that matter, it was a good thing he'd anchored all the shutters, as well.
“Niffer,” Rye said in the living room. “If you don't bring your dolls in from the front yard, they'll have snow on them in the morning.”
“I'll get them after dinner,” the headstrong child said.
“Now.” Rye's calm order made it clear he would brook no disobedience.
“Mommy wouldn't make me bring in my dolls.”
“Mommy isn't here, though, is she?” Rye's voice stayed even. He was merely stating a fact. Rachel wasn't there, hadn't been for months. She hadn't even sent a postcard sinceâ¦when was it? Halloween? “Niffer,” Rye said, making it clear that he was through with petulant games. “Let's go. You don't want dinner to be lateâAunt Kat is making your favorite.”
The child trotted over to the door, suddenly content to have lost the round. “Okay, Daddy.”
Kat shivered and dropped in another dumpling. She couldn't say if her sudden shudder was a reaction to cold air wafting in the house's front door or the sudden proximity of her husband. Rye's hands closed over her belly, and he pulled her back against his chest, nuzzling her neck until she squirmed even closer.
“Good job, Mr. Harmon,” she said, after she had caught her breath. “The way to a child's heart is through her stomach.”
“Is
that
the secret, Mrs. Harmon?” His teasing fingers strayed to the neckline of her cobalt-blue sweater. “What do you think it would take to convince Niffer to spend the rest of the evening playing in the basement?”
She laughed and arched against him. “We don't have a basement.”
“Damn.” He switched his attention to the waistline of her pants, dancing around her hips with enough intensity that she had to suck in a steadying breath. “Do you think she could build herself one? Just for tonight? Even for an hour or two?”
Kat set down the wooden spoon she was using to form the dumplings, and then she twisted in the circle of his arms. She started to fiddle with the top button of his shirt, amazed as always that he didn't need a sweater in the winter cold. “I've been meaning to talk to you about that.”
“About Niffer building a basement?” He started to laugh.
“About you building onto the house,” she clarified. “I've been thinking we can close in the carport. Convert it into a third bedroom.”
She watched as he considered her suggestion. She saw him contemplate the work, solve the engineering problems, determine the most efficient way to add walls, to move doors. And then she saw him register the true meaning behind her suggestion. His fingers tightened deliciously on her waist.
“Really?” he asked, and there was so much love in the word, so much joy, that she found herself laughing out loud.
“Really,” she said. His lips on hers were trembling, as if he were suddenly afraid of hurting her. She wasn't about to put up with thatânot for eight more months. She cupped her hand on the back of his neck and tugged him closer, making sure she emphasized the demand with a sudden, quick thrust of her tongue.
“When?” he asked as he came up for air.
“Late August, I think. I haven't been to see the doctor yet.”
“See the doctor for what?” Niffer's question came from the doorway, tiny and scared.
Kat whirled toward her niece, automatically kneeling to put herself at the child's eye level. “It's okay, sweetheart. No one's sick. I was just telling Daddy that we're going to have a baby join us next summer.”
Niffer's eyes grew as big as pie plates. “Will it be a boy baby or a girl baby?”
“I don't know yet,” Kat answered gravely. “Which do you want?”
Niffer thought for a long time, and then she said, “One of each.”
Kat and Rye laughed at the same time. “Maybe we'll just take things one step at a time,” Rye said, ruffling his daughter's hair. “Come on, now. Help me set the dinner table.”
Kat was still grinning as Niffer hurried to grab the silverware out of its drawer. Girl or boy, it didn't matter to herâso long as everyone was healthy and happy and safe in Eden Falls.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459219403
Copyright © 2012 by Mindy L. Klasky
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