shallow and uneven as the life drained from him. T. J. wondered if Jeff could hear his own heart
beat slowing down, if it sounded like an echoing drum in his own ears.
T. J. spoke quietly, You must be wondering how it came to be that you could be dying, huh?
But I was meant for immortality, he gasped.
T. J. looked down coldly at the man who had almost taken Kelly from him and felt no pity for
him only sadness for the victims that lost heir lives because of him.
No, you were meant to go to hell, T. J. said flatly and walked away.
Danny had already gone back the way they came to bring the rest of the search party to the
scene. T. J. didn t even look back as he left Jeff Callister lying on the ground in a gully, dying not as a
god, but as a man who was completely alone.
* * * *
As he walked toward Kelly, she ran to him, and he folded her in his arms, whispering words of
reassurance to her that it was finally over. Agonizing over how close he had come to almost losing
her, he kissed her face and her lips over and over again, making sure she was real.
Oh, sweet pea, I m sorry, so sorry, he moaned against her hair.
No, don t be sorry. You found me, Taggert.
It was my fault. I should have stuck close to you in the cave.
No, baby. I forgot that they turned the lights off. If I had remembered, I wouldn t have walked
away to the pool.
God, Kelly, I thought I lost you. I love you so much. I don t know if I could ve survived if
anything had happened to you. I would have torn apart paradise to find you.
As Kelly framed his face with her hands, he closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to
spill. She reassured him with her touch, a touch he almost lost. When he opened his eyes, she met
his gaze, and he could see the love shining back at him.
Taggert, you re never going to lose me. I m here with you forever. I love you, too. More than
words could ever say.
From the first time you kissed me, Kelly, I found my paradise in you, he whispered.
The lovers sealed their love and their bond with a kiss while the island police swarmed around
taking pictures. T. J. knew there was no place he would rather be than in Kelly s arms.
Against his lips, Kelly whispered, Paradise found.
Damn right! T. J. responded and twirled her around in his arms.
Epilogue
Six weeks later.
Flowers and lace in the colors of wine red and cream decorated the backyard, and people milled
around tables and danced to melodies that changed from slow and sexy to reggae every few minutes.
On the dance floor, Danny danced with Abby, the maid of honor, dressed in a wine red dress. She
looked petite in his arms, and from Danny s expression, he was having the time of his life. Looking
handsome in tuxes with their braids running down their backs, Kelly s three brothers had the girls
giggling with their flirtatious behavior. Kelly s parents were sitting at a table with her new nephew,
born only a few weeks before.
T. J. s mother watched her son and his new wife dance and whisper in each other s ears and
pressed her hands against her chest. Maria looked away quickly, dabbing her eyes with a lace
handkerchief, and Kelly s mother walked over to the woman putting her arms around her in a big
hug. Tank the dog ran barking as children from Kelly s side of the family played with him and fed
him things he was not supposed to have.
Then there was the couple, whom everyone was watching. Kelly and T. J. were wrapped in each
other s arms and dancing a slow dance even though the music had changed to calypso. Six weeks
before the clouds over their lives were dark and gloomy when T. J. thought he would lose the
woman who held his love. They had gotten her away from the man who had stalked her for weeks.
Jeff Callister s body had been buried without honors. Kelly and T. J. had come back to his lakefront
home to plan a wedding and forget the nightmare that had plagued them. Now, on a beautiful
December day, which was suprisingly warm even for a Carolina winter, they had exchanged their
vows and were celebrating together with their families.
Hey, what do you think of the reception? Kelly asked, looking up into the eyes of her new
husband.
It s wonderful. I m surprised you put it together so quickly, T. J. replied.
Well with my family handling the cooking and your mom s help with the decorating and Abby s
help with the
Okay, okay, I get it. You had a lot of help. T. J. laughed.
I m just saying it was beautifully done, Kelly said in her Ms. Priss voice.
As they continued to dance, T. J. asked, How do you like being Mrs. Kelly Chapel?
I like it very, very much, but do I get lieutenant in my title as well?
For that you have to work up the ranks, T. J. said wickedly.
Why, Taggert, I thought I worked up your ranks well enough a few nights ago, Kelly
responded sexily.
T. J. felt the heat go straight through him. She had the ability to make him want to throw her
down and ravish her in the strangest places.
Behave or you won t get your wedding present, he warned silkily.
What wedding present? Where is it? she asked excitedly.
Oh, it should be arriving right about now.
There was a rumble of an engine, and the crowd looked over and went toward the lake to see
what the commotion was. Then Kelly spotted a white craft down the lake.
A boat! You bought me a boat! She squealed, hiked up her wedding dress, and pulled him to
the lake s edge.
Yup, she s ours for when the weather gets warmer. We can cruise the small islands around the
lake, T. J. explained with a laugh. Or a least when we aren t in the Caribbean.
I love it! I love it! She clapped her hands and then smacked a huge kiss on his lips.
Wait, Kelly, look at the name. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]