The older man patted the back of her hand, and she noticed a twinkle in his eyes. “You just faced down a raving maniac, rescued a child and his grandmother, then bested the same crazy man while he pointed a loaded gun at you. I think you can handle telling a nice guy like Shane that you’ve fallen in love with him.”
Casting an insightful glance at the clergyman, Jamie arched her eyebrows and smiled. “From your lips to God’s ears.”
* * *
After his debriefing, Shane had headed back to rejoin Jamie Lynn, only to discover that she and the rest of his family had been taken to the local hospital. He couldn’t get there fast enough.
Without stopping to ask where his loved ones were, he burst in through the ambulance entrance, not slowing until he’d reached the treatment cubicles. From there it was easy to follow the sound of his son’s shrill voice.
“And then I hit him like this,” the child said.
Shane was almost the recipient of a make-believe karate chop to the knee as he pushed back the weighted curtain.
There they were. All of them. Even Otis. Shane broke into a wide grin and hoped he wasn’t actually going to shed a few tears of relief and joy.
“Oh, good, now we can start the celebration,” Jamie Lynn said. “Where’s the cake?”
Shane patted his son on the head, kissed his mother’s cheek and shook hands with Otis as he worked his way toward his ultimate goal.
The bright sparkle in Jamie’s eyes answered some of his questions but not all. He paused a few feet in front of her and waited as she stood. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.
Finally, Shane asked, “Are you all right?”
“I am now.” She averted her gaze, her cheeks warming.
“I meant what I said,” Shane told her.
“When?”
He could tell that everyone in the exam cubicle was waiting for his reply, and although he did wish he could speak to Jamie Lynn privately, he wasn’t willing to wait. Not after the night they’d all had.
“When I told the judge that you were part of my family, that I cared about you.”
After taking a small step forward, she paused. “I suppose it’s because I’m in shock, but I don’t recall many details about tonight. Feel free to refresh my memory.”
“I’ll do better than that,” Shane promised, opening his arms to her.
When she stepped into his waiting embrace, and he pulled her closer, she slid her arms around his waist and laid her cheek on his chest. “Mmm. Good start, Mr. Colton.”
“Thank you, Miz Jamie Lynn. I aim to please.”
In the background, Shane heard Otis snort, Marsha giggle and Kyle groan.
Jamie laughed softly. “That’s quite a chorus we have serenading us. Too bad Otis left Useless in the car. He loves to sing along.”
“This bunch sure needs to work on their harmony.” Shane was so content, so elated, to have her in his arms and know that all his loved ones were safe and sound he could barely keep from shouting. As it was, his grin was so wide it was cramping.
Long, precious moments passed before he loosened his hold and eased her away so they were face-to-face. “I’ve been fighting my feelings,” he said. “Tonight, when I thought I’d lost you, I had to admit them to myself. I care about you, about what happens to you, and I’d like you to consider staying in Serenity, maybe for the rest of your life.”
“Only on one condition,” Jamie replied softly.
Shane frowned. “Anything.”
Her burgeoning smile and the twinkle in her misty eyes relieved most of his worry. “You have to promise that you’ll court me like a true Southern gentleman and sweep me off my feet.”
“I thought I already did that.” Laughing, he waited for the humorous reply he knew was coming.
“Catching me when I’m about to fall off a stairway and break my neck doesn’t count.”
“Picky, picky, picky,” Shane said just before he stepped back, took her hand and bowed at the waist. “All right. Miz Henderson, will you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the Serenity Homecoming celebration and terrapin races next week on the town square?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She curtsied. “I’d be delighted.”
“Good. Since you’re in the mood to accept invitations, how would you like to marry me, too?”
She sobered. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. But I won’t rush you. We can take as much time as you need.”
“I’d like to put all the negatives behind me first. And I want to try to find my mother so she and Aunt Tessie can both come to our wedding.”
“I already have Pastor Malloy working on it,” Shane told her. “And the sheriff is going to reopen my dad’s case, so your brother should be free soon, too.”