Texas Heroes_ Volume 1(201)

It was true—she couldn’t live in this state of armed truce. It was the shadow that hung over all that was so good in her life now.

She looked around her at the new faces she already loved: big-hearted Maddie, strong, gentle Boone, solemn, steady Mitch, sweet Perrie and adorable Davey. They all smiled at her as if giving her their blessing.

She faced her parents and took an uneven breath. “Dev’s right. I don’t want it to be this way. I don’t want to let the past cloud the future anymore.” She swallowed hard. “I love you both very much. If you can accept my new family, I’d like us to start again and build a new future, all together.”

With a cry, her mother reached out. Lacey moved into their arms, hugging them both, feeling peace sweep over her.

Then from the porch of the two-story white house both Dalton and Jenny had loved, Lacey heard a song begin to play. When she realized what it was, she turned back to Dev.

He grinned, and memories of a night she’d never forget washed over her.

“They’re playing our song, sweetheart.” He held out a hand.

She swallowed back tears and went into his arms. “Oh, Dev. What you’ve given me…”

He held her close. She snuggled against him, wanting never to leave. Then he pulled away gently and looked down into her face, stroking her cheek.

“It was a selfish move on my part, getting everyone you love together in one place.” Dev grasped her hand, then dropped to one knee before her. He reached in his pocket and withdrew a small square box. “This comes a lot of years later than it should have, but not too late, I hope.”

Then his eyes grew very serious. “Lacey, will you do me the honor of becoming mine for the rest of my life? Will you build a family with me, starting with Christina?”

Tears flooded her eyes. She glanced quickly around her at all the dear faces, then she fixed her gaze on the only man she would ever love.

“I never want to be apart from you again, Dev.” She smiled through her tears. “I’d love to marry you. Just say when.”

“Would after this dance be too soon?” Dev grinned, those devil’s green eyes sparkling. “Quick—somebody bring back the minister.”

There was laughter at his teasing, but Lacey saw tears and heard a few sniffs.

Dev rose and slipped the ring on her finger, gazing down into the silvery eyes that had bewitched him so many years ago and always would.

“Dance with me, my love.” He pressed a kiss to the hand that bore his ring. Never taking his gaze from her, lest this dream vanish as had a young man’s dreams so long ago, he swept her onto the dance floor.

Eyes locked on one another, they danced to the strains of the song that described who she was to him, who she’d always been.

His past. His present. His future.

His forever.

My Girl.

~THE END~