Finally, he opened the French doors, which led into the gardens and pool area. And a dog barked.
He’d found her.
She lay facedown on a large pink inflatable in the center of the pool. She wore a scarlet bikini and for a moment, his heart stopped beating. Without giving himself time to think, he stripped off his clothes and dived into the water.
He came up in front of the inflatable as Dani raised her head and smiled at him.
“You’re here,” he said.
“Your mother let me in.”
Crap. He was naked. He’d forgotten all about his mother.
“She’s not here,” Dani said dryly.
“Thank God.” He dragged the inflatable down until she slipped into the water and he could hold her at last. Wrapping her in his arms, he buried his face in the curve of her throat as her legs came around him.
“Tell me you’re here to stay?”
“If you want me to.”
“You know I do.” He kissed her, as the fear and tension drained from him. Then he stripped off her bikini and lost himself in the feel and taste of her.
She cupped his face. “I love you,” she murmured and he knew that he was really home.
Half an hour later, they lay side by side, floating on the water.
“This gives me a certain sense of déjà vu,” Dani said.
“You get that a lot. And why?”
“You were floating in the pool the first time I saw you, clutching a blonde.” She raised herself up on her elbows and gave him a narrow-eyed stare. “I hope I’m not just one in a long line of women you float around with.”
“You’re the last,” he said. “I’ll never float around with anyone else again.”
“Good.”
He didn’t want to spoil the mood, but he knew they needed to clear the air between them. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the setup. I was scared, but I didn’t think you would be so…”
“Upset? I was scared as well, and I overreacted. I kept thinking that it was Sam all over again. That as soon as I let myself love someone, I was doomed.”
“I should have expected that. You know, I can’t promise you I’ll be with you forever. But I’ll never voluntarily leave.”
“That’s all anyone can ask for.”
“And I’ll give up all those scary things.”
“You don’t have to. Just be aware I’ll be doing them with you.”
An image of Dani leaping out of an airplane flashed across his mind. No way. “Then I’ll definitely give them up. Besides, I have a suspicion that being married to you will be exciting enough.”
Dani pushed herself up onto her elbows and stared into his face. “Married? You want us to get married?”
“Hell, yes. We owe it to Skip to give him a stable, loving home.”
“Of course we do.” She grinned. “Then you’d better ask me.”
“Sergeant Danielle Sinclair, will you marry me? Will you let me love, honor, and…protect you for the rest of our lives?” He held his breath as he waited for her answer.
“Yes, sir.”