He squeezed her hand. “It wasn’t time wasted. You aren’t the same person that you were last fall . . . you needed the time to cross over to the dark side.” His expression was deadly serious. “You can’t rush that sort of thing.”

Tears started as she laughed.

He wiped the crumbs from his mouth. “I know this isn’t a romantic situation. I’m not on my knees and I don’t have a ring, but I want you to marry me.”

Her heart stopped. Is this what I want?

Truman tightened his grip. “What do you say, Special Agent Kilpatrick? Are you interested in marrying a police chief? Because he wants you with all his heart.”

Can I do this?

She studied him. His face was bruised and battered, and he had snickerdoodle crumbs on his shirt. But she loved him with every ounce of her being, and she didn’t feel an ounce of fear.

This is right.

He was perfect for her. And so was his proposal.

He gets me.

She lunged into his lap, not caring that he winced or that her leg complained. “I do!”

“That’s the answer that comes later. I think right now you’re supposed to say yes.”

“Yes!” She kissed him slowly, tasting sugar and cinnamon. “But you’ve got to promise to never disappear on me again.”

“The same goes for you,” he muttered. “When should we do it?”

“I suspect another wedding will be happening in the next few months,” she speculated.

“Rose?”

“Yes. I think she wants to see how Nick is after the baby comes . . . I could be wrong. Maybe it will happen before that, but I don’t want to take away any of their limelight.”

“Agreed. What about Christmastime? That’s about eight months away.”

So far off. Her immediate mental complaint made her smile. He was right—she wasn’t the same person she had been last fall. “I’d love a Christmas wedding.”

“Deal.” He kissed her again and pulled her closer. “I told you in the water I’d always hold on to you.”

“And I promise the same.”