Page 92 of Mongrels United

The train halted, the doors opened and departing passengers streamed out. Some of them spotted her and came up to her, too, all talking at once, gabbling about the game last night and how they hadn’t had such a wonderful day in…oh, ages and ages!

Grady was surrounded and she couldn’t simply shove people aside.

“Excuse me. Let me through. Please…yes, thank you.” The deep voice made her turn around, her heart leaping.

Nash firmly but gently moved people aside and stopped in front of her. “I was coming to see you.”

Grady drew a shaky breath. “I was coming to see you. Nash…Oh, Nash…” She looked around the platform. Everyone on it was watching her and Nash, all of them wearing wide grins. “I can’t tell you here,” she said desperately. She would not impugn Siran Carpenter’s character in front of these people. He didn’t deserve the Captain’s chair…but he didn’t need his character to be tainted in public, either.

Nash cupped her face with his hand. “Then let me do the talking.”

Her heart didn’t just leap. She felt as though it was doing what Kailash had done in the closing seconds of the game, last night—climbed up to the top of the cage and reached even higher.

Grady looked into Nash’s eyes. “Here?” she breathed.

“I can’t think of a better place to do it. Nice and public, where everyone can see us.”

It was only then Grady realized that a hush had stolen over the crowd around them. They were listening avidly…and still smiling. She glimpsed elbows nudging neighbors.

Grady threaded her fingers together and brought her hands to her mouth, looking at Nash. “I didn’t think…I thought…after yesterday…I thought you were…done.” It hurt to speak the words, but she had to let him know.

Nash nodded. “I figured that was how you’d see it.” He unsealed the top of his shirt, reached inside and withdrew the Me-Made pendant on its thick chain. “It was only when you walked out the door anddidn’tdemand I make up my mind that I knew for sure. You’re too strong and principled for me, Grady. I think your goodness is unmatched by anyone on this ship.” He let the pendant dangle so everyone could see it, not just Grady.

He really meant it. He was putting them out there in public.

Nash spread the chain in both hands and brought it over her head. “But if you’ll take me as I am now, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to deserve you.”

He dropped the chain, and the pendant fell softly against her chest. Grady put her hand over the ugly little thing, as soft sighs and suppressed excitement sounded around her.

But all Grady could see was Nash’s eyes. The warmth in them. The knowledge. He was sure of her. Of course he was. They understood each other.

“Of course I’ll take you. I love you,” she breathed.

Nash drew her to him and put his arms around her. “I have alotof work to do, to deserve that, love of my life.”

As he kissed her, the people around them began to cheer.

Grady wrapped her arms around the neck of the man who had helped her save the ship. Nash had done all the work he needed to do to earn her love and she would be happy to spend the rest of her life paying him back.

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