“Maybe. Hey, it worked.”
She sighed. “You had me pegged.”
“I wish. I know we’re not officially engaged or anything. And I’m taking it slow. That I got you to admit you love me, when you should have known that as soon as you saw me, is a real victory.”
“It is. I’m a keeper.
“Don’t I know it.” He hugged her, and she turned over to stare into his eyes. “I know it won’t always be easy. But it will work.”
“How do you know?”
He put her hand over his heart. “Because I feel it in here. And I have nothing but time to show you how I feel. Something your dad said—proof is in the doing. If my mom could take a chance on my father, you can take a chance on me.”
“What is the deal with your dad?”
“I’ll tell you after you agree to marry me. Don’t want to scare you away before then.”
“Funny. But that kind of goes for you too. If my mom doesn’t convince you to run away, I figure we’ll probably stick for good. Married for years and years after a lengthy engagement.”
“I can get with that.” His jaw hurt from all the smiling.
“But no hitting, no cheating, and no lying. Those are my dealbreakers.”
“Yes, yes, and maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Well, if a shirt makes you look dumpy, but you really like it, would you rather I told you the truth or lied to make you feel better?”
Her eyes narrowed. “This is about my Kraken sweatshirt, isn’t it?”
“You look stupid in it.” He wouldn’t budge on that. She started smiling. “What? I’m being honest. You look like a heifer in that thing.”
She laughed, long and loud, and kissed him. “I love you, Demon.”
“I love you too. You big cow.”
“Jackass.”
“Yeah, your jackass.”
Tiny meows distracted them, and he fetched the furballs and fell asleep with heaven in his arms.
EPILOGUE
December 23rd
Tuesday evening at the Reynolds household, Marlie and Damon joined their families and friends for a heck of a celebration.
Not only had the Mavericks won the championship, Will had scored the winning goal.
“Everyone, your attention,” Will said to be heard over the noise.
Mona had invited what felt like the entire town. Marlie recognized the Flashman brothers and their families, to include their parents, who had become good friends with Damon’s folks, apparently.
His parents had arrived with his sister, who kept giving Damon evil looks, which he ignored. Or tried to. He kept inching closer to Marlie until she barely had room to breathe.
Jenna and Melly had come with their parents as well, since the Mason family did a lot of business in town and were well known and friends with Ed. Steve had brought a female cop as his date, and Marlie recognized her as the goalie from the Sharks team. Interesting development there.
