Her mother stood up, then paused. "Your father would have liked him, Kara?"
"Really?"
"Yes. Not because he's strong and brave and handsome, but because he loves you, and he wants to protect you."
"I don't need him to protect me."
Her mother smiled. "I know that, but there is always a time in life when you need someone to have your back."
"Well, I know that Max will always have my back," she said, remembering how he'd bravely stood by her side as they both faced death. But her mother was never going to hear that story.
"That's what I think, too," her mom said with a satisfied smile. Then she went to join her sister-in-law at the dessert table.
A moment later, the game ended, and Max came over to join her.
"I think we won," he said, flopping down on the blanket beside her. "But I'm not entirely sure. The game seems to be starting again with new teams, so who knows?"
"That's how these games go," she said with a laugh. "They never end, and my uncle makes up rules so everyone will feel like they've won. By the way, my family loves you."
"I love them too."
"So, you said you had some news," she reminded him. "Can you share it?"
"I'm not sure this is the right time."
"We're alone. And I want to hear it."
"Okay. I've decided to make my fake security firm real," he said. "My friend Reza is leaving the agency; he's going to join me. So will Kai, who was helping me with Dominic's business. She's willing to commit to full-time as long as I don't make her travel. Reza has another friend who's leaving the ATF. He'll come on board as well, and we'll see where we go from there. It looks like I'm going to need an actual office."
"Are you focusing on overseas work?"
"No. I'm happy to focus on the city. I'm starting to like it almost as much as you do."
"It is an amazing city." Her gaze drifted to the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance. "I still sometimes wonder how we didn't lose that bridge. But I'm so glad it's still there." She looked back at him. "I've been thinking about a few things, too."
"Like…"
"Maybe we should get an apartment together. We're together most nights, and going back and forth is getting to be a pain. I think we should find a place to share."
"I already started looking," he said, surprising her again.
"Really?"
"Yes. But before we move in together, I want to make things more official."
She gave him a warning look. "Stop right there, Max Malone. You are not going to propose to me at a family softball game with everyone watching."
He laughed. "That would be perfect, wouldn't it?"
"No. I don't enjoy being the center of that kind of attention."
"I know you don't." He gave her a look that suggested he knew her as well as she knew herself. "I'm not proposing here, but soon. I want you to know that I'm committed to you and me. This is going to be a long-term deal."
"I thought you didn't like long-term."
"Well, you changed my mind. And when I ask you to marry me, it will be a surprise."
"As long as it's just you and me, I don't care where it is or when it happens. Because I love you, and I'm all in. In fact, I could just ask you right now," she said.
