Conclusion
Back to Story Menu
Kacie watched him, eyes brimming. "What have you got?"
"Without you, nothing," he whispered hoarsely.
"In your hand."
He turned the cards over. "Full house."
She blinked, and two slow tears ran down her cheeks. "Not yet. But I hope some day. I'd like that."
Peter's chin quivered. "What did you have?" He reached for her cards, to turn them over.
She swept cards, chips, and clothing to the floor and stood shivering, her arms wrapped around herself. "Nothing. I've had nothing and been nothing for the past two months."
"I'm sorry. God, I'm sorry. I must have been insane to say those things to you. I didn't mean any of it. I swear to God I didn't. I didn't." His voice trailed off before failing entirely.
"What now?" Her facial muscles worked and her lips trembled.
He picked up the necklace and let the charms dangle from his fingers. "Now, I want you in my arms, because if I have to wait one more minute to hold you, I will go out of what is left of my mind."
It was hard to tell who reached for whom first, but in the blink of an eye skin touched and lips met, bodies straining to get closer and kisses feeding a hunger that demanded fulfillment.
Peter talked around her lips. "God, I've missed you. I was going crazy without you. I was ready to quit my job..."
"Shut up. Just shut up and kiss me."
He obeyed eagerly, his mouth eating at hers, then roaming over her throat and neck. His hand slid up over her shoulder and down to her breast, and she gasped in pleasure as his palm gently caressed the taut flesh there that strained against the soft silk. She moaned deep in her throat and wildly sought his lips with hers.
The sound registered on Peter's brain, and he removed his hand to slide it around her shoulders, holding her in his arms and resting his forehead against hers. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but..."
"Oh, God, Peter, you're not stopping now, are you?" Kacie pressed up more closely to him and moaned, "I've never felt anything like this before."
"Brakes." He shook his head and took a deep steadying breath. "I want to keep going, believe me." She ground her hips against his, and the pressure against his arousal made him groan. "Mmm. Stop. We have to stop."
"Why?"
He gulped a lungful of air and heaved it out in a sigh. "There's a part of me asking the same question."
"Mmm. I know. And I think I want to listen to that part." Her hand slid down his chest and started to dip beneath the waistband of his briefs.
He grabbed her wrist with his hand to keep it from going further. "I love you, Sweetheart, but no, we can't. I keep remembering what you promised your father."
"I want to forget it. I love you. I want to show you how much I love you."
Peter laughed and kissed the side of her neck. "I love you, but I don't want to be married to someone who someday regrets not keeping her promise to her father."
She sighed into his chest and grumbled, "Just my luck. I'm in love with someone who remembers my promises better than I do." She stiffened in his arms. "Wait a minute." She pushed away from him to peer into his face. "You said married?"
He grinned crookedly at her. "I'd get down on one knee right here, but I don't have your ring with me." He laughed happily. "And, besides, until you put your clothes back on, I don't think I could remember the words to ask you."
"Speaking of words, are you ready to eat some yet?" she asked saucily.
"What are you talking about?"
"That remark about me not being any good at it," she reminded him.
His smile faded and his hazel eyes grew miserable. "I said such awful things to you. How can you still love me?"
"Easy." She kissed his lips with a loud smack. "I'm just as nuts as you are. And anyway..." She kissed him again, more passionately this time. "I'm going to love making you eat those words."
The smile was back. "How long will you make me wait?" He groaned deep in his throat and his arms tightened around her anew. "I'm only human."
"How about this weekend?"
"Are you serious?"
"Would you stop saying that? Of course, I'm serious." She rubbed her cheek against his collarbone. "I don't want some big, fancy-shmancy ceremony. I just want to be married to you." She groaned regretfully. "And if tonight was any indication of what I've got to look forward to, the sooner the better."
"Umm, I think clothes are a good idea here before we talk any more," Peter suggested.
"I think a cold shower is. Cut cards for first one in? Unless we go together."
"That would defeat the whole purpose." Peter laughed.
"Can't blame a girl for trying."
"He didn't say, Babe." Paul snuggled her closer to his side and relaxed back into the cushions on the couch. "He just called and asked if I'd pick up his father and bring him here. Said he had something very important to discuss with us all." Paul looked over at Caine, who was his usual inscrutable self as he sat cross-legged on the hearth in front of the unlit fireplace. "Caine, is there anything you can tell us?"
Caine smiled a slow smile and shrugged. "I have not talked with Peter. How could I know anything?"
Annie sounded suspicious. "You know something. I can tell it in your voice."
Caine cocked his head to one side and smiled. "Peter is here."
Paul jumped to his feet saying, "I'll take your word for it and let him in." He walked quickly down the hallway and threw open the door, stopping short before grinning wordlessly.
Peter and Kacie stood out on the front doorstep, locked in a passionate embrace, completely oblivious to their surroundings.
Paul cleared his throat loudly and said dryly, "I take it this is Kacie?"
The couple broke apart and Kacie flushed in embarrassment, attempting to arrange her disheveled hair.
Peter merely grinned. "Paul Blaisdell, I'd like you to meet Katherine Christine McConnell. Kacie, this is my foster father, Paul Blaisdell."
Kacie extended her hand to Paul. "It-it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Blaisdell."
"Paul. Mr. Blaisdell was my father. And I think we can do better than a handshake, can't we?" He held out his arms and gathered her into his embrace. "You have no idea what a pleasure it is to meet you," he uttered fervently. Keeping one arm around her shoulders, he threw the other around Peter's. "Come in. Come in. Annie's been having conniptions ever since she heard you were coming, Peter. We had no idea you were bringing such a welcome surprise."
The trio walked into the den together and, with a little cry, Kacie launched herself into Caine's waiting arms.
He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. "I have missed you, my child."
"I've missed you, too."
"Kacie, you get over here right now!" Annie ordered, holding out her arms. The two women embraced, laughing and crying at the same time.
Paul's eyes met Peter's and both men shook their heads in perfect understanding. Peter snapped his fingers and motioned to Paul. "Paul, come with me a minute, would you? I need your help with something."
The two exited the room, while Kacie and Annie chattered excitedly. Paul and Peter returned before the women had noticed their absence, and Paul linked his arm through Annie's, leading her back to their seat on the couch.
Peter stared intently at Kacie, and she frowned at his look. "Peter, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong is that I have wasted the last two months of our lives by being a complete idiot."
"I'll agree with that," Paul commented dryly.
Peter ignored him, never taking his eyes from Kacie's face. "I have no right to ask this, and I can't believe that you would really still want me, but I love you and I need you, Katherine Christine." He took her left hand in his and knelt before her. "But I promise you that I will spend my life trying to make you happy. Will you marry me?" He pulled a ring out of his pocket and slipped it on her finger.
"Oh, Peter. It's beautiful. But where...?"
"You haven't answered my question."
She laughed and tugged on his hand to pull him to his feet. "Of course I'll marry you, you idiot. Why do you think I came to your apartment and..."
Peter stopped any further revelations by closing her mouth with his, and Caine laughed out loud, a deep, full laugh only rarely heard. The newly engaged couple continued their celebratory kiss until they came up for air, breathless and panting.
Annie squealed happily and jumped to her feet, reaching out to embrace her future daughter-in-law as Paul slapped Peter on the back in congratulations before planting a kiss on Kacie's cheek.
Peter sat in an overstuffed chair, and Kacie perched on the arm next to him, her arm around his shoulder and his around her waist.
Annie asked excitedly, "So have you decided when?"
Peter shouted with laughter. "Mom, we just got engaged." He took Kacie's hand in his, gently twisting the ring on her finger. "But we're thinking hard about this weekend."
Kacie looked shyly at Annie and Paul. "We were wondering if we could use your backyard?"
Annie warmed to the idea immediately. "Oh, an outdoor wedding! That would be beautiful! And it wouldn't be that much work."
"And...Annie, would you be my matron of honor? We only need two witnesses." She looked at Peter, seeking reassurance. He met her gaze and nodded happily before giving her a kiss.
Peter looked at his father, love and respect shining in his eyes. "Pop?" He held up a hand to correct himself. "Dad. I'd like...I mean, Kacie and I, we'd like...no, we'd love it if you..."
"I would be honored to perform your marriage rites." Caine shrugged one shoulder. "I love you both."
Kacie's heart was in her eyes as she looked at Caine. "I have a question for you."
He nodded solemnly.
"Do I have to wait until after the wedding to call you Dad?"
Caine's eyes lit up in delight. "It would give me great pleasure for you to call me Dad." He paused before adding dryly, "Now, if you could only convince my son to do so."
Everyone laughed at Peter's suddenly red face, and Kacie kissed him before resting her head on his shoulder.
Peter looked at his foster father. "The only thing missing is the best man, Paul. Would you stand up with me?"
"I would be proud to, Peter," was the quiet reply. Annie felt the sudden trembling of the arm curled around hers and patted his hand.
"This is really happening, isn't it?" Peter shook his head in awe. "This isn't a dream. It's real, right?"
Caine made a sudden motion with his hand and slapped Peter's face with the air displacement technique he often used. Peter's head snapped back, and he automatically touched his mouth tenderly with his hand to see if there was bleeding. "Pop! You've gotta stop doing that."
"I...just wanted you to know you were not dreaming," Caine shrugged, and even Peter joined in the laughter.
Peter pulled Kacie onto his lap and kissed her thoroughly. "There," he said smugly. "I like that method of checking reality better than yours, Pop."
Kacie brushed the hair back from his face. "I want to get settled in my hotel room, Peter. You ready to give me a ride?"
"Hotel room? Nonsense!" Annie snorted indignantly. "You'll stay right here with us, and I don't want to hear another word about it."
Kacie grinned and accepted graciously, "Thank you very much for the offer, Annie. I won't be putting you out for long."
"About four days and eight hours," Peter said cheekily. "But who's counting."
Kacie nuzzled his neck and whispered in his ear, "I am."