“You should know that I hired on part time with CPNI. They’ve set up a SCIF in the manor for me to work from. If I don’t serve in some capacity, I’ll go barking mad.”

“CPNI. That’s quite an accomplishment. Congratulations. Since we’re making confessions, I have one as well. Nigel pulled a few strings for me at the agency. I’ve transferred to MI5.” Harry hesitated, then added, “Glasgow office.”

“Glasgow?” Her muscles went weak, and her head spun dizzily.

Harry nodded.

“Did she say yes?” Sammy yelled from down by the shore.

“One more kiss might help me make up my mind,” Elise answered with a coy toss of her head.

And so Harry did, making quite a thorough job of it. When Harry pulled back, she nodded, and he gave his son a thumbs-up sign.

“Yay!” Sammy whooped loudly. “Can I call Thierry and tell her I’m getting a stepmom?”

“Later tonight, son.”

Sammy scrunched his face in a show of disapproval. When Harry didn’t give in, Sammy sighed heavily and poked the canoe.

Harry turned back to her. “How soon can we get married?” He kept her close, not dropping his arms from around her.

“If it were just you, me, and Sammy, I’d say tomorrow. But it isn’t.” Heaven help them. Her mother would turn their newfound happiness into a circus of monumental proportions.

“What do you mean?” The skin around his eyes crinkled, his expression confused.

“My dear husband-to-be, have you forgotten my parents? My mother would have a coronary if she couldn’t put on the social wedding of the year.” A wedding of that magnitude was not for the fainthearted, but for once in her life, Elise looked forward to being in her mother’s best graces.

Harry kissed her, a quick smack on the lips. “Aren’t you the least bit pleased to let her? You’ll get to wear a pretty dress and have flowers in your hair.” He grinned, twin devils dancing in his eyes.

He pulled her closer and dipped his head, his intent obvious. Elise caught sight of Sammy’s curious gaze over Harry’s shoulder. She exhaled sharply and moved out of Harry’s reach.

“Harry Benson, behave yourself.”

“Not on your life.” Harry grinned unrepentantly and snatched her back.

An answering smile erupted on her face and warmed every part of her body. This man pushed her boundaries and challenged her limits. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

God had not forsaken her after all. Her life had required a rudder steer before she arrived at the place He intended. She laid her head on Harry’s shoulder and fingered the top of his wool jumper.

“As for our wedding, I give you fair warning; I won’t be unarmed at the altar,” she said.

“My dear, I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

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