“Then you’re absolutely my hero.”

“I absolutely love you, and I couldn’t let them do that to you. When I think about how they might’ve succeeded if Grant and I hadn’t heard them…”

“Well, they didn’t, and it’s all thanks to you.”

“And Grant. He heard them first.”

“How did he know about them?”

“That day in the water. I told him what you’d been through. He was as mad about it as I am. He heard Kelly say your name and some other stuff, so he knew they were talking about you.”

“You’re both my heroes. Thank you so much for coming running. I would’ve hated to give her that moment of my utter shock at seeing them.”

“I’m happy to deny her that. So, how do you feel about running away with me today?”

“There’s nothing else I’d rather do. Where should we go?”

Dan took a good look around and pointed to a free mooring. “Let’s grab that and hang here for a while and see if we can entertain ourselves.”

Kara directed the launch toward the mooring and pulled up next to it, picking up the stick attached to the rope that she looped around a cleat on the bow. Turning back, she found him removing the pads from the bench seats and tossing them onto the floor of the open launch.

“You got any extra sunscreen?”

“Do I have sunscreen? I bathe in it hourly.” She tossed him a can and watched him remove his shirt and kick off the ridiculous loafers he insisted on wearing in the heat of summer.

He covered his chest, belly and arms in sunscreen, wincing as he ran his hand over his ribs, which were still colored by yellowing bruises.

“Let me do your back.”

“Only if I can do yours.”

“I have a shirt on.”

“You won’t for long.”

“Oh, so it’s going to be that kind of field trip, is it?”

“Of course it is. Have you met me?”

“My delicates can’t handle this sun.”

“I’ll keep you covered so the sun won’t find your delicates.”

She raised her hands to his face and brought him down for a kiss that blew the top off his head.

He dropped the can of sunscreen and wrapped an arm around her.

“I love you, too,” she said. “Thank you so much for this.”

“While my approval ratings are at an all-time high, I’ve got something I need to ask you.”

“What’s that?”