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He didn’t need to say those things now, because he already knew her answer Her welco kiss had told him that much But he had to ask, “Will you do that, Keira? Will you trust h to have my children?”

She looked at him with that solemn expression he kneell, then s up to meet the day—soft, warm, unique And full of promise “I will”

Epilogue

Cody sat on the porch steps of his cabin near Granite Peak, waiting for the sunrise He loved the earlyfresh and clean and untouched about it, theair crisp and cool even in the middle of suh the hectic days of his life in Denver

The task force set up between the agency and the FBI had borne fruit As he’d learned long ago, Keira was a tigress when she orking a case And just as McKinnon had once said, research and analysis were her forte She’d been relentless in uncovering Vishenko’s insidious web and docuht case, but they had coh evidence for conviction of every anization, and quite a few of the minor ones

The trials they would have to testify at were still months away Delay after delay had been won by the defense tea, and Cody could hardly wait Not that they would ever truly be safejust safer, once the convictions started piling up

The creak of the front door opening behind him was followed by the faint whisper of footsteps, and a steanored the coffee, instead turning and reaching for Keira and drawing her down to sit between his legs Only then did he pick up the cup and drink deeply,an appreciative sound

“Morning,” he said, putting the cup down and cradling Keira back against his body, breathing in the scent of her that never failed to arouse him—plain soap and water and oman Very oman

“Good ht about turning her in his arms for a coffee-flavored kiss, but decided to wait for the sunrise—postponement of pleasure always made it sweeter in the end Especially where Keira was concerned

He slid his hands up her arently kneaded the hed with contentment “Thanks,” she breathed

“Aching again?”

“Just a little How did you know?”

“Been there, done that Mornings are the worst It will get better Trust me, I know”

“I know,” she said quietly “And I do”

Eleven months had passed since Keira had left her hospital bed Ten and a half months since they had ht arht side i process continued But neither of them had wanted to wait

Cody glanced down at the plain gold wedding band on Keira’s left hand, smaller than the one on his hand but identical in every other way He re his life to her and accepting the gift of her life in return Tords were engraved inside both rings—I Will

As Cody had known she would, Keira had accepted the job working for D’Arcy and the assignment to the Vishenko/NOANC/New World Militia task force It had h it had lyfor his sake If she regretted it, she’d never said a word to hi the Denver branch of the agency,to rely on advice froht—Cody couldn’t be hi the job his

Nineih to have a baby

The sun peeked over the horizon to the east, and they watched in silence as the sky changed froold Cody slid his hands beneath Keira’s ar waistline where his child lay nestled, safe and warm