A Love for Safekeeping (19 page)

“No, I’m okay. I prayed so hard. God heard me.”

“He heard lots of us. My folks are waiting for us. They’ve been on their knees since I called them.”

Nestled in Kyle’s arms on the Mannings’ sofa, Jane’s exhaustion weighed heavily. After filling in the pieces and rehashing the story, his parents excused themselves. She and Kyle were alone.

Jane cuddled in his arms. Never again would she leave him. Despite the horror of the past months, God had given her a gift. Kyle. How could she doubt that they were meant to be together? She looked into his love-filled eyes, her heart swelling with contentment.

Kyle marveled at Jane’s resilience, and his mind raced through the five months since they’d met. Without question, she was God’s gift to him. And now, he had a gift to return to her, then his family.

“I’m accepting Kitzmiller’s job offer tomorrow, Jane. I know this is a strange time to tell you, but after
all this horror, I think you’ll be relieved. You told me to do what I had to do, and I think God wants this.”

“God? Are you sure, Kyle? Look in your heart.”

He squirmed, wanting to say it was God, but in truth, he’d made the decision for them. “You know me too well, Jane. I thought when it came right down to it that you’d be—”

Jane pressed her finger to his lips, silencing him. “What would I have done without Redmond’s finest? Today and through this whole mess, Kyle, you’ve stood by me, not only because you love me, but because you believe in keeping people safe from harm. I can’t take that away from Redmond. And I can’t take that away from you.”

Kyle searched her eyes. “But—”

“There’s no ‘but’ about it. While you were at the station filing the report, I talked to your folks. I told them you’d planned to leave the force, and we’ve all agreed it’d be a terrible mistake.”

“You talked to my folks?”

She nodded. “I fought God far too long. If I’d put my faith and trust in the Lord long ago, I wouldn’t have suffered all those years. I’d closed my mind and decided things on my own. ‘On my own’ doesn’t work. We need God and we need the people we love. And I love you, Kyle Manning, with all my being. I’m not letting you go. You’re handcuffed to my heart.”

He grinned. “I’m really your prisoner of love.”

“You are,” she said.

“Then I assume you’ll accept my proposal.”

“Proposal for what?” Her eyes shone with mischief.

He slid to the floor on one knee. “Jane Conroy, would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

“How could I refuse my knight in blue?” As he
stood, she clasped his hands and rose beside him. “I accept with all my heart.”

Before he could say a word, she silenced him with the most precious kiss he’d ever known.

Dear Reader,

Romance is wonderful. Romance and suspense are supreme. Since childhood, I have been enrapt by mysteries. As an adult, the love has continued, and I find myself drawn to classics like Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart and Ellis Peters’s wonderful stories set in an old abbey in twelfth-century England. It was not a surprise, then, when I found myself writing romantic suspense, and Steeple Hill graciously supported me.

As you read Jane and Kyle’s story, you watched their struggle to learn about Jane’s stalker, and in the process you saw how they learned even more about themselves and their faith.

When troubles come to our doorsteps, I believe that the Lord is helping us grow, to learn and to let go and let God. I pray that in our darkest moments each of us grows in faith, compassion and love just as Jane and Kyle have done in this novel. I hope you enjoyed
A Love for Safekeeping
.

May God bless you.