Page 117 of Target Acquired

She leaned forward and squeezed Kenzie’s hands while Cole held his breath. “Well, Eliza’s father was determined she was going to marry the man he’d picked out for her, Edward Hampton. They were in the real estate business and had loads of money. Eliza really expected him to be an arrogant so-and-so, but that young man was as kind and gentle as they come. The truth was, he had his heart set on someone else too, and they had a little discussion about it. George and I were just on the other side of the horse pasture when Edward and Eliza came walking up to the car. She introduced Edward to George and me, and we wound up being friends for the rest of our lives. Edward did wind up marrying his true love. But anyway, that night, Eliza got in the car and off we went to see William. They were married the next day at the courthouse and lived with his family until they could afford the deposit on an apartment. It wasn’t too much longer that their first child was born.” She smiled at Cole. “Your uncle Daniel.” She spread her thin, wrinkled hands. “And the rest, as they say, is history.”

“And my great-grandfather, Eliza’s father, just let her go?” Cole asked.

“Cut her off without a penny but had a heart attack and died before he could change his will or be held accountable for his attempt to kill Eliza.”

“That’s quite the story, Grandma Betsy,” Kenzie said.

“It is that for sure. Now, tell me yours.”

An hour later, Cole led Kenzie from the building and to his vehicle. At the passenger door, he turned her to face him. “Now?”

She grinned. “Now.”

“Thank God.” He lowered his lips to hers and pulled her closer, so grateful she was alive and warm in his arms. She wove her fingers into his hair and tugged. And that was that.

No, not just yet. The kiss lingered and the air in his lungs seeped out, his knees went weak, and his stomach turned flips while his heart burned with a love that almost scared him.

He really should let her go.

And he would.

In another minute.

Once he had the feel of her lips memorized so that it would last him until morning. Then he remembered he was driving her home and could kiss her good night. He let her go and stepped back.

She stared up at him, a slightly dazed expression in her eyes. He didn’t dare feel smug about that at all, as he was sure he mirrored the look. “Well,” he said and cleared his throat.

“Yes. Well.”

“That was—”

“If you say nice, I will literally punch you.”

He laughed. Then snorted. And laughed again. “How about smoking hot?”

“That works.”

“I think we should go now.”

“Absolutely.”

THIRTY-TWO

ONE WEEK LATER

Kenzie dressed in sweats and a T-shirt, then pulled a hoodie over that. The weather had turned decidedly colder, but today was a special day and Cole was coming to get her in less than five minutes. His church contacts had come through, and while she’d seen pictures of the new court, today was the day they’d get to hang out and shoot hoops with anyone who stopped by.

She pulled her hair into a ponytail, slipped into her tennis shoes, and met Cole at the door two seconds after he rang the bell. He leaned in for a kiss and she gladly returned it. Then he grinned down at her. “Ready to get stomped?”

“At basketball? I have three very competitive brothers, remember?”

“Oh yeah.” He frowned. “Okay, you’re on my team.”

She laughed and swept out the door while he locked it behind them. The drive to the trailer park on the other side of town didn’t take long. They passed Micah’s home and pulled around to the new basketball court.

“Stands out like a shiny new penny,” Kenzie said.

“Yeah. I just hope they’ll take pride in it and help care for it.”