Page 151 of Scent of Hope

Jericho finally turned her. Then, just like that, he scooped her up.

“What?”

“Just go with it, HT.”

He walked over to the chair and sat in the open sleeping bag, settled her on his lap.

Then he zipped them both up inside.

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” he said, “but I thought I’d get into too much trouble.”

His chest was warm as she leaned into him, his arms secure around her waist. “Well, my dadwasa cop.”

“Yes. Yes he was.”

Orlando flopped at their feet with a contented huff. Above them, the lights shimmered like curtains in the wind, stars piercing through the darkness. In the distance, the lights from the Bowie house sparkled.

And here in this moment, she felt her father’s words again.“I’m proud of you.”

Her throat tightened as she settled into Jericho’s embrace.You’d be proud of Jericho too,Dad.

A heat flooded through her, peace maybe. Or hope. She wove her fingers through Jericho’s.

“Is that your way of saying you plan on getting into trouble with me?” she said softly.

His laugh rumbled against her back. “Sweetheart, that’s the story of my life.”

“Aw, you like it.”

His arms tightened slightly. “Maybe I just can’t get enough of the view.”

She tilted her head back, caught the heat in his eyes. “The northern lights are pretty spectacular.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t talking about the sky.”

Orlando’s tail thumped against the deck.

“You know,” Jericho said, “for a couple people who track down trouble for a living, it sure took us a long time to get here.”

“Here? On your lap in the freezing cold?”

“Here. As in home.” He turned her chin gently, and her breath caught at his expression, as his eyes roamed her face, then settled on her lips. “With me.”

The kiss was soft at first, then deeper, full of promises and possibilities. Of things worth staying for. Worth fighting for.

When he drew away, the lights were still dancing overhead, and Orlando had moved closer, his head resting against their legs.

“You know what this means?” Jericho murmured against her hair.

“That I’m in trouble?”

His smile curved against her temple. “Oh yeah. The best kind.” He paused. “I can smell it.”

She laughed, the sound carrying across the snow-covered yard, up to the star-filled sky. Because maybe that’s what home was—finding the person who made trouble feel like belonging. Like forever.

“So, what’s next, JB?” she asked quietly.

“Next ... we figure it out. Together.”

Yes. Yes they would. Because that’s what you did when God gave you a second chance. When he led you through the dark to find what you thought was lost.

You held on with both hands.

And never let go.