Page 68 of Fools in Love

He nodded and sat on the side of her bed.

“How bad am I? Besides the three broken ribs?”

“You have a concussion, a broken wrist.” He motioned to her left hand, which she had yet to notice the bandage on. “They’ve confirmed your knee is just inflamed and not torn again.”

She looked down at her bandaged leg and groaned. “Damn it, I just started using that again.”

He smiled. “The ribs are going to keep you down for a while.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I broke a rib as a kid. I knew the second she kicked me that they were broken. It was Isabella Ramani?” she asked, wondering if her memory was fuzzy.

“Yeah.” Tom took her right hand in his.

“Why? She got what she wanted. She took over for me.” Kate frowned and rested her head back.

“Not sure. Aiden claims she was ranting about how you were the reason her career was ruined and that you stole her man away from her.”

“Dmitri?” Kate shook her head slightly. “He went back to Russia.”

“Yeah, we’re not sure what she means either. Aiden believes that the article you did for the New Yorker set her off. That, along with Dmitri leaving. We know that the show you were in closed down after all the bad reviews.” Tom shifted as he trailed his fingertips over her palm.

She closed her eyes and then remembered. “Your dad?” Her eyes jerked opened, and she focused on his face. She saw slight bruising on his left cheek.

“He’s been transferred to Portland, where he’ll be extradited back to Nevada.”

“What about his wife? I thought… I thought that was who was attacking me. I can’t believe it was Isabella.”

“Crystal’s family claims she left my dad when he broke his parole. She’s been staying with a friend until he was caught. She said that he beat her the first night he was out of jail.” He took a deep breath. “I guess a tiger can’t change his stripes.”

“At least not that one.”

They grew quiet and then Tom lifted her hand to his lips. “I love you. I’m sorry I let you get hurt. I promised you that I wouldn’t.”

“Tom, it’s not your fault. I should have waited inside. I just thought… with your dad being in custody.” She sighed, and tears rolled down her cheeks. “I let my guard down.”

“Hey.” He gently wiped them away. “We’re both fools.” He rested his forehead on hers.

She closed her eyes and held onto the feeling of him being so close.

“I love you,” she said easily.

He leaned back, his eyes locking with hers. “Are you going to marry me?” he asked her, cupping her cheek with his hand. “I promise that when you get out of here and feel up to it, I’ll take you on a romantic sunset sail and propose to you properly. I’ll even get down on one knee, ring in hand and all.”

She smiled. “I’ll hold you to that, but for now…” She nodded. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” She tugged him down and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

Epilogue

Kate laughed as she sat in the sand and watched Luke and Leia race around in the surf. The two dogs were happiest when near the water.

It had taken them a while to train them to be on the sailboat. But now the pair of them loved to go out and knew better than to jump off the side. At least while it was moving.

Still, Tom had purchased life vests for them, which they wore every time they took them out on the water.

“They’re happy,” Tom said.

“Yes.” She turned to him. “I can’t believe they’re already a year old.” She sighed and rested back on her elbows.

They had spread a blanket out on the sand and had brought a picnic lunch down to the beach to enjoy.