"I didn't name her," Jack said. "By the way, there are five more where that one came from," he said, stroking the kitten's nose. "I wasn't sure what color you'd like."

"Oh, Jack, she's perfect."

"What are you going to name her?" he said.

She looked up at him, and Jack watched her face as she realized the significance of the gift. The significance of naming the kitten. The significance of keeping it. She would have to start living again. No more hiding from life. She would have to open the door and let him in, along with the cat.

Give us a chance, Jack prayed.

The kitten began purring, and Maggie laughed, a throaty, pleased sound. She looked up at him, her heart in her eyes, and Jack felt his insides tumble. He reached for her and drew her protectively into his embrace. She held the kitten close with one hand, while she curled the other around his neck and drew his face down for her kiss.

"I love you, Jack," she said. "So very much."

The warmth of her kiss seeped inside him and filled the empty spaces. Jack took Maggie's face between his hands and looked into her eyes as he said, "Will you marry me, Maggie?"

"I made so many mistakes the first time, I'm not sure how I'll do the second time around," she said in a shaky voice.

"We'll work it all out," he said. "I don't need someone perfect. I need you. Say yes, Maggie."

The kitten meowed.

Maggie laughed and said, "Yes, Jack."

"I want kids, Maggie. A houseful of them."

She took a shuddering breath and let it out. "That's such a big step, Jack."

"I'll be there with you, Maggie. We'll make it together."

He saw the moment she began to believe in happily ever after. The look on her face was peaceful, accepting, happy. "All right, Jack," she said with a wobbly smile.

He pulled her close and kissed her hard.

"Maybe the Hollanders wouldn't mind if we excused ourselves," Maggie suggested when she came up for air. "After all, we have a hungry kitten here who needs her mother."

"I like the way your mind works, counselor."

Maggie smiled. "I'm going to remind you of that, Jack, the first time we have an argument."

Jack kissed her again. They would argue. And they would disagree. And they would have problems. All couples did. Life was never perfect. There was no perfect. But he would love her anyway. As she would love him. After all, they belonged together. Two imperfect halves that made one absolutely ideal whole.

He tugged his hat down and said, "Come on, Maggie. Let's go home."

Author's Note.

Dear Readers,.

If you enjoyed Heartbeat and I Promise, you might like to try some of my Hawk's Way contemporary novels, including Hawk's Way: The Virgin Groom, which is in bookstores now.

My novella entitled "A Hawk's Way Christmas" will be in a hardcover gift collection with bestselling author Diana Palmer titled Lone Star Christmas. It should be available in bookstores by mid-October, in plenty of time to make a delightful holiday stocking stuffer.

My next historical romance novel, a sequel to Captive and After the Kiss called The Bodyguard, tells the story of an English duke tricked into marriage by a spirited Scottish lass. It's a March release and will be available in bookstores in mid-February 1998.

I love hearing from you. If you would like to be on my mailing list, please send a postcard to me at P.O. Box 8531, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33084. If you send a letter with comments or questions and would like a reply, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Happy trails, September 1997.

About the Author.

JOAN JOHNSTON is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 54 novels and novellas, with more than 10 million copies of her books in print. Joan lives in Colorado. You can learn more about her at www.joanjohnston.com or reach her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/joanjohnstonauthor.

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Romances by Joan Johnston.

THE MEN OF BITTER CREEK.

I PROMISE.

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