Chapter Two

Steve was on the back porch when Jaime got home, and he was more than a little surprised to see her. When she'd been called to Oscar's office, he'd assumed she was being sent on an assignment or a mission of some sort, and he was already lonesome for her. He smiled happily as Jaime wrapped her arms tightly around him, pulling him close for a long, deep kiss.

"Honey, I'm home," she said with a mischievous grin when they surfaced for air.

"I missed you," Steve said softly, his tongue darting lightly toward hers, inviting another round. Jaime's body melted into his and he swept her up into his arms, carrying her into the backyard. Their lips maintained constant, increasing pressure as he set her down gently in the giant, double hammock and climbed in beside her. The fabric enveloped them as they enveloped each other, rocking and swaying until long after the sun was gone.

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Jaime sighed with contentment. "I should come home early more often," she whispered.

"Or, better yet, just never leave," Steve suggested.

"I could live with that," she replied, nestling closer to him as he poured them each a glass of wine. "If you could just get Hansen to agree..."

"Hansen? What does he have to do with anything?"

"I meant Oscar." Jaime gazed deeply into the eyes of the man she'd loved for nearly her entire life. She longed to simply ask him straight out - Who is Lydia Spence? - but she didn't dare. The man she'd just spent hours with, making love in a hammock, would never cheat on her, but he'd also never turn against the country he'd served for more than a decade. It looked like one of those two scenarios - however unlikely - was true. For now, though, she knew she had to change the subject; her slip of the tongue had nearly given it all away. "I must need a vacation even worse than I thought," she concluded.

"We aren't working, so where would Milady like to go?" Steve saw the clouds sweep across Jaime's face. He knew her mind wasn't on any proposed vacation, but he also knew she wouldn't tell him what was really troubling her until she was good and ready. "Jaime?"

Jaime's eyes brimmed with tears as she saw the love radiating from Steve's face. Her heart knew beyond any doubt that this man was neither a cheat nor a traitor, and she wasn't about to let Jack Hansen or even Lydia Spence come between them.

"What is it, Sweetheart?" he asked, gently brushing the tears from her eyes before they could start to fall. He kissed her softly and was alarmed to see her face grow even sadder.

"Jaime, are you in some kind of trouble?" he asked, not wanting to push her, but longing to take away the pain she was so obviously feeling. "Did something happen with Oscar today? Or with Jack Hansen?" He felt her shift restlessly in his arms. "Please talk to me. I'll help you any way I can; you know that."

Jaime had a vision of standing on a diving board, high above a bottomless swimming pool, unsure if she knew how to swim but knowing she was about to dive in anyway. "Do you remember what you said to me, about a week before I moved in here?" she asked quietly. Steve waited in silence, knowing she wasn't done with whatever she was trying to say. "You said that you didn't wanna pressure me, or make me feel obligated, and you were happy just to be together..." her voice trailed off.

"...in whatever capacity you're comfortable with," Steve concluded for her. "I remember." He'd told her he would be content to be her best friend, her big brother, or, if it was what she wanted, something more. He'd also told her he wasn't going to keep bringing it up, but that he stood ready, at any time, to marry her in a heartbeat if she ever said the word.

"I'm ready, Steve," she told him, finally smiling as she looked directly into his eyes. Steve held his breath, hoping against hope that she meant what he thought she did. She nodded, as if to confirm what he was thinking. "I want to be Mrs. Steve Austin; I can't imagine spending my life with anyone but you, and I can't imagine living without you, either. Let's get married...if that's still what you want."

"Jaime, that's the one thing I've always wanted, more than anything - you know that. I love you more than life itself," he affirmed, pulling her in for a very special kiss, one that held the promise of a lifetime together. "You're the only woman I've ever loved." He leaned back, caressing her face and beaming at her as his heart overflowed with happiness. "I'm guessing you might already have a date in mind?" he ventured, once he was able to speak.

Jaime nodded. "Let's leave right now, and fly out to Vegas. We can get married first thing in the morning."

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