Chocolate Kisses and Love Filled Wishes: Kissing Bridge Mountain - Book 3 by Linda West

training.”
                 
    Suddenly, that passion that she so admired in him spilled out in his voice. He reached across the table and took her hands in his.
     
    “I’m not a little boy like your other boyfriends, Kacey. I’m not looking to do underwear commercials to fill my pockets. I’m trying to change the world for the better.”
     
    She sucked her breath in with the reference to Brody.
     
    Tanner looked at her with love.
     
    “I believe in you, Kacey. I believe you can help me make that difference. There are really only two kinds of people in this world—those who care about making it a better planet, and those who care about themselves. Which one are you?”
     
    Kacey’s head was spinning.
     
    She knew he was right.
     
    In the end, history would look back and ask why her generation hadn’t done more to help. She began to wonder if she had been going the wrong direction her entire life. Tanner seemed so sure of himself, so righteous, so empathetic. She had never met anyone quite like him. Maybe he could change the world.
     
    He saw her confusion as her grey eyes went stormy with conflicted thoughts.
     
    He softened his approach. Tanner lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
     
    “Medal’s are souvenirs. We’re talking about our children’s future here, Kacey.”
     
                  “Children?” Kacey was taken aback. “Was that a hypothetical child, or are you—”
                 
    Tanner’s eyes blazed. “I’m saying I want to save the world with you. I want us to be a team. Partners. In our work, and in our life. What do you say?”
     
                  Kacey looked down at her hands, her heart in a knot.
     
              She loved snowboarding, and couldn’t imagine giving it up, even if it was for the beauty of the Maldives. She’d spent her life, it seemed, preparing for those medals, preparing for that Olympic moment. Maybe she could do both. Maybe she could have it all.
                 
    But…maybe she couldn’t.
     
              Maybe like Brody, if she didn’t stay with Tanner, she might lose him—as she had lost the connection with Brody.
     
    Tanner was talking forever . To save the planet, which truly needed help, to work together to change a dying world, and to do that for the good of all people… What a beautiful, important calling. She imagined herself flying around the world with their children, fighting against big business corruption. His words cut into her reverie.
     
    “I want to marry you someday, Kacey.”
     
    This was so sudden. She wasn’t even over Brody. But Tanner loved her. He loved the world and wanted to help. He didn’t need a break.
     
    “Will you come with me and think about it?”
                 
    Kacey gulped, then nodded.
     
    Tanner wrapped his arms around her and kissed her tenderly.
     
    Kacey hugged him back, and felt a surge of emotion fill her like never before.
     
    She also felt divided.
     
    She had loved Brody so much, but he had broken her heart.
     
    Now God had sent her this wonderful man with this beautiful proposal for a new life. She should be jumping for joy.
     
    After her horrible fall, and loss of love, it seemed like everything in her life might be turning for the better. The Olympics were a moment, but she and Tanner would be forever.
     
     
    “I’m just going to compete in the US Open and then I’ll go with you, Tanner. We’ll fight this together, forever.”
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     
    Chapter 15
     
     
                  K acey felt a new lease on life, like the very air she breathed had a different taste. So what if she still had feelings for Brody? He obviously didn’t hold any for her anymore. Maybe time away on a far-flung island with the world’s most handsome and passionate activist would do her some good. There’d be nothing there to remind her of Brody and her