Ghost Planet (39 page)
Authors: Sharon Lynn Fisher
“Only four, then?”
“Murphy, I’ve just had an idea. I can’t believe I never thought of it before. The effect we have on this planet—I wonder what would happen if some of us went to Earth. I mean, do you think we could heal Earth, like—”
I gasped as Murphy rolled suddenly and pinned me down under him. His mouth closed over mine and he kissed me until I stopped squirming.
He drew back to look at me. “You have the best ideas. Better than anyone I know. But do you think we could finish saving this world before we start on Earth?”
I stuck my tongue out. “I wasn’t suggesting
we
would go.”
“No?”
“Not right away, anyway.” My fingertips played over his chin. My voice trembled as I said, “But maybe their grandparents will want to meet them someday.”
I held my breath through the beats of silence.
“Them?” he said.
I nodded, and he cleared his throat. “How many, love?”
“Just two,” I said with a laugh. He sank against me, sighing with relief. “What did you think I was going to say?”
“Look at this apartment! For all I know every time we make love another one digs in. There could be fifty of them in there.”
I squealed with laughter. “Good God, bite your tongue, Murphy!”
He rose on his elbow, weaving his fingers through my hair. “Have as many as you like. I’ll love them all.”
I pulled him close and kissed him.
“I want to ask you something, Elizabeth.”
“Okay.”
“In the memory you shared with me, you told Mitchell you were tired of people threatening your ‘family.’ Is that really how you think of me? Of us?”
Blood rushed into my cheeks as my heart sped up. “Does that scare you?”
He rolled his eyes. “For the love of God.”
I scowled at him “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Since the day we left the institute I’ve been walking a tightrope, trying to let you see how much I love you without frightening you.” Shaking his head, he took my face in his hands. “Will you marry me?”
I blinked at him, and slowly smiled. “You’re joking, right? Who’s going to marry
us
?”
He covered my mouth with his hand, freezing me with blue-eyed intensity. “Will you
please
not answer such a question with two more? Now, I’m going to give you another chance.” He moved his hand. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes, my love. Of course I will.”
He lay down beside me and folded me in his arms, planting a kiss on my forehead. “That’s my girl.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Three-time RWA Golden Heart
®
finalist Sharon Lynn Fisher lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes sci-fi/fantasy and battles writerly angst with baked goods, Irish tea, and champagne.
Ghost Planet
is her first novel.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
GHOST PLANET
Copyright © 2012 by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Cover art by Jupiterimages
All rights reserved.
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY10010
Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
e-ISBN 9781429960755
First Edition: November 2012