Page 53 of Richard

“Baby–”Tilting her chin up, he brushed at the tears with his thumb. “Please, I cannot bear it when you cry.”

She smiled through the tears. “Don’t you see?” she whispered. “These are happy tears.

God sent you into my life and I am so grateful. Richard, I am still so afraid, but I am in love with you. I love you so–”

He cut off the rest by crushing his mouth to hers. For the next thirty minutes, he made love to her with fierce, tender passion that had her crying out his name and clinging to him.

Afterward, he held her against him, far from satiated but willing to wait a few minutes.

“Marry me now," he said quietly, causing her to lift her head to look at him. Her cheeks were still washed with tears, her eyes luminous from the passion he evoked in her.

“You mean–”

“No fuss, a civil ceremony in Vegas or the courthouse. I have a very good friend who happens to be a judge.

He could perform the ceremony.” His eyes bored into hers. “I don’t want to spend another week without you wearing my ring and bearing my name.” His lips curved into a smile. “Unless you are one of those modern women who insists on keeping your own name.”

She shook her head. “I want to assume yours. But when you say now–”

“Saturday. I would have suggested tomorrow, but if I do this without my mother being present, I will not hear the end of it.” His expression sobered. “And your sister?”

Her lashes drifted down. “I don’t know,” she whispered.

He applied pressure to her chin and forced her to look at him. “She is your only family baby, and I don’t want you to get to a point where you have regrets that she was not present at the most important point in your life.” He bent to kiss her lips. “And there is no danger of me ever choosing her over you.”

Her eyes widened at his perception.

“I am starting to know you, my love. You have a very expressive face, and understandably, you have doubts after what happened. I love you. That’s something I do not say lightly.

I have never loved anyone like this before, never thought it could happen. I have been with numerous women because, as you can tell, I love sex. But it has always been physical, a way to sate my thirst.

With you it’s spiritual—you are at the core of me, and I will continue to love you until I draw my last breath. You never have to fear that I am going to change my mind or be with someone else. Invite her and put the past behind you.”

She never thought it was possible to love him even more, but she did and could feel it bursting through her heart and filling her up so much she could barely stand it.

“Saturday?”

“Yes.” He stroked her cheek. “You don’t have to do anything; I will get Rodney to make all the arrangements," he paused slightly. “My mother is going to want to meet you, and

I must warn you that she is a lot.”

Lowering her eyes to his chest, she absently combed her fingers through the hairs. “Will she like me?”

“Are you kidding? She has been on me to get married for ages. She is going to love you. Look at me, darling.” When she did, he continued gently. “I am here. I know it’s going to be overwhelming, but I am here for you.”

She nodded. “What about our working arrangement?”

His thick brows lifted. “You are going to have to tell your employer.” He traced the outline of her lush bottom lip and felt his blood stirring. “Unless you want to take over the entire account. You do know you don’t have to work, don’t you?”

“I want to,” she told him earnestly. “And I owe Babs a lot. I wouldn’t do that to her.”

“And when the baby comes?”

Her body trembled, her expression turning luminous.

“If there is a baby–”She had to take a breath before going on. “I will take a leave of absence. Being a mother and your wife is going to take up most of my time.”

“It is. Right now, I want to concentrate on the woman I love. And I want you to move in with me. I have no intention of spending another night without you in my bed.”

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