Page 69 of Robert

“I adore you.”

“How can you?” She cried. “I was horrible.”

“You were haughty, arrogant and very confident, but never horrible.” He tilted her chin up. “I could not help but fall in love.” He shook her head when she opened her mouth to say something else.

“No, darling. What I went through made me who I am, and I don’t think I would change anything, except being with you. And you saved yourself for me. You have given me a gift that I never thought to have. Please don’t spoil things for us.”

“I love you,” she told him tremulously.

“That makes everything perfect.”

*****

“Mrs. Faulkner!” The woman sprang up from her comfortable leather chair and came forward to greet her. “I have been doing my best to keep him inside his office, but I think he’s starting to wonder why I am insisting on him taking a number of calls.

It’s so good to see you. I didn’t get a chance to offer my congratulations during the reception and to thank you for inviting me to the wedding.”

“Of course you had to be there.” Sonya took Agnes’s slender hands in hers and squeezed. “You worked so hard to have us pull off the wedding at such short notice and I want to thank you for that lovely tea set.”

Agnes beamed. “I found it in that little antique store below your office. Would you like some refreshments?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’d better go on in.”

She made her way towards the double doors which were partially opened. Pushing it open all the way, she stood and admired the man seated behind his massive desk and realized that the décor, the masculine pale blonde wood suited him to perfection. He had his back to the spectacular view of the city.

“Agnes, please call…” His voice tailed off as he looked up to see her framed inside the doorway. The stunning pleasure that bloomed on his face took her aback and had her insides quivering. She could never get used to seeing the naked devotion on his face.

Springing up from his chair, he came forward to greet her by hauling her against him. It was three weeks since their honeymoon and they had both been playing catch up since their return. Placing his arm around her waist, he poked his head out and instructed his assistant to hold his calls.

“What are you doing here? This is the first time you have been to the office. I should give you the tour…”

“Not yet.” She still had a hand behind her back. “I have something for you?”

Surprised pleasure lit up his face. “You do? What is it?”

Moving her hand, she presented him with the bouquet she had picked up along the way.

Taking the bunch of yellow and white roses, he gave her a quizzical look.

“You brought me flowers.”

“Hmm. Aren’t you going to ask me why?”

His eyes narrowed. “Have you done something to warrant it?”

She laughed at that and wrapped her arms around his neck. She was wearing boots with heels and only came past his shoulders. “How suspicious you are, my love. No, I haven’t done anything suspect. Can we sit?”

“Oh, of course.” Instead of allowing her to walk, he lifted her and carried her over to a sofa in soft butter cream leather and sat with her on his lap. “What’s this about?”

“I love you.”

His heart slammed against his ribs and left him feeling faint. It was still strange to hear her say it.

“Darling,” he gathered her against him and breathed her in. “My love.”

She was shaken by the emotions thickening his deep voice and for a minute, they just held each other.

“I have just come from the doctor.”

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