Page 72 of Lady and the Scamp

“I told my parents I would know what to do when I saw you.”

“Your parents?” She turned her head to look at his face. “You told them about me?”

“I told everyone about you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Her belly did a slow flip, and she couldn’t seem to take a deep breath. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you either. I kept hoping you’d come.”

“I’m here.” He kissed her neck. “And I know now I should have never left.” He turned her to face him then sank to one knee. “Emily Blythe-Coston, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Emily grasped his hands, squeezing them tightly. Then she stepped back. “No.”

WILL’S OTHER KNEE CAMEdown, and he knelt on the floor like some kind of lovesick fool. He hadn’t thought she would say no. He’d never even considered the possibility. She turned away from him, and he had a moment to stare at her back and wonder what he’d done wrong. He knew she loved him. Had that changed?

“Holy hell,” he said. “I’m a fool.”

She turned back to him, tears glistening in her pale blue eyes. “No, you’re not.”

He rose. “I am. I proposed to you without telling you the most important part.” He took her hands. “Emily, I love you.”

Her breath caught on a sob, and he watched as she tried to keep from bursting into tears. “That wasn’t exactly the response I was hoping for.”

“I’m happy,” she said, looking anything but. Tears were spilling from her eyes now, and she looked utterly miserable. “I’ve wanted to hear you say those words.”

“Then hear them again.” He wiped a tear from her cheek. “I love you, Emily. I want you to be my wife.”

She shook her head. “I love you too, but I can’t marry you.”

If the first rejection had been a slap, this one felt like a punch. He couldn’t breathe and felt his shoulders slump.

“It’s not because I don’t love you,” she said. “I do. I love you so much, Will. I didn’t even know I could love someone so much.”

Will understood her meaning. The moment he’d spotted her on the beach, his feelings of love for her had almost knocked him to his knees. He’d known then he’d been a fool to walk away from her. He’d been a fool to ever think he could exist without her.

And now it looked as if he would have to find a way to exist without her. She didn’t want him.

“Then why...” He trailed off, the lump in his throat making it difficult for him to speak.

“Because I care about you more than myself. And I know you won’t be happy without your work.”

“I will.Youmake me happy, Emily.”

“And you make me happy, but you’ll miss it. I don’t want you to resent me.”

“I would never.”

“If you didn’t, I would. I have seen what a good agent you are. How can I take you away from that work? The country needs you.”

“Ineed you. Emily, if the past few days without you has taught me anything, it’s that nothing matters without you.”

“I know you say that now, but can you be sure you will feel that way in a year or five?”

If you love her, fight for her.

His father’s words came back to him, and Will knew if he didn’t fight with everything he had now, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

“I’m not sure of anything except that I love you.” He took her upper arms lightly in his grasp. “I want you, and if I have to spend the next five years convincing you of my love, then I’ll do it. You might think I’ve disappeared on a mission, but when you turn around, I’ll be back and on my knees, begging you to marry me.”

“Will...”

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