Page 58 of One Hot Deal

"No."

"Are you still planning to send me away to America?"

She shakes her head, and her hair tickles my cheek."I want to have a baby with you, Derek.I want us to raise our child together.Can you handle that?"

"Yes, ma'am, Ms.Sangster."

Diana grasps my tie and uses it like a leash to lead me out of the bedroom.She only releases it when we reach the stairs.Then she flashes me a sexy smile as we walk down the steps hand in hand.

Tonight, I will make love to Diana.Not because of that cockamamie deal.Not because I'm her donor.We will make love for real this time, and I know we'll make a baby.I can feel it.Don't care if that makes no sense.

Just as we get to the front door, which hangs open, I grasp Diana's elbow to stop her.She turns to look at me, a question in her eyes.I clasp her face in my hands and just say it.

"I love you, Diana."

Her lips gradually curl into a sweet smile."I love you too, Derek."

Then I kiss her.It's a simple, sweet meeting of our lips, but it conveys everything we both feel for each other.I've never been the mushy type, but right now, I want to act the way Avery and Hugh have been behaving because I finally get why they've been that way.Love makes a man stupid in the best way.

Just as we're about to leave the house, Kate MacTaggart sprints up to us, breathing hard."Avery wants to see you, Derek."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing.She just wants to talk to you before the ceremony."

Kate is the matron of honor, since Avery didn't have close friends until after she met Hugh.He introduced her to the Dixons, Hunters, and the Scots.Callum is married to Kate, and he's Hugh's best friend, so the two women have become close too.It made sense for Kate to stand beside Avery during the wedding.

"Where is Avery?"I ask.

"In the drawing room."

"Okay, I'll be there in a minute."As Kate hurries away, I look at Diana."Guess I won't see you again until after the ceremony."

"Pippa and I will be in the front row."

I give her a quick kiss."See you soon."

Then I jog down the hall to the drawing room.The door hangs partway open, and I can see Kate standing just inside, talking to someone.I assume it's Avery, but I can't see her.When Kate spots me, she smiles and comes out into the hallway.

"See you at the altar," she says.

Then Kate hurries away.

I step into the drawing room and freeze.My throat goes thick.I force my feet to carry me closer, but the sight of my sister all gussied up for her wedding suddenly affects me so strongly that I can't speak, not even when I halt an arm's length away.

Her wedding dress is covered in lace, with shiny little beads sewn onto it, and the flowing skirt swishes with her slightest movement.The veil features the same lace and beads, but it doesn't cover her face.It hangs off the back of her head to show off her hair and its zillions of little curls that must have taken hours to create.

The engagement ring on her finger sparkles in the sunlight that pours through the windows.

"Avery, I—" My throat tightens up, and I can't finish whatever I'd been about to say.

She holds out her hands to me.

I clasp them and let her draw me closer.Then I finally manage to speak a full sentence."Kate said you wanted to talk to me."

She nods, her eyes glistening."We've been through a lot, haven't we?Losing Mom and Dad.Me working too damn hard, and you always watching out for me.I wasn't at all surprised when you became a bodyguard.You are a protector, Derek.But you don't need to protect me anymore."

"I know that.You're a strong, compassionate, amazing woman, Avery."I nod toward the ceiling."Mom and Dad are up there watching us, and I know they're as proud of the woman you've become as I am."

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