removing her arm from beneath Caroline. She closed the book and sat up, standing.
Will stood in the doorway leaning against the doorjamb.
She drew a deep breath. “You surprised me,” she whispered.
He entered the room, crossing to look down at Caroline. He kissed her cheek lightly and draped an arm across Ava’s shoulders. “You’re so good with her. My brothers and Garrett are thrilled.”
“Three more bachelors. What do they know about kids and Caroline?” she said with a smile.
“They’ve all seen her locked in that silent world of grief. They’re singing your praises, which are well deserved.”
“I’m so glad for her. She’ll be fine in school.”
“I’m glad you’ll still see her when school starts.”
“I love her, Will,” she said, looking away, then headed out of the room to where Rosalyn sat.
“She’s asleep,” Will said. “We’ll leave her in your charge now.”
Rosalyn smiled. “She’s so happy. Ava, you’ve done the impossible.”
“Thanks, Rosalyn. I still think Muffy has to get credit.”
As they walked down the hall, Ava said, “I’ll tell your brothers goodbye. I should leave now.”
“You can stay awhile and enjoy my brothers and Garrett. They’re all fun.” Will reached the open door of her old suite. He stepped inside, pulling her in with him.
“Will anyone stay in here? If you need me to move my things—”
“Don’t be ridiculous. They’re staying in the other wing. My brothers know how to party, and they’ll be up until wee hours, playing pool, swimming. You’ll hear them. I’m not having them up here by Caroline. Or you, if you decide to stay here tonight.”
Will wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I want you here all the time, Ava,” he whispered, kissing away any reply.
She held him tightly, knowing they had to go downstairs, and kissed him back freely, responding eagerly. Her heart pounded and she melted against his hard length. She wanted him with the desperate urgency she had felt before as if they hadn’t made love.
“Ava,” he said, framing her face with his hands. “Marry me.”
Astonished, she looked into his dark eyes. Her heart pounded and she couldn’t get her breath. She wanted to cry out “yes” and not think of anything else, but she knew better than to do that.
“You don’t mean that, Will. You’ve never said you love me. You’ve told me over and over you want me. That’s different.”
“I want you. I’ve never wanted anyone more,” he declared solemnly. “I can’t do anything for thinking about you. I want you in my life all the time.”
His words both were wonderful and hurt her. She was glad he wanted her, yet that’s all it was, pure physical desire. Not a deep and lasting love. She had known real love once and she couldn’t settle for less again.
“Do you want me because you see that as the only way to get me in your bed on a long-term basis? Do you want to marry me because it would be convenient for Caroline? I know it would please her. She makes that obvious, but we can’t marry to please a child. Not even Caroline.”
“Ava, I’m proposing to you,” he said.
“I love you,” she said, gazing into his brown eyes. “I’ve loved you most of this summer, but it’s futile. I won’t marry without love. Will, your heart isn’t in your proposal.”
“Of course, it is,” he said. “Ava, I wouldn’t propose lightly.”
“I doubt if you’ve even thought about proposing for a long time. This is sudden because you desire me intensely. That’s wonderful, Will, but I want more. I want it all. I want your heart and your commitment. In good times and in bad.”
“Ava, you have all that. I’ve proposed to you—something I never expected to do, but you’re special.”
“‘Never expected’ I think covers it. You haven’t given this a lot of thought and it hasn’t come out of love. It’s from desire and wanting an affair. I can’t do that, Will. I want the real thing,” she said, feeling as if her insides were breaking and shattering, her heart splintering into a million broken pieces like shattered crystal. She hurt and hoped he never realized how badly. Her hands were knotted and she felt as cold as ice even though it was a late summer evening.
He stared at her and she could see she had touched on an aspect that he didn’t want to deal with. With her heartbeat still racing and longing pulling at her, she shook her head. “It won’t work out for us, Will. I’m sorry, but it’s impossible. I don’t think you’ve thought your proposal through.”
She waited while a clock ticked away the seconds.
“What I feel is love,” he finally answered.
“What you feel is lust.” She hurt all over and tears stung her eyes. She wanted to toss aside logic and accept his proposal, but she knew a spur of the moment proposal of marriage would lead to trouble. There hadn’t been declarations of love. Will wanted an affair so badly he was reaching for a quick solution.
She wiped away tears swiftly and refused to let herself consider his proposal. Reality painted a clear picture that left only one answer—no. They could not marry and expect happiness. His family pattern would continue with another doomed marriage unless he could love her.
“I think I should go. The deep, lasting love doesn’t exist for you. Without that, there’s just no future for us, Will.” She left in a rush, wanting to get away before she shed the tears that she held back.
She left the mansion, slipping out without telling his brothers goodbye, feeling she couldn’t be around Will another minute without crying.
In her silent condo, she sobbed, falling across her bed to let go.
Three weeks later, school started for Caroline. Ava saw her the next day, waiting at the house when Caroline returned in the limo with Rosalyn.
The minute Caroline saw Ava she tossed down her books to dash to hug Ava, Muffy excitedly rushing around the girl’s legs.
“Tell me about school,” Ava said, listening while Caroline talked, marveling how much she had changed since Ava first met her.
Ava heard about school and was thrilled that Caroline was happy, smiling, talking about her new friend, Kellie. Ava spent an hour, then kissed Caroline goodbye and drove home while she could still avoid seeing Will. That night she called him to ask if Caroline could stay with her Saturday afternoon and overnight. After they made arrangements, they talked another three hours. When she hung up, she looked at the phone. “You’re not out of my life yet, Will Delaney. You should be, but you’re not.” She missed him more instead of less. He had been friendly, flirted with her, but hadn’t asked her out again. Had he given up? She loved him and his proposal haunted her. She missed him more each day and the moments she
