at Darius and tried to smile.
His handsome face was mutinous.
She couldn’t blame him. He’d gone to a lot of trouble and expense to give her this incredible surprise, and she’d been completely ungrateful.
Rising unsteadily to her feet, she walked down the stairs to the foyer where he stood with a scowl, his arms folded.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I love your wonderful gift.”
He looked distinctly grumpy. “It didn’t look like it.”
Feeling ashamed at her bad manners, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“I love it,” she said softly. “It’s a miracle to be here.”
Looking mollified, he accepted her embrace. “I’ve also hired Mrs. Pollifax to come back as our housekeeper.”
“You have!”
He smiled, clearly pleased by her reaction. “Along with as many of the original staff who were available. Giving them a big raise, naturally. I’ve also established a bank account in your name.”
“Whatever for?”
Darius gave her a sudden grin. “You obviously haven’t seen the stripper pole the last owner put up in the library. I knew you’d want to oversee the remodeling personally. Perhaps the fresco can be repaired? I’ve instructed the bank to give you unlimited funds. Use the money however you please.”
“For the house?”
“Yes.”
“The baby?”
“Of course. And you, Letty. Anything you want, jewelry, cars, furniture. You don’t have to ask me. Buy anything you desire.”
Biting her lip, she blurted out, “Could I send some money to my father?”
She knew immediately it was a mistake.
His expression turned icy. “I weary of your constantly bringing up this topic. We have an agreement.”
“I know, but—”
“Your father already has far more than he deserves.”
“If I could only just see him, so I could know he’s all right...”
“He’s fine.”
Letty searched his gaze, hoping for reassurance. “He’s fine? You know for sure?”
He paused. Then he finally said, “Yes.”
He wouldn’t meet her eyes.
“I miss him,” she whispered. She took a deep breath, reminding herself of everything she had to be grateful for. Taking Darius’s hand, she pressed it to her cheek and looked up at him with gratitude. “But what you’ve done for me today, buying Fairholme back... I’ll never forget.”
For a long moment, the two of them stood together in the foyer, with sunlight pouring in through the open door. She breathed in scents she’d craved so long, the tangy salt of the ocean, the honeyed sweetness of her mother’s rose garden. The salt and sweetness of a lifetime of memories.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For bringing me home.”
He cupped her cheek. “You’re worth it, Letty,” he said huskily. “For you, I would pay any price.”
Lowering his head, he kissed her, claiming her lips as he’d already claimed her body and soul. Words lifted unbidden to her throat. Words she hadn’t tried to say since that horrible night in February. Words straight from her heart.
“I love you, Darius,” she said softly.
He gave her an oddly shy smile. “You do?”
Smiling back through her tears, she nodded. Her blood was rushing through her ears, pounding through her veins, as she waited for what he’d say next.
Without a word, he kissed her.
As she stood in the Fairholme foyer, her heavily pregnant belly pressed between them as her husband kissed her so tenderly, miracles seemed to be spinning around her like a whirlwind.
They were married now. Expecting a baby. He’d paid off her father’s debts. He’d just brought her home. She loved him.
And someday, he would love her.
Letty was suddenly sure. They’d already had so many miracles. Why not more?
Darius would soon forgive her father and let him back into their family. He was too good a man not to forgive, especially when it meant so much to her. It was the only thing he hadn’t given her. That, and those three little words.
It was the same thing, she realized. When he forgave her father, that was how she would know that he truly loved her.
When he finally pulled away from their embrace, she looked up, still a little dazzled. “Is there really a stripper pole in the library?”
Darius gave a low laugh. “Come with me.”
Taking her hand, he drew her down the long marble hallway to the oak-paneled library. When she saw the gleaming stripper pole set in the brand-new white shag carpeting, she burst into horrified snorts of laughter.
“I told you,” he said.
“I’ll get it removed. Don’t worry. I’ll make this house just like it was,” Letty said. “Just like we remember.”
“All those memories.” He pulled her against his chest, his dark eyes intense as he whispered huskily, “But as I remember, there’s one thing we’ve never done in this house.”
And as her husband pulled her against him in a hot, fierce embrace, Letty knew all her deepest dreams were about to come true.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
