"Tess—"
She put her fingers against his lips. If he interrupted her now, if he put her off, however kindly, she might never have the guts to continue. "Let me finish. I love you, and I think you care about me. I mean, you act like you care about me."
She realized she still had her hand over his mouth and pulled it back.
"But—?" he prompted.
"But I need the words," she said. Why did this have to be so hard? "I need you to tell me."
"Tell you." He wasn't just expressionless. He looked stunned.
"What I— If I mean anything to you."
"Fine. I'll tell you," Jarek said slowly. "On one condition."
A condition. Well. Tess struggled to hide her disappointment. She had fallen in love with a logical man with multiple responsibilities. It only made sense that he would negotiate terms for their relationship.
"What sort of condition?" she asked. Maybe it was something she could live with.
Jarek took her cold hands in his strong, steady clasp. "I want to tell you in church. In front of God and Allie and your mother and both our brothers and all the witnesses I can find. Marry me, Tess."
Hope welled in her chest. Tears started in her eyes. She had never in her life cried as much as she had these past two days. But these tears were different. Warm. Happy. Healing. "That's it? That's your condition?"
Jarek's smile dented his cheek. "It's a pretty big one. Will you? Will you marry me, Tess?"
With all her heart, she wanted to say yes. But his brother's words still plucked at the edge of her mind. You're not what he needs.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you're honest and dedicated and loyal."
"So's a dog."
He laughed. "Because you make me feel alive. Because you painted my daughter's fingernails. Because you stood up for your brother and stood up to mine. Hell, I don't know. Because you wear red underwear." His hands tightened on hers. "You're what I want. You're all I need. Will you marry me?"
Her heart answered him before she could form the words. But when she could speak, she said, "Yes. On one condition."
"Anything," he said.
"Tell me."
And this time he understood. His eyes steady on hers, he said, "I love you, Tess."
Joy swept through her and spilled out in tears. She leaned toward him and rested her forehead against his strong, sheltering shoulder. She felt his kiss against her hair.
"About damn time," she said.
Alex is about to meet his match in
ALL A MAN CAN ASK
coming from Intimate Moments
in January 2003—and
look for Mark in April!
All a Man Can Do Page 21