Whip stepped aside and ushered her into the room. That he was on his way to see her gave her hope and caused her heart to skip a beat, but she kept control of her emotions.
“I guess Travis filled you in, so I won’t beat about the—”
Whip interrupted. “Babe, you should have told me, you didn’t have to face that alone.”
His use of the endearment still had the power to make her weak at the knees. “After the accident, I wasn’t thinking straight. I was consumed with self-pity and loathing. For weeks I couldn’t face looking in the mirror. I believed my life was over until Trish made me see reason. She badgered me into joining a disabled water polo team, and it was then I realized my life was far from over. Sure, fate had dealt me a lousy hand, but at least I wasn’t dead, so I bucked up and haven’t looked back since.”
“So why didn’t you tell me then?”
“A few reasons I guess. But mainly, you’re a businessman. You run a big successful cattle station and deserve a decorative supportive wife, someone like Donna. I would just be a burden. I remember how furious you were that day I came off the bike. ‘What if she’d been maimed?’ you’d railed at Mark. I’m not the same woman you fell in love with, Whip. I was so close to telling you the truth today, but I didn’t want your pity. I thought if I was a bitch you’d forget about me and get on with your life. I didn’t deserve—”
“Stop. What I said to Mark was out of fear for your safety, not revulsion. I’d waited all my life for you, and I guess I just got scared you could have been snatched away. And yes, you were a bitch today. You had me so angry I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. I should have realized something was amiss when you pulled out of that handicap zone, but I didn’t make the connection.”
“It doesn’t matter now. Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say, apart from I’m so sorry I treated you bad. I’ll go now and let you get some sleep.”
“No you don’t, babe, you’re not going anywhere until you look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love me.”
“What about Donna?”
“Donna? What has she got to do with anything?”
“You used to date her. Annie said you were miserable when she went to England. You held her in your arms and kissed her the night of the barbeque. It was obvious you both still care, so I thought with me out of the picture you two could get back together.”
“Oh, Jessie Rose, you’ve got it all so wrong. It was a kiss of congratulations. She’d just told me she and Bruce Harrison were engaged. They’d hooked up while he was doing his fellowship in London, and when he moved home they stayed in touch via the Internet. She swore me to secrecy, that’s why I couldn’t tell you. I’d given my word. Bruce’s folks were overseas and not due back until the end of the month. They didn’t want the word getting out before they had the chance to break the news in person. And if you must know, it was I who broke it off with Donna. That’s why she opted to go to university in England. I couldn’t be happier that she and Bruce got married.”
“Married?”
“Yes, about six months now. But you still haven’t answered my question.”
Jessica trembled and tilted her head back and gazed into his eyes. “I love you. I’ll love you for eternity,” she repeated the words she’d used when he’d proposed.
“Marry me then.”
“Whip, look at me, are you sure this is what you really want?”
“Babe, I’ve never been surer of anything in my entire life. You’re everything I could ever wish for. You’re beautiful, talented, my perfect Rose. I only want to be with you. I’ll move to New York if that’s what it takes, but I won’t take no for an answer.”
“You love that land, Cowboy, I couldn’t ask you to give it up.”
“It’s a no contest, babe, I love you more.” His eyes drifted toward the bed and lit with wicked intent. “And we’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for.”
She melted into the safe haven of his arms. It was where she belonged. “I can write anywhere, Whip. All I need is a laptop. But before I say yes, you must answer me one very important question.”
He turned his head to the side and his brows came together. “Of course, anything, babe.”
A quick glance in the mirrored wardrobe revealed the mischievous twinkle in her eyes and her face transformed into a radiant smile as she asked, “What in the hell is your real name anyway?”
He pulled her closer, and she grinned as she felt the deep belly laugh rumble through his body before spilling out between his lips.
“Of all the things I might have anticipated you ask, that didn’t even make the list. But to answer your question, babe, I was christened Timothy, but you can call me Tim.”
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