by Kwan, Coleen
It wasn’t fair how her body reacted to Jack so instinctively. Without her permission, her legs straightened, and she rose from her chair. Her hand reached out for his, but at the last second she came to her senses and pulled it back. He shrugged at her refusal but said nothing as he ushered her out the restaurant and into a waiting taxi.
“Okay, we can go now,” Jack said to the driver.
“Where are we going?” she asked when they’d traveled a few blocks.
“You’ll see soon enough.”
She caught the eager glint in his eyes. “It better not be your hotel suite.” If it was, she didn’t see how she’d resist him. Even now it was torture to be sitting next to him, breathing in his heavenly scent, hyperaware of his every movement, every breath. Oh, how long would it take to get over Jack?
His smile glimmered at her. “I hadn’t thought of that but, no, it’s not my hotel suite.”
She felt herself melting toward him and turned away to avoid temptation. Peering through the window, she frowned. “Hey, that’s my local grocery store. Are we going back to my place?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
His cryptic answers were beginning to chafe, but before she could demand an explanation, the taxi turned into her street and slid to a halt opposite her building.
“We’re here.” There was a note of suppressed anticipation in Jack’s voice.
When they were both standing on the pavement, she said, “Okay, what gives? Why are we here?”
“You’re facing the wrong way.” Touching her shoulder, he gently turned her round. “This is where you should be looking.”
They were standing in front of the Victorian tea warehouse opposite her home, the building she’d watched being renovated. Mystified, she turned to Jack. “I told you I’d given up on buying an apartment here.”
“Let’s just go in and have a look, huh?”
He urged her forward, and she fell into step beside him. Now that the scaffolding had been dismantled, the refurbished building could be seen in all its glory. They walked into the magnificent lobby and entered one of the lifts. Jack pressed the button for the top floor. He didn’t utter a word until they reached their destination and the doors opened.
He pulled a key from his pocket and opened the only door on that floor.
Grace widened her eyes. “Where did you get that key?”
“From the real-estate agent.” He gestured toward the door. “This way.”
Grace stepped into an enormous space flooded with light from floor-to-ceiling windows that boasted an uninterrupted view of the skyline. Other rooms and hallways led off this main room, but even without exploring them, she knew exactly where she was.
“This is the penthouse,” she said. “The one I was daydreaming about.”
“You don’t have to daydream anymore.” Jack held out the key toward her. “It’s yours now.”
She gave a shaky laugh. “Yeah, as soon as I win the lottery.”
“No. It’s really yours. I bought it for you this morning.”
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything except stare at him, unable to process his words. Stepping closer, he lifted her numb hand and pressed the key into her palm. “It hasn’t been fitted out yet,” he added. “You get to choose all the finishes.”
She squeezed the key until it was digging into her flesh. Finally she found her voice. “You’re crazy, Jack. Are you doing this because you feel guilty about me? Don’t. I knew it was never more than a fling for you. It’s not your fault that I—that I…”
As her voice faltered, she realized that Jack was tense and breathing hard, as if he were hanging onto her every word. “What, Grace? What’s not my fault?”
His husky tone undid her defenses. What was the point in denying something so obvious?
“It’s not your fault that I fell in love with you,” she admitted. Swallowing, she forced herself to continue. “Lots of women fall in love with you, Jack. You couldn’t possibly afford to buy every one of them a penthouse to ease the hurt.”
His eyes burned so intensely she could feel her cheeks tingling. “No, I couldn’t afford that,” he said hoarsely, his throat working. “That’s why I’d only buy a penthouse for the woman I’ve fallen in love with.”
His words reached her, sank in, but didn’t make sense. “But last night you said it was just sex, nothing more.”
“Because last night I was still running scared, afraid to admit the truth to myself.” He moved over to the huge windows as if he needed time to gather himself. She found herself following him, desperate to believe him.
“For years I’ve been blaming myself and Macintyre’s for Becky’s death,” Jack said. “I blamed my grandfather for driving me all the time. I blamed myself for buying into his line that work came first. But I would never put work ahead of the woman I love. The truth is, I loved Becky, but not in an adult, mature way, not the way a husband should love his wife.”
He gulped in a shaky breath. “I latched onto Becky because I was looking for a family of my own. She was frothy and fun and the complete antithesis of my dour, nose-to-the-grindstone grandfather. I married her for all the wrong reasons. I thought I loved her, but it wasn’t enough. And she thought she loved me, but it wasn’t enough to keep her happy here in Sydney. She pined for attention, and I didn’t—couldn’t give it to her.” He rubbed eyes darkened by his memories. “We were never equals in our relationship. I see that now. Even when we were together, I often felt lonely, and I could never figure out why, until now.”
He turned to her, his face ablaze with raw emotion. “Grace, I didn’t know what it was to really love a woman until I met you. You showed me what it means to love, to share everything, good and bad, to be genuine friends and lovers. I love you, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
He folded his fingers around her hand. “Grace, say something.”
His arm muscles were taut and shaking, she realized, and a sheen of sweat dewed his forehead. It had cost him a lot to open his heart to her.
“Jack…” She began to perspire herself. “I can’t believe you’re saying all this.”
With a sudden motion he pulled her into his arms. “Believe it, darling. It’s all true.” He sounded choked and overwrought as he buried his face into her hair.
Too dazed to speak, she flung her arms around his waist in a fierce hug. This wonderful man loved her! Every heartfelt word of his declaration sank in and resonated within her, multiplying the power of her emotion. She smoothed her trembling hands over his back, delighting in her right to caress the man she loved. He dusted her hair and forehead with light kisses, all the while murmuring incoherent endearments.
There was a dull clatter as the forgotten key slipped from her hands and fell to the floor. Grace reached for it and held it up to Jack. “And this?”
He grinned, full of glee. “It’s not a stunt. It really is your place.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “But you didn’t have to do this. You could’ve just talked to me.”
“Sometimes talking’s not enough.”
“But it’s too much. Way too much.” She glanced up at the soaring ceilings, her brain growing dizzy at the amount of money he’d splashed out on her. “And I can buy my own apartment, you know. I don’t need a man to do that for me.”
“I know that, but I wanted to spoil you. Extravagantly.”
“You succeeded. I can’t get over this place. It’s incredible.” She slid her arms around his neck. “Thank you, darling.” Uttering the endearment sent a thrill through her. She reached up, searching for his mouth, and lost herself in another sparking, lingering kiss.
As they came up for air, the glow in his eyes burned brighter. “I agree you don’t need a man to buy you an apartment, but you do need one in the bedroom, don’t you?”
The hot look in his eyes made her weak all over. She threaded her fingers through his hair. “Oh, absolutely. You can share my bedroom anytime.”
“That’s good, becau
se I’ll need a place to live now that I’m staying put in Sydney.”
She caught her breath. “You are?”
He nodded. “While I was here I realized how much I missed the challenge of corporate business, how much I still want to accomplish. I’m coming back to Macintyre’s.”
“Oh, Lachlan must be ecstatic.”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“And Filemu Island? Your nonprofit venture?”
“Will dovetail quite nicely into the Macintyre Foundation. I’ll make sure the school project gets off first.” His voice lowered as his eyes brightened with enthusiasm. “I’m hoping you’ll come back to the island with me for a month or so. I could really do with your input, not to mention your company.” He curved his hand around her nape, his palm warm and possessive on her skin.
The thought of spending hot, tropical nights with Jack shot a quiver of anticipation through her. “I-I think my schedule’s free for the next month.” She played with the buttons of his shirt. “And I’d love to visit the island again.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” His smile melted her bones, but instead of kissing her as she anticipated, he added, “Which leads me to my next point. How can I convince you to take up that position within the foundation?”
“You’re so sure I’d be a good candidate?”
“If it was up to me, you’d be my only candidate. Darling Grace, you and that job are a perfect match.” He stroked his fingers slowly up and down her nape. “I’m determined to make you say yes. What if I become your sex slave for a week? Will that convince you?”
A delicious tremor rippled down her back. “Make it two weeks and I’m all yours.”
“You drive a hard bargain. I like that.” He brushed his lips over hers, tantalizing her with his taste. “And I’m going to make damn sure you’re all mine.”
“It’s that important to you I take the job, is it?” she murmured, reveling in his eagerness.
“Oh yeah. If you’re in charge of the foundation, I get to see you at work, but no one can accuse me of favoritism toward my wife.”
“Your what?” she squeaked.
“Ah, hell, I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that. I was going to take you somewhere romantic and do the whole thing properly, but…” His hands tightened on her waist, and his face filled with tender intensity. “Grace, my darling, love of my life, will you marry me?”
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. Then, the conviction in his eyes strengthened her, uplifted her, and she took his hands in hers and allowed her answer to glow through her.
“Yes.” Her voice shook. “With all my heart, yes.”
He breathed out a deep sigh and gathered her into his arms. “This day is turning out better than I ever expected.”
Lifting her face, Grace felt sunshine soaking into her. Through the windows she could see blue sky everywhere. She snuggled into Jack’s embrace, content for now to savor the pure joy of the moment.
“This penthouse is incredible,” she said, “but I want you to know that I’d live anywhere with you. You’re my home, Jack.”
He stroked her hair and lowered his mouth to hers. “We’re both home.”
How right that sounds, Grace thought before she gave herself up to the pleasure of his kiss and the promise of his love.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful editorial input of Bev Katz Rosenbaum, who took my manuscript and breathed fresh life into it. Grateful thanks too to Kate Fall and Stacy Abrams for their in-depth editing skills, which they ply with prosecutorial zeal.
About the Author
Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life—and discovered writing. She loves writing both contemporary romance and steampunk romance.
Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia, with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching The Office. She is also the author of the Real Men series for Entangled’s Bliss line, which includes Real Men Don’t Break Hearts and Real Men Don’t Quit.
Contact Coleen at her website www.coleenkwan.com.
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