Roberta Leigh - Not a Marrying Man

by Roberta Leigh

  He chuckled. The same goes for me. When you came into Aunt—into my mother's bedroom in that slinky black dress and glittering with diamonds——-'

  'Your mother's diamonds,' she reminded him, 'which made you furious with me.'

  'I was only furious because I was staggered at your beauty and didn't want to succumb to it.' His mouth moved against hers. 'As I did… as I am doing.' He pushed her back against the pillows and bent over her. 'Although I never knew my real father or my grandparents, I understand there is an old palace in the hills above Rome that now belongs to me. I would like to go there to have a look at it. We have a flourishing business in Italy and a home there would be ideal. If you will settle for a rushed wedding we could make the trip our honeymoon.'

  'I'll go anywhere with you, Bruno,' she whispered against his lips. 'Rome, Timbuctoo, Lapland. I don't care where it is as long as we're together.'

  She felt him tense and slowly pull away from her, giving her a chance to see his face again and his expression which, though tender, was unexpectedly serious.

  'I don't want you to be our publicist, Sara. It isn't the right position for my wife to have.'

  'But I——-'

  'I'm not asking you to give up work,' he went on, ignoring her attempt to speak. 'I know your career is too important to you for you to do that, so the best thing is for you to become Managing Director.'

  'That means I'll have to stay in England while you travel around the world,' she said quickly.

  'That will give me an incentive to come back fast!'

  'It also gives me an incentive not to accept your offer!'

  There was a glint in his eyes but no change of expression on his face, which remained taut. 'What are you saying?'

  That I want to be with you the whole time; that I don't want to be Managing Director of Rosalyn but Bruno Lyn's loving and devoted wife.'

  'That's not a very liberated desire for a liberated woman.'

  'On the contrary. I'm sufficiently liberated to do as I want. And I don't want a career. You are my career, Bruno.'

  'I don't believe it,' he said deeply, his eyes beginning to glow. 'Do you mean there is truly a hausfrau inside that slender greyhound body?'

  'I've always told you there was. A hausfrau and a mother,' she said huskily, and reached up to pull him down close. 'But also a loving and passionate wife.'

  With a joyous laugh Bruno bent to kiss the hollow in her throat. The last part interests me more than anything else! I don't want you as a cook, my darling, but as the woman to share my beliefs and my hopes.'

  'For ever,' she whispered.

  'Beginning now,' he whispered back, and gently lay upon her, curving his body against hers. 'My woman. Forsaking all others, darling Sara, you are now my only woman.'

  There were many answers she could have made, but with his mouth on hers there was no need for her to say anything.