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Page 44

by Jill Mansell


  “After all,” Tessa continued, wondering whether her knees were capable of keeping her upright. She was burbling again, but she couldn’t help it. “You rather look as if you need a drink. It isn’t just orange juice, is it? On Christmas Eve? I wouldn’t have—”

  “Tess, shut up.”

  She nodded with relief. “OK.”

  The only thing that mattered now, thought Ross, was finding out why she was back. Before he made a complete idiot of himself. His dark eyes, carefully registering no emotion whatsoever, surveyed her slender, tanned figure. She was wearing a wildly impractical clinging white dress that was little more than an elongated T-shirt and a necklace of tiny, iridescent white shells. Her legs were bare and very brown. He glanced down at the simple, low-heeled gold sandals on her feet, then back up again. Impractical the outfit might be, but it was undeniably Tessa’s style. She looked absolutely stunning.

  “Where’s Olivia?”

  “Being spoiled to death by Grace,” replied Tessa, standing her ground and realizing that she was quite unable to tell whether he was pleased or angry to see her.

  “So, where exactly have you been?”

  “Portugal. The Algarve.”

  “With Holly.”

  “With Holly,” she agreed, holding her breath.

  “And why are you here, now?”

  It was like a decidedly unpleasant interview with the headmaster. She was beginning to think that Max had been very, very wrong. But since she was here now, she had to go through with it. At least she would know where she stood…

  “I missed you,” she said simply, her brilliant green eyes meeting his. “I tried not to, but it didn’t work. And I suppose I came back”—she gestured vaguely, searching for the words but unable to find them—“because I couldn’t not come back. Damn, this is difficult… I just missed you and had to see you again. I shouldn’t have run away. Running away doesn’t solve anything… Oh, for heaven’s sake, Ross. Why don’t you say something? You know I hate it when you look at me like that and don’t say a word. It’s not fair.”

  “You aren’t really giving me much of a chance,” he replied, sensing the interest of the crowds surrounding them. Several people, having recognized Tessa, were eavesdropping shamelessly. “Look, why don’t we move somewhere a little more—”

  “No!” declared Tessa, alarmed. “You might shout at me.”

  She looked so genuinely scared that he was no longer able to maintain a straight face. “In that case, what do you want me to do?”

  “Tell me what you want. Do you want me to go…or not?” She shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. “I’m sorry, but I have to know. Preferably this year.”

  “OK.” He paused, as if considering the question. “I want you. You must know that. Haven’t I always wanted you, ever since we first met?”

  She felt almost sick with relief. It was going to be all right after all.

  “So now what do you want me to do?” persisted Ross when she didn’t reply. “Prove it?”

  Slowly, and with a hint of a smile, Tessa nodded.

  “Right here, in public?”

  He glimpsed momentary apprehension, but she’d committed herself now. She nodded once more.

  “Maybe we should go somewhere more private.”

  “No.”

  “You’re absolutely sure you won’t be embarrassed?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “OK.” As he took a step toward her, his hands moved to the zip at the front of his trousers. “Here goes…”

  With a muffled shriek, Tessa stopped him. “I’m embarrassed,” she whispered, trying not to laugh. And suddenly—somehow—she found herself in his arms, and it seemed as if everyone in the ballroom was watching them. The general noise level of the rest of the party had definitely dropped. Several hundred pairs of party lungs appeared to be holding their collective breath.

  “I told you we should have gone somewhere more private,” Ross murmured, sounding pleased with himself.

  She nodded, her head resting against the warm, reassuring solidity of his chest. “Never kid a kidder,” she whispered back. “You’d think I would have learned that lesson by now. Ross, everyone’s still staring at us, and I’m even more embarrassed now than ever. Why don’t we go to your office?”

  “You might shout at me,” he mimicked gently. “No, I’m happy just where I am, and I don’t care who’s watching. The more the merrier as far as I’m concerned…”

  Tessa opened her mouth to protest, but that was as far as she got. Tilting her face up to meet his, Ross kissed her with tantalizing slowness, and all the old magic, that irresistible magic, came flooding back. She clung to him, no longer even caring that they were the focus of attention, and that the entire party had now ground to an enthralled standstill. Ross was all that mattered. Being back with him was all she needed to be truly happy, and happiness had eluded her for so long that she could scarcely believe it was finally happening.

  “Excuse me.” Max, breaking the spell, called out across the room. “But do you two know each other?”

  Ross’s mouth, against Tessa’s, curved into a smile. “Not nearly well enough,” he murmured. Then, with his hands resting on Tessa’s shoulders, he pulled away. Beguiling dark-brown eyes studied her gravely for several seconds before he spoke. Tessa, trembling uncontrollably, longing for him to kiss her again, wondered what on earth he was going to do next.

  “I love you,” said Ross, and although his voice was low, it carried easily to those around them. “I want to marry you. And I never, ever want you to leave me again.”

  Tessa’s eyes were bright with tears. Ross hadn’t been blameless by any means, but she knew just how much she had hurt him—had publicly humiliated him—when she’d stood him up, practically at the altar. That he could still love her was amazing enough when one took into consideration his pride, not to mention the fact that he was one of the most eligible men around. That he should still want to marry her was nothing short of miraculous.

  Meanwhile, however, four hundred party guests stood mesmerized, awaiting her reply.

  “Speak up, we can’t hear you,” yelled Holly. For the first time Ross realized that Max had his arm around her waist. If he had been less preoccupied with more pressing matters, he would have been astounded.

  “Yes, speak up,” he told Tessa in an undertone. “This is gripping stuff. Better than The Young and the Restless.”

  Tessa knew now why he had done it this way. The confidence was a front. Beneath the calm, famously flippant exterior lay a man who was genuinely unsure of himself, and she loved him for it. Under circumstances such as these, how could she possibly refuse him?

  Thankfully, no matter what the circumstances, she wouldn’t have dreamed of doing so.

  “Of course I love you,” she said at last, and was greeted by a chorus of “Aahs” from all corners of the ballroom. “And if you’re sure you still want to marry me, then I will marry you. And I promise never to run away again.”

  Their audience went wild. The sound of cheering and applause reverberated around the room. For good measure—and because he couldn’t think of anything he’d rather do—Ross enveloped Tessa in a hug and kissed her once more, which only earned him another tumultuous roar of approval.

  “Thank God for that,” he whispered against her cheek. “You really had me going there for a moment.”

  “In that case,” replied Tessa, “maybe we should get to your office fast, before it becomes too obvious.”

  “You should have ideas like that more often. I’m just glad I’m wearing a jacket long enough to cover my embarrassment.”

  “I’ve got news for you,” said Tessa, kissing his neck. “You forgot to do it up.”

  As they made their way through the crowd, Ross whispered, “Just think how much trouble you’d have saved if only you’d agreed to marr
y me the first time I asked you.”

  “And lose out on all the fun?” said Tessa, pretending outrage. “This is seriously romantic. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world!”

  “Speaking of not missing this for the world.” Ross coughed and glanced meaningfully in the direction of Max and Holly. “What is going on over there? I thought I was hallucinating before, but there’s no doubt about it now. My older brother is definitely kissing your best friend.”

  “Ask Rosa Polonowski,” said Tessa, wondering if she’d ever been happier in her life and realizing that she definitely had not. There, ahead of them in the open doorway, stood Grace with Olivia in her arms. “Oh, Ross, I hate crying in public.” She fished in his jacket pocket for a handkerchief. “But I think I’m going to have to.”

  “Don’t cry,” he said firmly. “Listen, I’ve got some good news. I took your painting to an art restorer in London, and he managed to fix it. The Party is as good as new.”

  “Really?” sniffed Tessa, smiling through her tears. “I painted another one. It’s called Party-Two.”

  Wiping her eyes and keeping his other arm tightly around her waist, Ross grinned and said, “I’m just glad that tonight’s party is a private one. No press, thank God. At least this is something we can keep out of the papers.”

  “Can’t have everything your own way,” cried Andy Llewellyn triumphantly as Ross and Tessa reached the doorway at last and Ross scooped Olivia up into his arms. “Smile for the camera. And again. Thank you…!”

  For more Jill Mansell check

  out her next new book!

  Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay

  On sale May 2017

  About the Author

  With over ten million copies sold, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Mansell writes irresistible, funny, poignant, and romantic tales for women in the tradition of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, and Jojo Moyes. She lives with her partner and their children in Bristol, England.

  Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay

  International bestseller Jill Mansell weaves a heartwarming tale of love, family, and friendship in her next new novel

  Crossed wires and brief encounters, secrets and self-discovery, first impressions and second chances…

  Welcome to Jill Mansell’s blustery seaside world. Once you step inside, you’ll never want to leave!

  • • •

  “Heartwarming and heart-wrenching…witty and warm… Readers will hang on every word.” —RT Book Reviews for Three Amazing Things About You, 4 Stars

  For more Jill Mansell, visit:

  www.sourcebooks.com

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