“You don’t have to put on an act for me, Jonathan,” she said earnestly. “I know it’s been rough for you, but things are going to get better.”
“I used to hope they would,” he said hesitantly, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
“They will, I promise you. You’re not a quitter. You have everything to live for.”
“Not everything,” he answered softly.
“You mustn’t think that way,” she said urgently. “You’re young and talented. You have a bright future ahead of you. You’re not responsible for what happened.”
“Yes, I am. I was a fool! I know that now.” He gazed at her yearningly. “Is there any chance you’d consider taking me back?”
“I thought you’d never ask!” She threw her arms around his neck.
They kissed frantically, murmuring endearments and apologies as they caressed each other restlessly. Michelle touched his face, his hair. She kneaded the taut muscles in his back, arching her body into his when Jonathan moved sensuously against her.
“You will marry me, won’t you, sweetheart?” he asked in a husky voice.
She laughed breathlessly. “You couldn’t get away from me now if you tried!”
“That’s something you’ll never have to worry about.”
When they eventually came down to earth, Jonathan continued to hold her close. “This is what I hoped would happen,” he said blissfully. “I don’t even want to know why you changed your mind It’s enough that you did.”
“It wasn’t pity, darling. You’re not to think that,” she said firmly.
“It wouldn’t matter to me if it was. I don’t want to talk about it.” His mouth closed over hers again, silencing her in the best possible way.
When she could catch her breath, Michelle said, “We do have to talk, Jonathan. There’s so much to discuss. Like where we’re going to live. Lucky will be in New York with Mother, but I don’t mind moving down here. This is where your contacts are. We’ll find a little apartment somewhere and I know I won’t have any trouble getting a job.”
He lifted his head to stare at her. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t go all macho on me.” She smiled. “We’ll need my salary until you get established again.”
“You want me to leave the company?” he asked slowly. “And what’s all this about Lucky moving to New York?”
“If you answered your phone, you’d know,” she teased. “They’re moving into Mother’s house after the estate is sold. She said Lucky is taking it very well. If he can, you can, too.”
He gave her a baffled look. “What are you saying? Lucky wouldn’t sell his home without telling me about it first.”
“I guess he didn’t want to upset you. But you must have known he couldn’t keep it after the company went bankrupt.”
“Our company? I just negotiated a multimillion-dollar deal. We were never in better financial shape.”
“You don’t have to keep up a front for me, darling,” Michelle said gently. “Mother told me you had to declare bankruptcy. She even faxed me the article that appeared on the financial page of the newspaper. I know you and Lucky are wiped out, but it doesn’t matter to either Mother or me.”
Jonathan folded her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. “Darling Michelle, I’m covered with shame when I think of what I accused you of. Can you ever forgive me? Even if I am still rich,” he added with a wry smile.
She couldn’t have heard correctly. “What did you say?”
“All I lost was you, sweetheart. I still have the money that got me into all this grief.” He stroked her cheek lovingly. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Michelle continued to look bewildered. “But that can’t be. I saw it right there in the newspaper!”
He shook his head admiringly. “That was a masterful touch. They knew you might not take Evelyn’s word for it, so they gave you proof you wouldn’t think to question.”
She stared at him in amazement. “You mean they did it to us again?”
“Yeah, isn’t it wonderful?” He put his arms around her waist and swung her around. “But don’t think this changes anything. You’re still going to marry me.”
“It’s what I’ve always hoped for,” she said softly.
When Jonathan lifted her in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, Michelle knew all of her dreams would come true.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6672-8
LUCKY IN LOVE
Copyright © 1998 by Tracy Sinclair
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