by Janet Woods
‘Simpering floozy. Sarah? I said I loved her?’ If possible, his mouth dropped open even more as he thought. Of course he loved Sarah. She was almost a mother ... No, she was his mother to all intents and purposes. He’d tell her so when she arrived. It couldn’t be that hard to say what’s in his heart ... and he wouldn’t die from making a fool of myself.
He grinned like an idiot when Darcie stamped her foot on the floor, and smiled even more when she flung at him. ‘It’s not funny. Don’t think you’re tampering with my affections, Leon Price.’
Slamming the door behind her, Darcie rushed out into a howling gust of wind-driven rain that nearly sucked the breath out of her lungs.
It was a case of instant freeze, but be damned if she was going back for a coat. She’d rather die of cold than lose face now …
Chapter Thirteen
Darcie’s teeth were chattering when she fished the prenuptial agreement out of her desk. About to tear it in half, she wondered what Leon had considered she might be worth when he wrote it.
She slipped it from the envelope and carefully unfolded it. It wasn’t even typed, just written in his neat sloping handwriting. Darcie, I fell in love with you at first sight, and in a way that made everything else in this world seem superficial. I’ve told myself that I might have to let you go - and I will if this is what you want. Whether you read this or not, if you marry me I’ll know it’s only because you love me. I’ve realized that there’s a time to love. This is my time. I offer you something you’ve already stolen from me. My heart. This is the only thing I can think of that you might consider of true value. I hope it will mean something to you.
‘Damn you, Leon Price,’ she whispered, knowing she’d curl up and die rather than leave him now. ‘You’re as tricky as a cage full of monkeys, but there’s still something we need to sort out.‘
By the time she got back to the chalet she was soaked through to the skin, her hair was a wet slick against her head and she was racked with shivers.
Leon gave her a lazy smile. ‘We’d better get you out of those clothes before you catch a cold. Is everything all right?’
‘Everything is perfect.’ Her teeth sounded like Spanish castanets in full clack as she beamed a smile at him. ‘Well almost.’ She waved the agreement in the air. ‘I want this framed, and I want to know about Sarah. You’re not removing one stitch of my clothing until you tell me?’
His eyes gleamed with amusement. ‘Trust me, Darcie. Sarah is the only other women in my life. She’ll be arriving at the end of the week. Let me surprise you.’
She had nothing to lose, she realized, everything inside her jiggling with excitement as if she’d won first prize in the state lottery. He’s mine, heart, soul and ... body. He loves me!
With only a tiny show of reluctance she allowed him to peel the wet clothes from her and wrap her in a blanket.
His eyes were soft and loving, his lips a graze against her ear as he whispered, ‘I adore you, and that’s the first time I’ve ever wanted to say that to anybody.’
Shoving Wee Georgie off the couch, he cuddled her against him whilst the fire warmed her through, and told her how much he loved her.
She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, but didn’t get the chance to do either because he kissed her again and told her to shut up - and it would be better if he demonstrated exactly how much he loved her.
Then she said something like, perhaps they should have a baby.
Leon thought it might be a good idea because, as he put it - it would give them something in common beside the land and sex. He said he’d like a boy first. He’d read an article - which was in his briefcase - on how the gender objective could be achieved, and should he get it?
To which she answered that she was two weeks overdue, and had felt queasy that morning so he’d have to take pot luck - and would the house be finished in time? After all, they didn’t want to bring their baby up in hotel.
After he’d recovered from his shock, he said. ‘Will it be all right to ...?
‘Perfectly.’
So he swept her up in his arms and carried her off to the bedroom with a grin a mile wide on his face.
The couch was claimed by Wee Georgie when he came out from the kitchen to stretch blissfully along its length, allowing the heat from the fire to warm his belly.
It wasn’t often they forgot to shut the kitchen door, but when they did it was an unexpected bonus.
He lifted his head slightly when he heard his mistress give a tiny yelp, and growled deep in his throat. It was his responsibility to check it out, even if she was with the master.
Silently, he padded toward the room they were in and pushed the door ajar with his nose.
They were wrestling, rolling around like they did with him on the lawn sometimes - something they all enjoyed as a pack.
Backing up a few paces, Georgie slanted his head to one side, grinned, huffed a couple of times and launched himself at the bed ...
Originally published by New Concepts
Revised © 2013 by Janet Woods
Electronically published in 2013 by Belgrave House
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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.