There was nothing lying around that they could use as a weapon or even a shield. All she had was her torch, and Abbey wished she could think of something.
Abbey turned towards the door and as she got to the top step Rohan bumped against her—deliberately—with Clive in his arms and urgently whispered, ‘Dive left and run. I’ll cover you. Don’t stop.’
Abbey stared at him in disbelief. That would leave Rohan’s back exposed. The thought of Rohan dead by Clayton’s hand was beyond comprehension and her fear accelerated. ‘No,’ she whispered back. ‘Together or not at all.’
‘No talking, children.’ Clayton had come a lot closer and he kept the gun aimed at Abbey. ‘Any tricks and she gets it first.’ He pushed Rohan with his foot. ‘If you’re real good, you can have it first instead of her.’
They all descended the steps and Rohan searched his brain to think of a way of drawing the fire away from Abbey in a way she would agree to. His arms ached with the weight of Clive. If he didn’t put this dog down soon, his arms would be useless anyway. Time was running out.
Rohan hit the bottom step and pretended to stumble. He tipped Clive out of his arms without too much of a bump and then pulled Abbey down in front of him so that he fell on top of her and shielded her with his body. He gritted his teeth as he steeled himself for the impact of a bullet.
He’d sacrifice his life to save Abbey with no qualms and in a flash of comprehension he realised his mother hadn’t been a fool after all. He’d been the fool, allowing his own guilt to cloud the issue. Finally he understood her reasoning. Loved ones were everything.
There was no doubt he loved Abbey more than his own life and that certainly reeked of commitment. They’d both just have to live through this and maybe he would have the chance to change his views on a life with Abbey. Now that it might be too late, the picture of being a part of Abbey’s family seemed so right, he didn’t know why he hadn’t seen it before. He loved her and, at this moment, he regretted his fear of commitment. If they lived through this, he wouldn’t hesitate again.
When Rohan pushed her to the ground, Abbey knew what he was doing. She twisted under him and her brain was screaming, Don’t do this, as the breath was knocked out of her by the weight of his body.
Clayton stood on the bottom step and waved the gun at them. ‘Get up now, or I’ll shoot you both in the back.’ The screech of one of the upstairs windows drew his attention and he twisted his neck to look up.
Before he could alter the aim of the gun, Bella leaned out of the window and without hesitation dropped a large orange plant pot. It made a whistling sound and seemed to sail in slow motion. Bizarrely, the leaves of the shiny green plant waved merrily on the way down. The terracotta base struck Clayton on the side of the head and he hit the ground not long after the pot exploded in front of him.
For Abbey and Rohan the noise sounded like gunfire and tiny pieces of terracotta and potting mix sprayed all over them. The looks they gave each other were full of regrets of opportunities lost and what should have been a magical life together.
‘Did I kill him?’ Bella’s voice drifted down from the window and Abbey blinked. She moved her arms and then her legs and rolled out from under Rohan to meet his bemused eyes. They both turned to look at Clayton’s body on the ground and then at an unrepentant Bella who was hanging out of the upstairs window.
‘Guess we’re not dead.’ Abbey’s voice shook and she bit her lip at the closeness of their escape.
Rohan glanced skyward for a second in celestial thanks and then looked back at Abbey. ‘Guess I get a second chance.’ Rohan leaned over and kissed Abbey as if there were still no tomorrow.
‘Now, I suppose I’d better follow my Hippocratic oath and see if this creep is alive.’ He paused. ‘Was he the guy who said you were frigid?’ Abbey nodded. Rohan kissed her thoroughly. ‘Silly bugger.’
He went to move towards Clayton when he had another thought. ‘Was he the man who attacked you?’ Abbey nodded once more so Rohan kissed her again. ‘No hurry, then.’ He kissed her yet another time.
Bella pulled shut the window and by the time she’d made it down stairs all the lights were on and Vivie and Kayla had called the police.
CHAPTER TEN
THE police and ambulance had been and gone. Clayton Harrow still lived and would go from the hospital to prison.
The police had already begun proceedings against Clayton because his wife had changed her statement and withdrawn his alibi for Bella’s attack. Frightened since she’d married him, she’d finally broken the hold he’d had over her.
When they’d arrived at Abbey’s house, it hadn’t taken the police officers long to understand what had happened and they’d accepted Bella’s drastic action with remarkable aplomb.
When the uproar in the house had quietened and they were all on their way to bed, Rohan determined to grasp the second chance he’d been offered. He managed to separate Abbey’s aunt from the others outside her room and delayed her with a hand on her arm.
‘Sophie? One moment, please,’ he said, and he thought ironically that he’d never imagined himself in this situation.
‘What?’ The old lady paused and smiled tiredly at him.
Rohan smiled back and her grin widened. He said, ‘You asked me once to let you know if my intentions towards Abbey changed.’
Sophie nodded sagely and her eyes gleamed. ‘I did, yes.’
Rohan met her bright-eyed look squarely. ‘Well, my intentions have changed. And as you’re the senior member of the family, I’d like to ask your permission to try and convince Abbey to marry me.’
Sophie snorted tiredly. ‘You won’t have any opposition from me, whippersnapper, but you’re taking on more than Abbey.’
Rohan smiled ruefully. ‘I know, but she’s worth it.’
‘I wish you luck, then.’ Sophie couldn’t stop the yawn that slipped out. ‘Let me know in the morning what she said. I’m going to bed. I’m too old for these shenanigans at night.’
Rohan watched her hobble away to bed and he shook his head. Life with Abbey wouldn’t be dull. All he had to do was convince her to take him on.
Clive rested comfortably in front of the fire. The vet had said he’d be fine but had suggested they watch him for the next four hours in case he deteriorated. Abbey crouched in her heavy dressing-gown to check his breathing.
Most of the house lights were out but there was a small glow coming from the study when Rohan joined Abbey and their canine patient.
Abbey looked up at Rohan and her face was serious. ‘He seems all right,’ she said.
Rohan helped her up. ‘Clive will be fine.’ Rohan drew her into his arms and rested his lips against her hair. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes, I’m all right, thanks.’ Abbey relaxed for the first time that night.
Rohan hugged her. ‘If I hadn’t interfered at the Star, you might have found out earlier.’
She pulled back and looked into his face. ‘I have a confession. I was glad to leave that night because I’d already had a really bad feeling about staying there. Who knows what might have happened if I’d tried to confront him on my own?’
Rohan shivered and pulled her back against him. ‘Don’t even talk about it. I’m still reassuring myself you’re alive now. I have never been so scared in my life as I was for you tonight.’ He smiled softly at her. ‘You could ask me for anything at the moment and I’d give it to you.’
Abbey had Rohan just where she’d never dreamed she’d have him, and the opportunity was too good to miss. She needed to know why he felt that he could never settle down. ‘Good. You never told me about your childhood. Tell me now.’
Rohan looked at her. Typical. She wanted to know about him when all he wanted to do was revel in the fact that he loved her and might even be worthy of her love.
He sighed. ‘I’m not going to get away without telling this story, am I?’
She shook her head and he pulled her down onto the chaise and put his arm around her.
‘If that is what you want.’ He stared into the coals of the fire and the dancing flames brought back dark memories.
‘My mother worked long hours to make ends meet as a barmaid in the country music town of Tamworth.’
Abbey raised her eyebrows. ‘That’s where the hat comes from!’
He smiled. ‘Yes, and I still enjoy country music.’
Abbey winced and he shook a finger at her. ‘Don’t be a snob. You’ll grow to love it.’ He touched her lips with his finger. ‘Now, don’t interrupt again.’
‘My mother was a soft touch for those less fortunate than herself and I used to get so frustrated that she allowed herself to be used by those people. Maybe I had a fair amount of childish jealousy because I wanted all of her attention to myself.’
Abbey couldn’t help saying, ‘That sounds pretty normal to me, especially for a boy who didn’t have a father.’
He shrugged uncomfortably. ‘I made her life more difficult than I should have. She tried hard to make me happy and I think she felt there was never enough money to give me what she wanted to.
‘Don’t get me wrong, we had good times too, but I guess when she died I forgot about those and blamed her for leaving me alone. Actually, I blamed myself, because if she hadn’t tried to save me she’d still be alive. Then she was gone before I had a chance to give her all the things she deserved. That was my dream. That one day she would never have to work again and I would spoil her like she wanted to spoil me.’
Abbey’s voice was soft. ‘How old were you when she died?’
Rohan’s face was expressionless. ‘Fourteen. One of her charity-case friends went to sleep with a burning cigarette and the house burned down. The woman who caused it all managed to get out but my mother wouldn’t leave until she’d found me and pushed me out of the upstairs window.’ He raised his eyebrows at Abbey. ‘I seem to keep being saved by upstairs windows. Anyway, she saved me but never made it herself.’
He squeezed Abbey’s shoulder. ‘I was so angry that she lost her life because of a woman who shouldn’t have even been in our lives, while her son had needed her.’
Abbey squeezed Rohan’s hand. ‘Your mother must have been a very special woman.’
‘She was.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘But she was gone. When I left the orphanage, I worked my way through med school and carried on with the goals I’d set. The long hours didn’t give me time to grieve. But I couldn’t settle down. Whenever I became too uncomfortable without a direction in my life, I’d study another specialty or move to another town.’
‘Your mother would be very proud of your achievements. And of the selfless way you tried to protect Clive and me earlier. That was above and beyond the call of duty. So you must have more of your mother in you than you think.’
He met her eyes. ‘It’s taken me a long time to finish growing up. It’s taken until I met you, but I am ready to move on in my life.’
Abbey had known it was coming. She’d promised herself she’d let him go when he needed to and she’d known it would be hard—but nothing had prepared her for the loneliness that opened in her heart at the thought of his departure from her life. She bit her lip and tried to smile through the sudden misting in her eyes. ‘So, when do you leave?’
He took her face in his hands and wiped away a tear that fell on her cheek. ‘I want to move on spiritually, not physically.’ He dropped a kiss on her lips because he couldn’t help himself. ‘Though I was hoping we could get a little physical later.’ Abbey frowned at him and he knew she didn’t understand.
He grinned and it made Abbey think of the first time she’d seen him with that blinding smile that had pierced her heart the day he’d arrived.
He went on, ‘I’ve finally found the place to leave my hat and that place is with you. If you’ll have me! I believe I’ve found the only woman in the world who could save me from myself—and I might do a bit of saving, too.’
Rohan smiled into her eyes and the love that shone out at her from his face made more tears gather.
Emotion thickened his voice. ‘What we have is so rare and so precious I can’t believe you’re here in my arms and I’m never going to let you go. Marry me, Abbey. Be my wife and the mother of my children if we’re blessed to have them. But, whatever you do, remember I will always love you.’
It was all a dream. It had to be. Rohan’s love was something she’d never thought she’d have and his commitment had been a fantasy she hadn’t even indulged in. Now he was promising to be with her for ever.
Because of what they had surmounted, Abbey believed it would be for always and even that it was ordained. A love she had for so long imagined would never be hers had suddenly appeared as a whole wonderful world on her horizon.
‘Yes. Please.’ She smiled mistily. ‘I can’t wait to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you.’ She reached across and kissed him. ‘I love you,’ she whispered, and this time when she slid her leg over his, he pulled her into his arms and his lips met hers without a hitch.
Much later, when they finally drew apart, she snuggled into the warmth of love that surrounded her just like in her dream, but it wasn’t enough and she still had her gift. ‘Make love to me, Rohan,’ she said. ‘Please.’
He kissed the top of her head and hugged her to him. Suddenly he was breathless. For the first time in his life, he was nervous about making love. ‘I want this to be perfect for you.’
She rested her fingers on his lips. ‘Shh. It’s not our first time. I’ve dreamt of this, and the reality will belong to us.’ She stared into his eyes. ‘I love you so much—it can’t be anything but perfect,’ she said, and kissed him. His tension disappeared as he helped her to stand, because what he wanted couldn’t be accomplished on this tiny chaise longue.
They stood together and the gentle light turned her into a golden queen in front of him, and he felt like the ruler of the world claiming his prize. Her hair was free and slightly tangled and he finger-combed it gently, like he’d wanted to do so many times, just to feel the strands pass beneath his fingers like red silk. She tilted her head with his movements and the back of his hand caressed her cheek until she rested her face against his hand and he pulled her closer to nuzzle her neck and drink in the scent of her.
He thought of the first time he’d caught the perfume of her orange blossom skin and the way it had affected him then was no different to now.
It was as if he was about to unwrap a gift he’d longed for all his life. A gift he’d never thought he’d hold against his flesh even briefly—let alone for all eternity.
When he slid her dressing-gown from her shoulders it fell in a puddle around her feet with a shiver of air and swoosh of movement that caught his breath in his chest. She stood before him in the pyjamas he’d dreamed of since Sophia Abigail’s birth. Long-legged and desirable as she’d been even in the midst of chaos. He smiled at that memory, too.
The tiny buttons of her shirt magically popped open under his fingers one by one until the swelling edges of her breasts were released by the parting. She gazed at him steadily, unafraid, as he ran his smallest finger down that infinitely desirable valley and past her umbilicus. She shuddered under his touch from the sensation of his cool hand on her heated skin, and he smiled and revelled in the satiny feel of her beneath his hand.
When he slid his fingers beneath the waistband of her pyjama shorts to cup the flatness of her stomach, he devoured her with his eyes. She was here and she was his.
‘I can’t believe I’ve found you and you love me.’
She smiled a mysterious, womanly smile that stirred a primitive part of him that ached to carry her off to his cave and keep her there.
She whispered, ‘You said the right man would come along and promise me the stars. You are that man, Rohan, and I am yours.’
This time she reached up and stroked his shoulders beneath his shirt, and his muscles cupped into her hand with his sudden tension and suddenly some of his power transmitted itself to her. She pushed her hand
s under the fabric of his shirt over her wrists until his sleeves slid over his biceps and slithered down to his hands and her fingers followed just to feel his skin under her fingertips.
His shirt fell unheeded and Abbey drank in the sight of the well-defined muscles of his chest and arms. She didn’t think she’d ever seen a more beautifully erotic man.
‘Now you,’ he whispered, and he slid her pyjama shirt off her shoulders until she stood bare to the waist before him and the air in the room seemed to paint her senses with wispy draughts and his adoring look left tangible warmth against her skin. His hand brushed her shorts down her legs in one slow sweep and then quickly he stepped out of his boxers until they were both naked. He took her hand.
‘Lie with me,’ he said, and drew her down. His fingers were warm and strong and she felt the safest she’d ever felt, with her hand in his keeping.
They sank down onto the mattress on the floor where they lay nipple to nipple, breathing in the magic that joined them together and always would.
Finally, his hand slid down to cup her hip and he rolled inexorably on top of her. The length of him leaned over her and he stared at her with such yearning that she pulled his face down to hers and kissed him until they both ran out of breath.
When the kiss ended, Rohan lifted his head and to him Abbey’s face was like that of an angel in the dim light. He smoothed one red tendril of hair from her cheek and the softness under his fingertips was like velvet. His heart seemed to swell in his chest and suddenly he was terrified by how close they’d come to never having this opportunity if things had turned out differently this day. The agony of that thought pierced his soul and stung his eyes.
‘My God.’ The words were torn from him in a ragged whisper. ‘If anything had happened to you tonight I would have been glad to go, too. I said I would never lay myself open for this pain but one minute of being with you, one chance to kiss your lips, one taste and smell of your glorious skin, is better than a hundred years alive without you.’
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