Call of the Mountain
Page 18
that it was Paul you really loved. I thought that if you
returned to Auckland without any commitment to me you'd be given a fair chance to be sure about it.'
`You've no idea how much misery you put me through!' she whispered against his chest.
`I was trying to take the best course for you, my dearest. I decided to give you three months.'
`Three months? But it's not yet six weeks!'
`No. The moment you stepped aboard that plane I knew I couldn't live without you. Nor could I wait three months. Darling Lisa, how soon can we be married?' His voice was pleading.
Her head was spinning with joy. 'As soon as—as possible. Would you believe I can almost hear that old mountain calling?'
Brett laughed, then crushed her to him. 'He'll have
to keep on calling until we've had our honeymoon. How about somewhere overseas?' He bent his head to kiss her with a deep hunger that sent her entire being up into the clouds.
But suddenly she came back to earth as Gordon Bishop's voice spoke from behind them. He had come in unheard and now stood watching them with an amused glint in his eyes. 'Honeymoon overseas, eh? I knew I should have had my head examined before allowing Lisa to go to Lynton—any fool could have told me I'd lose her! Dammit, it's all Catherine's fault. Well, I suppose I'd better congratulate you, Brett.'
As they shook hands Brett said, 'You can give Lisa the rest of the day off. I'm taking her shopping in Queen Street.'
`Ah, to the jewellery shops, no doubt?'
`Correct.' Brett took Lisa's arm. 'Come along, my darling—you're about to choose your engagement ring!'
Her head was still in a whirl when, less than an hour later, a large sapphire encircled by diamonds was slipped on to her finger. Everything had happened so unexpectedly, and as she gazed at its brilliance she knew that the first era of her existence on this earth was ending, while a new life with Brett was about to begin.