by James Lavene
Emilie took a deep breath and thanked him profusely. She was still wearing some of the clothes she had layered on when she’d gone out into the storm to find Adam.
Nick came out of the bedroom after the paramedic. "What about her?"
They both looked at Emilie.
"I'm fine," she assured them. "Just tired."
Nick saw him out the door. Emilie hobbled down the stairs after them. There wasn't a part of her body that didn't hurt. Her leg was a constant, throbbing pain. She went into the library and poured herself a large glass of brandy. Then she sank slowly into a chair and closed her eyes.
"I love you." A voice whispered close to her ear.
She didn't open her eyes. She was afraid she was dreaming, and that she’d wake up.
"I'm sorry."
She didn't move, didn't speak.
"I was a fool not to believe you. I was convinced that you couldn't be the person I wanted you to be. I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t really in love with you."
Emilie could hardly breathe. "And now?"
He touched her cool cheek with his hand and gently kissed her lips. "I love you. I want to marry you. I don't care if your family is rich and crazy. I just want to be with you."
Emilie opened her eyes. He was kneeling on the rug at her feet. His eyes were intent on her face.
"I was wrong not to tell you the truth," she said carefully. "I wanted you to see what a good mother I could be. I wanted to impress you with my capability."
He kissed her fingers, one by one. "I think you'll be a wonderful mother. And I am impressed."
"By my capability?" she encouraged, feeling the tug of his kisses inside of her.
"By your capability," he agreed, smiling at her. He lowered his head and kissed her again. His mouth lingered on her lips. "You have wonderful capability."
Emilie laughed and put her arms around his neck. "I love you. I have abominable taste in men."
"Thank you. I'll try to remember that for the future."
His lips were on her throat, sliding down to her shoulder, finding her ear. He buried his face in her fragrant hair.
Emilie was sliding slowly down on the big velvet sofa. Nick was creeping up beside her, wrapping her in his arms.
"I can't have children," she blurted out, wanting him to know the worst.
He looked at her as he took the brandy from her hand and set it on the table. "We have children, Emilie. And we can adopt more. We can fill this big, old house with their laughter."
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him lovingly. "I love you, Nick."
"We can clean away the cobwebs in that ballroom and dance every night after dinner," he promised, pulling her against him as he snuggled them into the sofa.
"Ma petite," she crooned into his ear as she kissed him.
"My sweet love," he answered, closing his eyes and letting desire bathe him in a warm, golden glow.
Aunt Joda closed the library door on the couple entwined on the sofa.
"Bien!” She whispered to the dark, empty room around her. “Now we have it all, eh petites?"
The Ferrier ghosts danced in the dusty ballroom and they smiled through the long winter night as Christmas Day began.
About the Authors
Joyce and Jim Lavene write bestselling mystery together. They have written and published more than 60 novels for Harlequin, Berkley and Charter Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications.
Pseudonyms include J.J. Cook, Ellie Grant, Joye Ames and Elyssa Henry
They live in rural North Carolina with their family, their cat, Quincy, and their rescue dog, Rudi. They enjoy photography, watercolor, gardening and long drives
Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com
www.Facebook.com/JoyceandJimLavene
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene
Our blog: www.romanceofmystery.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Central Page: https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/author/jlavene
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
About the Authors