Meant for Each Other
Page 14
Dazed by the turn of events, she could only nod in agreement. She followed him from the room and, as he locked up the house, watched his every action with longing in her eyes.
Before they walked out the front door, he reached for her and pulled her into his arms. "In my heart, I built this house for us. Little did I dream you'd end up living here with me."
She raised solemn eyes to his. "I hope you won't regret it fifty years from now."
He tenderly kissed each eyelid closed, then pressed a hot kiss on her avid mouth. "From the very beginning I've loved you, wanted to be around you all the time. Those feelings have only deepened, and they'll keep getting stronger as we go through the rest of our lives together. I've always known we were meant for each other, Kathryn."
"I'm convinced of it," she said, her voice shaking. "Otherwise I'd still be married to Philip. I tried to make him a good wife, but you were there in my heart, and Philip knew it."
Wade's face sobered. "At least now he and Amy are free to find the person who'll love them as they deserve to be loved,” he said gently. "But forgive me if I have no regrets about our love. It eventually brought you back where you belong."
"Oh, Wade." She slid her arms around his waist, burying her moist face against his neck. "When you came to the apartment the other night, I didn't mean to hurt you. The last thing I wanted was to be cruel, but I was so afraid of Clyde and Alice's reaction."
"I know." He tangled his hand in her silky hair. "It's something I've never been able to understand. They're rational people, darling. In order to prove that to you, I decided to put you in a position you couldn't squirm your way out of."
She couldn't resist a tiny laugh and lifted her flushed face to look at him. "You did that all right."
"Apparently it worked,'' he teased, kissing the end of her nose.
"You know Alice too well. She came after me full throttle. I didn't stand a chance."
"And in the process, you found out your fears were all for nothing.''
She kissed him over and over again. "I still can't believe it. Alice actually sounded happy about us."
"Why does that surprise you? They know we've always been crazy about each other. Now they'll have us around forever and be able to watch our children grow up.”
"So many times I've dreamed about being pregnant with your baby,” she whispered haltingly.
"Babies," he corrected as he brushed his mouth against hers. "I want a houseful. Am I rushing you?" "No, darling. We don't have time to wait. I'm―"
He silenced her with a long lingering kiss. "I never again want to hear you tell me how old you are. Believe me, it's indelibly impressed on my mind.''
"I promise," she said when he released her.
"Good. Then let's get out of here so we can get started on our lives together.” He sent her a loving look, and she was filled with warmth.
A few minutes later the ranch gate closed behind the truck. Kathryn snuggled against Wade and pressed her lips to the side of his neck and throat. He returned her kiss, then murmured, "I suppose you're aware that our news is going to make John ecstatic. If he and Amy discover they're truly in love, they'll eventually be able to make plans without feeling any guilt or embarrassment.''
"I know, and the sense of relief I'm feeling is almost as great as the joy."
Wade shook his head in wonder. "I drove in here a while ago, so low, so depressed, I didn't see the point to my life anymore. When you called my name from the front hall, I swear I thought I was hallucinating.'' She smoothed the hair from his brow. "I've been at the ranch for three days, waiting…"
"Three days," he repeated. "Three more days we've wasted." He clasped her hand and held on to it. "But never again.''
Her heart chanted those words as they drove onto the flower-lined highway. Her long exile was over. She had finally come home.
Harlequin Romance invites you to a
celebrity wedding-or is it?
Find out in Bethany Campbell's ONLY MAKE-BELIEVE (#3230), the November title in
THE BRIDAL COLLECTION
THE BRIDE was pretending.
THE GROOM was, too.
BUT THE WEDDING was real-the second time!
Available this month (October)
in The Bridal Collection TO LOVE AND PROTECT by Kate Denton
Harlequin Romance #3223
Wherever Harlequin Books are sold.
Valerie Bloomfield comes home to Orchard Valley, Oregon, for the saddest of reasons. Her father has suffered a serious heart attack, and now his three daughters are gathering at his side, praying he'll survive.
This visit home will change Valerie's life―especially when she meets Colby Winston, her father's handsome and strong-willed doctor!
"The Orchard Valley trilogy features three delightful, spirited sisters and a trio of equally fascinating men. The stories are rich with the romance, warmth of heart and humor readers expect, and invariably receive, from Debbie Macomber.!'
-Linda Lael Miller
Don't miss the Orchard Valley trilogy by Debbie Macomber:
VALERIE Harlequin Romance #3232 (November 1992)
STEPHANIE Harlequin Romance #3239 (December 1992)
NORAH Harlequin Romance #3244 (January 1993)
Look for the special cover flash on each book!
Available wherever Harlequin books are sold
HARLEQUIN ROMANCE®
Coming Next Month
#3229 SIGNS OF LOVE Katherine Arthur
They meet one foggy morning, because of a car accident. Genie Compton is immediately, intensely attracted to the dynamic artist Byron de Stefano; her sister says their meeting is fated. And Genie soon begins to hope-and at the same time, fear-that it is.
#3230 ONLY MAKE-BELIEVE Bethany Campbell
Nikki doesn't really want to impersonate Caressa, one of the world's most famous women. But she'll go through the charade of marrying Gil Chandler, the man pretending to be Caressa's fiancé, if it means she can say goodbye to the seedy nightclub she calls home. Their little scene might fool the press, but can Nikki convince herself that her growing feelings for Gil are only make-believe?
Only Make-Believe is the seventh title in The Bridal Collection.
#3231 WOMAN AT WILLAGONG CREEK Jessica Hart
Arriving in Australia to collect her young ward, David, from Guy Richardson's care, Olivia discovers that the boy needs his life there―just as much as he needs a mother. It's also obvious that Guy needs a housekeeper. Since Olivia's visa has almost expired, she asks Guy to join her in a marriage of convenience!
#3232 VALERIE Debbie Macomber
Successful businesswoman Valerie Bloomfield rushes home to Orchard Valley. Oregon, when her father suffers a serious heart attack. She and her two younger sisters pray desperately that he'll live, yet fear he may not survive. Even his surgeon, Dr. Colby Winston , doesn't seem hopeful. In the midst of this crisis, Valerie and Colby are drawn together. Equally strong, equally determined, they're deeply attracted to each other―but Valerie's convinced a relationship would never work. Her father. however. has different ideas.
The first book in Debbie Macomber's Orchard Valley trilogy. To be followed in the next two months by Stephanie (#3239) and Norah (#3244).
#3233 THE UNEXPECTED LANDLORD Leigh Michaels
"What the hell are you doing in my house?" Rowan McKenna expects renovation problems, not tenant problems, when he buys an old Victorian house. But his tenant, Clancey Kincade, has problems of her own. Not the least of which is falling in love with her unexpected―and unwilling―landlord!
#3234 SUMMER'S ECHO Lee Stafford
Theirs had been a whirlwind romance―Alain Deslandes had been a sophisticated academic; Roxanne, an inexperienced girl. Five years later, Roxanne is a capable and independent woman who has put the memories of her painful marriage behind her. So why shouldn't she accept the prestigious work assignment that will take her back to the French town of Bordeaux ...?
AVAILABLE THIS MONTH:
#3224 ANYTHING FOR YOU Rosemary Hammond
#3225 THE INTRUDER Miriam MacGregor
#3226 WEEKEND WIFE Sue Peters
#3227 BAD NEIGHBOURS Jessica Steele
#3228 MEANT FOR EACH OTHER Rebecca Winters