When He Was Bad...
Page 17
‘When she left, it was like a part of me shrivelled up and died. The part that trusted and let others in.’ He closed his eyes briefly. ‘Died, Ellie. I cut it out of me because I never wanted to risk feeling that kind of pain again.’
He felt Ellie’s hands tighten in his but he didn’t look at her. He looked at the tall thistle waving in the air beside his left boot. ‘Luckily Belle took me in, but it took her countless hours of perseverance and dedication and unconditional love to break through to me. Eventually the courts granted her custody. We’re not related but I love her and we’re family.’
‘That’s what matters,’ she said quietly. ‘And that’s what makes a family. The love.’
‘I was in a long-term relationship only once. Her name was Angela and she wanted everything I couldn’t give her. In the end it was she who left. And in many ways I was relieved to let her go.’ He turned to look at Ellie then, searched her moist eyes and let his heart say the words. ‘She wasn’t the one I needed, the one I want. The one I love. You are.’
She gently tugged her hands from his grasp. ‘Matt…I—’
‘I know you said you didn’t want a home and family. Neither did I. Until I met you. I want you to have a home you feel you belong in and I want to share it with you.’ He kissed her chin, her brow. ‘Because I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you.’
She was silent for so long, he didn’t think she was going to answer and his heart dived to his boots.
Then she sighed. ‘Ah, Matt…I want that too. I’ve been living scared. Every time I get close to someone I lose them, or they lose me.’ Hugging her shoulders, she rocked back and forth on the seat, staring at the garden. ‘Everyone I love always leaves. But you know what?’ She turned her gaze to him, and light and determination shone in their depths, turning her beautiful face radiant. ‘I’m through with living that way. I’m through being afraid of the past repeating itself, afraid to reach out and find happiness.’
‘I promise you, Ellie, I’ll never leave as long as there’s breath in my body. And I want to put that promise in writing on a marriage certificate.’ Grabbing her shoulders, he turned her to face him. His fingers tightened on her arms. ‘I’ll even let you eat the whole damn cheesecake whenever you want.’
The smile on her lips was the sweetest one he’d ever seen. ‘The whole cheesecake, huh?’
‘Every last crumb. Oh, Ellie, sweetheart, I love you so much.’
‘I love you too, Matt McGregor. I love that you’re loyal and kind and generous. You’re honest and hardworking and care about people, and—’
He put a finger against her mouth. ‘Right back at you, Ellie. And one day I want you to have my babies.’
‘Babies?’ Her eyes widened, darkened. ‘You want babies?’
‘Only with you. And when the time’s right.’ Then he kissed her. A long, lingering kiss that filled the empty spaces inside him with light and life and hope.
‘I still want to work,’ she said when he let her come up for air. ‘It’s important to me. At least, until those babies come.’
‘You can work for as long as you want. I’ll help you any way I can—study, business, whatever you decide. As a matter of fact, I need a landscaper to do something with my front yard.’
‘A landscaper.’ She grinned, her apple cheeks pink with the chill of winter and the warmth of happiness. ‘I might be able to help you out there.’
He rose, tugging her up with him, hauling her close, and whispered, ‘Let’s go home and tell Belle.’
‘Belle… Yes.’ Ellie wound her arms around Matt’s neck and kissed him again. ‘And then she and I have some other news to share with you….’
EPILOGUE
Two months later
THE wedding was held in Belle’s spacious home. Ellie wore a strapless cream gown shimmering with pearls, and a coronet of fresh spring flowers. She carried a bouquet she’d designed herself, a fragrant selection of freesias and irises tied with a wide purple ribbon.
Belle, in an ice-blue ensemble, gave Ellie away, and Yasmine, stunning in an emerald sheath, was her only bridesmaid. Yasmine’s partner had flown in from Queensland the day before for the best man’s duties.
Then Matt’s colleagues and friends, now her friends too, shared the lavish buffet meal that followed.
No expense had been spared. Crystal and silver, caviar and champagne. And flowers—bowls of them on every available surface. A three-tiered cake towered in the centre of the room while a violinist, flautist and harpist performed one classical number after another.
‘Mrs McGregor.’ The voice behind Ellie was dark, sensual and husky as a large hand slipped around her waist.
She smiled and tilted her head to expose her neck. ‘Yes, Mr McGregor?’
He nibbled at her earlobe, careful to avoid the new diamond stud earrings he’d presented her with yesterday. ‘I have something for you.’
‘Ah… Mmm, yes, so you do,’ she murmured with a private grin. She could feel its hardness pressed intimately against her bottom. ‘But it’ll have to wait a while. We have guests and I don’t think Belle would approve of us doing a disappearing act before the first dance, do you?’
‘Probably not.’ He chuckled. ‘But that’s not what I was referring to.’ He turned her around and placed a tall cylinder in her hand. ‘These are the final plans for the kid’s centre’s renovations. Work starts next week.’
‘Oh, yes, yes, yes!’ Holding it aloft, she did a quick pirouette. ‘Thank you.’ Her smile faded as she looked into his eyes and her love spilled over. ‘Matt McGregor, you’re the best husband in the whole world. And I love you. For ever.’
‘For ever.’
Then he kissed her. Slowly, cleverly, meltingly…hot.
For ever.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8467-2
WHEN HE WAS BAD…
First North American Publication 2011
Copyright © 2010 by Anne Oliver
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