Now the time had come. He was here, and she didn’t know what to say.
He stopped about ten feet away. “You look thin. And pale.”
She blinked away the tears in her eyes. Dear Mikhail. No false flattery from him, just the blunt truth. It was one of many things she loved about him. He was thinner, too. His cheekbones and the line of his jaw were sharper, and his eyes had a haunted look about them. “I didn’t realize you were in London.”
“I arrived an hour ago to present the plan to Angus. He told you about it?”
She nodded. “He said we would be . . . business partners.”
His mouth thinned. “That would be a start.”
A start for what? “I suppose I might need to live closer to the bar where I’ll be working.”
“I have a townhouse in Moscow. You’re welcome to live there.” A pained look crossed his eyes. “There’s a spare bedroom.”
She winced inwardly. “Then this is a . . . business proposition?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head, confused. “I don’t know why you’re doing this. You made it clear you didn’t want me doing anything dangerous, but now you’ve—”
“You don’t know why?” He stepped toward her. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying desperately to get you back into my life. I’m so desperate I’m willing to put you in a dangerous situation that will scare the hell out of me every night. And I’m willing to endure that torture just so you’ll be near me.”
Her heart swelled. “Mikhail—”
“I know I rushed you. I’ve been in love with you for almost two hundred years, but it was new for you. I should have courted you, waited for you.” He slashed the air angrily with his hand. “I will wait for you. No matter how long it takes.”
“Mikhail.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “The wait is over. I love you.”
His eyes widened, then he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. “Oh, God, Pam. I thought you hated me. I thought I’d messed everything up.”
“No, I messed up.” She touched his face. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry.”
He wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I love you so much. I should have never let you go.”
“It’s okay.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I didn’t realize how much I loved you till I had lost you.”
He kissed her brow. “We can’t let the Malcontents know you’re with me. It would blow your cover. So we’ll have to keep our marriage a secret.”
She blinked. “Marriage?”
He winced. “I keep going too fast. Don’t worry. We’ll take it slower this time.”
She shook her head, smiling. “I’ll beat you up if you stick me in that spare bedroom. I can do it, you know. I’m VampWoman.”
With a laugh, he hugged her tight. “You’re my woman.”
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