by Susan Crosby
It needed to be her, she decided. Because he wouldn’t say it first…
“I love you, Margaret.”
Her mouth went dry. “You do?”
Tony nodded his head ruefully. “I think I fell in love with you on the dance floor, because I never would’ve agreed to your crazy plan if I hadn’t wanted you to be mine forever, period. If you marry me tonight, it’s for life, not as a way of saving face or fulfilling a PR promise or keeping a deal. There won’t be any divorce, not in a couple of weeks or months or decades, even. You’ll be stuck with me for life.”
Her heart pounded so loud she could barely hear him, but his eyes had gone all tender, just like when Richard had looked at Jenny. Wishes did come true, after all.
“I love you, too, cowboy. That’s what I was trying to tell you yesterday. I didn’t want to marry you unless you knew I never wanted it to end.”
He took her hands in his. “That’s probably not somethin’ you should’ve given up on telling me. You should’ve shouted it at me, made me listen, don’t you think?”
“You cut me off. You walked away. And I let you so I could justify going through with the marriage, knowing I wouldn’t end it. I figured if I had more time, I could get you to love me. Did you just now realize you loved me? Are you sure it’s not just possessiveness or something?”
“I just now let it sink into my thick head, but I’ve been feeling it for a while without letting it shout out. Maybe because everything seemed to be running so smoothly between us, I couldn’t believe it was real, but a game we were playing.”
“No games. Ever.”
He bent low, pressed his lips to hers. “No secrets, then. Ever. Okay?”
Her eyes burned, her heart swelled. “I’ll even give up acting. I want to be a good ranch wife. I—”
He laughed. The sound was so beautiful, she could only smile.
“Darlin’, you can’t give up acting. You want to take it easier, slower? Fine. But don’t toss away the gift you have. We’ll work things out.”
“Even after the babies come?”
He nodded, his gaze going even more tender. “We’re a team now. We’ll figure it out together.”
Maggie threw her arms around him and held on tight. “What do you say we get married? I’m ready for a honeymoon. How about you?”
“Definitely.”
“When are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“On a plane.”
“See? I told you before you like to keep me guessing.”
“Not about the important things. Like how much I love you.”
“That suits me fine, cowboy. Just fine.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2175-2
THE RANCHER’S SURPRISE MARRIAGE
Copyright © 2008 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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*Wives for Hire
**Back in Business
†Behind Closed Doors
†Behind Closed Doors
†Behind Closed Doors
†Behind Closed Doors
†Behind Closed Doors
