Harte's Desire

by Cambria Smyth

  More perplexed now than ever, Libby dropped her arms to her side and sighed in frustration.

  "I really think I'm losing it! Let me see if I've got this right. There is no crane?"

  "Correct."

  "And you love the restoration?"

  "Right again."

  Libby looked at him in disbelief. If his intention was to have her thoroughly confused, then he was succeeding royally.

  "What's going on here, Chris?" she probed.

  "I didn't know how else to get you over here, Libby. I knew a crane with a wrecking ball was probably the only way."

  "You're damn right. It was the only reason I came. So, why am I here?"

  "Why are you here?"

  "Yes! Why get me over here?" She paused, her eyes glinting with restrained anger. "I finished your bloody report and confessed my sins. Any business between us is finished as far as I'm concerned."

  "I'd like to think we're just getting started."

  "You still didn't answer me. Why am I here?"

  "I, ah, wanted your professional opinion about the first two rooms to be restored in the conference center."

  "In the conference center?" she repeated slowly, still not believing what she was hearing. "Now I know I'm dreaming."

  "It's my dream, too, Libby. In fact, I've got lots of dreams I want to share with you. If you'd given me half a chance the other week in my office, you would have heard all about them."

  In four quick steps, Chris crossed the wooden floor to stand directly in front of her. Before she could protest, he picked up her left arm and slipped the corsage on her wrist.

  "And I can assure you that you're not leaving this gazebo tonight until you've listened to each and every word I have to say." He tenderly cupped both of his hands around hers, then reached up to do the same with her face.

  "I love you Libby Chatham, or Elizabeth Reed, or whatever your name is. I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you in the Rose Room. But I fought my feelings for you every step of the way."

  Chris gently stroked her cheeks with the backs of his hands, sending shivers down Libby's spine.

  "How could I fall in love with the very woman who'd bested me on every old building I ever wanted to tear down? How could I be so crazy about this beautiful, determined young lady who devised the perfect solution for Harte's Desire? Do you know that I'd been struggling for weeks to find a way to make this conference center different from all the others? But when you first suggested using Harte's Desire, I couldn't see it. Didn't want to consider it. You know I'm not fond of old buildings."

  He looked away, into the darkness, as if the right words to say were written there.

  "I guess they reminded me of my youth spent in an old, forlorn place, or of the old money heritage that was Cynthia Moran's since birth."

  His hands trailed through her silky hair, down her soft, slender neck and came to rest on her shoulders. Libby said nothing, held captive by the impassioned speech he was giving. She was wholly mesmerized by the gentle, loving touch of his hands on her body and the thrilling reaction they elicited. Yet, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

  "Then somehow you made me understand how important the Orphanage was, not only because of its architecture but because of the hope and love so many children found there. You see, I found lots of love there, too."

  "Still, I fought you on Harte's Desire. Out of revenge? The bottom line? My stubborn refusal to acknowledge the worth of any historic building? Maybe all those reasons."

  "But after we made such beautiful love, Libby, I suddenly knew those were all the wrong reasons to tear it down. I'd made a terrible mistake. I knew, without a doubt, that I had to save and restore this old place not only because it made sense, but because I love you beyond all logic. Maybe then I could convince you how deep my feelings are for you."

  "I wanted to tell you all this after I arrived in London but you wouldn't return my calls. And when you came to my office, I couldn't get a word in edgewise, you were so hell-bent on confessing your identity to me."

  Two warm, salty tears trickled down Libby's cheeks as she remembered her single-minded determination to get rid of him after their wonderful night of intimacy.

  Chris took her hands in his.

  "I love you, Libby," he said gently, his voice a silky caress.

  Tears welled in Libby's eyes as she heard the compassion and sincerity in Chris's voice.

  "Oh, Chris, I love you too," she whispered, squeezing his hand in reassurance. "And after we made love, I was sure of it. But I never dreamt you loved me, too. Oh darling, can you ever forgive me for deceiving you so?"

  Libby pulled him close, into her arms, savoring the warmth and comfort of his powerfully built body as it melded with hers.

  Chris bent down and spoke to her softly. "We're both guilty of deception, Libby. But that's all in the past now. What matters is what we choose to make of today. And tomorrow, and the days following."

  Libby pulled back and gazed up in wonder at the magnetic blue-green eyes searching hers hopefully. In the dim light she could see a hesitancy there, as if she would judge him and find him wanting.

  "My love," she began, feeling her throat constrict with the emotions so long denied. "I don't care what has happened between us before this. It's not important to me who your parents were, or even who you've loved--or hated--in the past. What matters is that I love you with all my heart. And I always will."

  "Then I want you to help me restore Harte's Desire and make it into the conference center you envisioned it could be," Chris said, running his fingers lightly through her hair.

  "Restoring this place could take a long time..." Libby murmured, her voice trailing off as his touch eliciting a thousand emotions.

  "And if it does, I want us to do it together, sweet Libby."

  "Consider me hired," she replied huskily.

  Chris said nothing, the ardent look of love radiating from his eyes expressing more than words ever could.

  Slowly, reverently, he slanted his head towards her and brushed his lips lightly over hers. Electrified, Libby returned the kiss and whimpered softly when he deepened it, suddenly wishing they were anywhere but in the gazebo, amid a party attended by several hundred historical society members.

  "Why is it I always seem to interrupt you two kissing in the garden on a moonlit night?" Sister Mary Clare's commanding voice boomed from the darkness somewhere near them.

  Pulling away from Chris in surprise, Libby turned to find the kindly nun watching them discretely several steps away.

  "Sister Mary Clare, I didn't know you were coming tonight!" Libby exclaimed.

  "Neither did I 'til that Prince Charming of yours sent me five tickets and told me I'd better attend or he'd never forgive me for missing one of the most important events in his life."

  Libby quickly looked back at Chris. "What do you mean 'one of the most important events' in your life?"

  Again, Chris gathered her hands in his and looked at her lovingly. "Because, my love, if you'll agree to marry me, this will be our engagement party, too."

  "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" Libby whispered half in excitement, half in disbelief at the words she was hearing. She pulled Chris to her and gave him a long, deep, passionate kiss.

  As Libby embraced him, Sister Mary Clare let out a whoop. "Libby said 'yes' everyone!" she yelled to a large crowd gathered on the patio. At her words, a thunderous roar of approval arose from the throng, followed by shouts, hoots, and whistles.

  Immediately embarrassed, Libby groaned and broke away from Chris. She frowned at him teasingly.

  "Trust you to do me one better at my own party, Christopher Darnell. Were they," she gestured to the crowd, "in on your proposal plans?"

  "Of course! Surely you noticed the roses that replaced the carnations and daisies you ordered? And you'll find surf and turf on the buffet instead of stuffed chicken breast. And a dessert table rather than rice pudding and..."

  "Enough, I get th
e picture!" she interrupted with a big smile across her face. "And what if I'd said 'no' Mr. Darnell? What then?"

  "Well, it certainly would have been the most expensive fundraiser I ever attended!"

  "OK, children," Sister Mary Clare ordered from beyond. "Time to come out from there and join the festivities. It's a grand party you two planned and I'm not going to have you miss it by declaring your undying love for each other out here in private all night. There's plenty of time for that later."

  Libby eyed first the Sister then Chris. "Has she always been this bossy?" she teased.

  "My dear," Chris began, drawling in mock annoyance, "You don't know the half of it."

  "Now, Christopher," Sister Mary Clare chided. "Just because you've finally come around to my--and Libby's--way of thinking, doesn't mean you can divulge any family secrets."

  "I wouldn't think of it, Sister," Chris agreed, giving a hearty laugh. "Come on, Libby. Let's do as she says before she decides to take advantage of my generous mood and ask me for another million dollars for her latest cause."

  At that he escorted Libby off the gazebo and, with an arm protectively wrapped around her waist, led her onto the patio where dozens of couples had resumed dancing.

  He paused halfway to the open French doors. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "Would the beauty care to dance with the beast?"

  Dreams do come true, Libby acknowledged in wonder as she nodded her head and accepted his outstretched hand. Twirling around the brick paved floor, she followed his capable lead, never once missing a step or landing on his toes. The soft, romantic melody wafting through the warm summer night air filled her with the greatest feelings of love she'd ever experienced.

  As she gazed up at the moonlit sky, she knew she'd found her heart's desire in Chris. At the thought, Libby gave him an affectionate embrace and looked up at him, her eyes glazed with love.

  As if reading her mind, Chris whispered in her ear, "I know this may sound corny, but you're my heart's desire, Libby."

  Her heart did a flip-flop. "I swear Christopher Darnell, I was just thinking the same, exact thing about you!"

  "I have two, then, don't I? One to restore, and one to cherish the rest of my life."

  Libby sighed as the strains of music slowly died and Chris pulled her close in another passionate kiss.

  The man was becoming an incurable romantic, but she didn't mind it one bit. Not one bit at all.

  Epilogue

  Borden's Landing

  June, one year later

  "You promised me the paint would be dry by this afternoon, Christopher Darnell!"

  Libby scolded him with an equal mixture of jest and consternation. She leaned on Chris's muscular arm as they climbed the gazebo's three steps to seek shelter in the cool, shaded space underneath.

  Libby beamed at the handsome image he presented. The dove gray tails fit him perfectly as did the precisely tailored pants and maroon vest. The white formal shirt with a crisply tied maroon cravat further accented his dark good looks and enhanced the healthy tan he was sporting.

  Libby reached up to adjust the boutonniere pinned to his lapel for the occasion. It was a single blood red rose she'd picked that morning from Harte's Desire's garden.

  Chris watched her fuss over him with an impish grin on his face.

  "What can I tell you darling? You know how unreliable contractors can be. And it's not my fault it rained all week. The painter couldn't do anything until yesterday anyway."

  "I know. I know. It's just that this is such a special day and I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect."

  "Tell you what. I'll be glad to hold up the hem of that antique wedding dress you're wearing if it means I get a peek at those luscious, sexy ankles of yours!" Chris threw her a wink and a wolfish leer, causing Libby to smile at his silliness.

  "I swear Chris, if I live through this wedding day of ours, it will be a miracle." She leered back at him, giving him her best come-hither look.

  "Just remember darling, it was your idea to wait this long so we could have the ceremony and reception at Harte's Desire. Confound it woman, I was ready to elope last summer, but you insisted we hold off until the rose garden was restored and in full bloom."

  "But the wait was worth it, wasn't it, Chris? The garden is magnificent. Everyone says so. The ballroom turned out beautifully and the caterer can't believe it’s the same kitchen she used last summer for the fundraiser."

  Chris pulled her close, raised one her hands to his lips and kissed each fingertip slowly and sensuously, nearly causing Libby's knees to buckle with the heady sensations pulsing through her.

  "Darling," she whispered, "you keep that up and we'll have to postpone this photograph while I whisk you upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms. And we won't be going up there to take a nap, believe me!"

  Chris threw back his head and gave a hearty laugh. "You must be reading my mind, you little minx!"

  "Mr. Darnell," a deep voice boomed out, "I'm ready now to take that picture your wife wants. Sorry for the delay. Had to switch in a new battery." The photographer adjusted his tripod one more time while Chris looked at Libby inquisitively.

  "Sweetheart, I just have to have a shot of us out here under the gazebo like the one of Chester and Amanda. Remember the one I framed and hung in my office? I know you're tired of having pictures taken, but this will be the last one! Please, husband of mine?"

  Libby eyed him expectantly, her large brown eyes full of hope and pleading and love.

  Chris gazed adoringly at her and admired again how beautiful she was on this special day of theirs.

  Somewhere in that monstrous attic, she and Edwina had found the gown she was wearing today. Its original white lace had long since faded to a warm shade of ecru and its elegant Victorian style flattered her every curve. She carried a bouquet of roses freshly picked from Harte's Desire's garden and wore a tiara fashioned of miniature roses, also from the garden. The effect was simple, but stunning. His heart swelled with pride as he regarded the woman who now called him husband. How he loved hearing her say the word and, when she did, he could deny her nothing.

  "Of course, dear wife," he replied, pleased to see her smile broadly at him, "only if you promise this will be the last one!"

  "Haven't I made enough promises to you already today? Like love, honor, cherish...?"

  "One more won't hurt you."

  "Oh, alright, this will be the end of it!"

  "Hey, you two," the photographer interrupted. "You gonna take all day? Look this way and smile."

  Libby quickly grabbed Chris's hand then gave him an adoring smile and a huge hug mere seconds before the flash went off. They both nearly lost their balance with the force of her embrace, but Libby didn't mind, especially when Chris caught her protectively with one large muscular arm.

  As they laughed at their capriciousness, Chris bent down and brushed his lips against hers.

  "I will love you forever, Libby," he whispered softly. "I hope you never get tired of hearing me say it."

  "And I hope you never tire of saying it, my love. If you do, tell me instead I'm your heart's desire!" Libby eyed him flirtatiously.

  "That's a deal," Chris replied as he bent to kiss her passionately, not caring who might see.

  Libby met his kiss with equal fervor and the world around them momentarily faded into a blur of rose-scented air and bright June sunshine.

  Harte's Desire would stand for centuries now, beautifully restored and filled with love everlasting.