“Yes,” he said absently. His hand reached out to touch the collar of her poet’s blouse. “I like this. When I walked in the door, I didn’t know if I’d find my Huckleberry Finn or a flame in white satin. Instead I find a court page from another century. I never know what to expect from you.” He moved his hand to stroke her cheek with mesmerizing gentleness.
“I talked to Bradford and his wife and I’m sure they told me everything you wanted them to,” Alex went on quietly. “And then I had a long talk with your David. We discussed his garden and Gino and Angelina. He told me about a daffodil named Miranda and his best friend, Bree, who was like a beautiful poinsettia.”
“He told you that?”
Alex nodded, his lips tightening grimly. “He was a hell of a lot more confiding than his precious Bree. Why couldn’t you have just told me about him? Did you think I was such an insensitive bastard that I wouldn’t see how special he is?”
“I was frightened,” she said simply. “I’d never loved anyone the way I loved you, and I suppose I was subconsciously afraid you’d reject David.” Her gaze was direct. “You do realize that it’s a package deal, Alex? There’s no way I can desert David now.”
“I’d be a fool not to realize that after meeting the boy,” he said gruffly. He stroked the silky hair at her temple. “You couldn’t desert anyone you cared about.”
“And you know it may be for the rest of our lives?”
“I realize that.” His hand dropped to her shoulder and he met her eyes with a gravity and tenderness that caused her throat to tighten achingly. “I love you. You’re the other half of me, remember? I could no sooner reject someone who was important to you than I could cut off my right arm. I want to shoulder all your burdens if you’ll let me, love.” He frowned, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “The first thing we’ll do is round up the best damn doctors in the world and work at getting him well.”
She should have expected that from Alex, Sabrina thought tenderly. He’d never be content until he’d exhausted every possibility. “He may never be any better,” she said quietly. “The doctors just don’t know, Alex.”
“Well, they will before I’m finished,” he said arrogantly. “And one of them had better find a way to help him.” Then, as she chuckled irrepressibly, he grinned a bit sheepishly. “Sorry. I just can’t bear the thought of the waste of a human being like David.”
“And if the doctors can’t help?” she asked.
His face softened and his dark eyes glowed with the tenderness that had made Clancy call him beautiful. “Then I’ll set about creating him the most exquisite garden on the face of the earth,” he said gently. “And we’ll let him plant it with love. Then we’ll nurture it and protect it all the days of our lives. Enough?”
“Enough,” she said huskily, blinking rapidly. “I’m sorry. I think I’m going to cry.”
“No, you’re not,” he said firmly, taking her in his arms and cradling her with poignant gentleness. “I won’t have it.”
She laughed throatily, tightening her arms about him. “I think you’ve stayed a little too long in Sedikhan,” she said teasingly. “You’re obviously going to be unbearably autocratic until I get you straightened out again.” He felt so good. His lean sinewy warmth, the scent of soap and that woodsy cologne, the hard vital feel of him.
His lips brushed the pulse point just under her chin. “God, it seems like a century,” he said thickly. “I’d lie in bed and think about that last night we had together and I thought I’d go up in flames. I was sure I’d have you in bed five minutes after I walked through this door.”
“Then you’re considerably behind schedule,” she said softly, pressing her lips to the hollow of his cheek. “Please feel free to call on me any time to help you put it right.”
“Don’t worry, I have every intention of doing just that,” he said, running his hands on her back in an exquisitely gentle caress that was both soothing and arousing. “But I’ve discovered something absolutely astounding.”
“You have?”
He nodded and pushed her away to gaze down at her tenderly. “As much as I’m aching to love you and have you respond in that wild, sweet way, I want to wait a little longer.” His lips lowered to hers. “I want to sit before the fire with you and hold you in my arms. I want to stroke that shining red hair and hear you laugh. Then I want to talk about commitment and love and growing old together. Would that be all right with you, little flame?”
She couldn’t speak over the lump in her throat but her emerald eyes were glowing with a radiance that was answer enough. He kissed her once again and then tucked her head into the hollow of his shoulder, his strong arm encircling her with loving protectiveness.
They were silent and content for several long, peaceful moments, and then, slowly, they began to speak, while a hundred candles blazed in joyous celebration around them.
BOOKS BY IRIS JOHANSEN
The Trustworthy Redhead The Bronzed Hawk
White Satin Tender Savage
Notorious One Touch of Topaz
Everlasting And the Desert Blooms
The Treasure Lion’s Bride
Golden Valkyrie Capture the Rainbow
A Summer Smile Stormy Vows/Tempest at Sea
Stalemate An Unexpected Song
Killer Dreams On the Run
Countdown Blind Alley
Firestorm Fatal Tide
Dead Aim Magnificent Folly
No One to Trust Body of Lies
Final Target The Search
The Killing Game The Face of Deception
And Then You Die Long After Midnight
The Ugly Duckling Dark Rider
Midnight Warrior The Beloved Scoundrel
The Magnificent Rogue The Tiger Prince
Last Bridge Home The Golden Barbarian
Reap the Wind Storm Winds
The Wind Dancer
The Trustworthy Redhead Page 17
