A woman gasped. Jeremy paused as someone shushed her.
For a second Eden thought Jeremy looked toward her, but he quickly turned back to the crowd. He needed to do this alone. “I’m not sure how severe my blindness will be. At the moment it’s only my central vision that’s affected. But one thing I want to assure you, Fulton Enterprises is healthy and thriving and so am I. I have creative, accomplished employees, and we’ll continue to grow and to thrive no matter my situation.”
A silence fell on the room, and people began to shift on their feet. Jeremy turned to a woman perhaps six feet forward and to the right, in the perfect place for him to see the best. “I can still appreciate a gorgeous woman in a blue dress that matches her eyes, Loretta.” He turned to his left, again searching for the person in perfect visual range. “And Geoffrey, I can still see that you insist on wearing that putrid green tie even though I’ve heard your wife complaining about it in the past.”
A laugh went through the crowd, and the tension backed off a notch. Jeremy signaled to the musicians to start playing again. He signaled to Donald to clear the dance floor and the world seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Eden’s knees threatened to give way. Jeremy caught her under the arm. “Are you all right?”
She looked up into his troubled eyes. “I’m wonderful. You were wonderful.” You always were, she thought. “But you’d better see to your guests. A man can’t drop a bombshell like that and not expect to field a few questions.”
Jeremy frowned. “I wish—”
But a woman rushed up to him just then. “Jeremy, you gorgeous, scintillating man. You were always the most charming man in town. I want to hear more,” she said, linking her arm through his.
Eden smiled at him and gave him a little wave. The crowd swallowed Jeremy and the woman up.
During the next half hour Eden watched him hold court. He dazzled the women; he amused and impressed the men. His news, and the fact that he seemed to still be functioning as always, endeared him to the crowd. For tonight it was enough. The secret was out and he had survived.
Tears of gladness clogged Eden’s throat. Her vision blurred. She turned away, and that was when she saw the woman standing just inside the door. Wearing a simple black dress. She was a stranger and yet not a stranger at all.
Eden came forward. “I thought you didn’t want to meet him.”
Alisson August shrugged self-consciously, her hair sliding over her shoulders with the movement. And Eden saw now that, contrary to her photo, there was nothing ordinary about this woman. She was a beauty, the rare kind, the kind that didn’t need adornments to make her shine. “I saw the blurb in the newspaper. Curiosity won out. He was…he’s brave, isn’t he?” she asked.
Eden’s throat closed up. She struggled for words. The right words. She’s the right one for him, she couldn’t help thinking. She has his child. She fits. They share something. He could watch his son grow. “He’s brave and he’s noble and a lot of other good things.”
“That’s good to know.”
“He’s an amazing, intelligent man, as well, and he has a wonderful sense of humor. He has a lot to offer the world.”
The woman studied her, a slightly amused and sympathetic look on her face. “Eden, are you trying to convince me, or are you in love with him?”
Eden held back her gasp. Had she been so transparent? Obviously, yes. Did other people see what this woman saw? She prayed that they didn’t. “Jeremy’s been a very good employer, the best I’ve ever had, but I’m leaving. I have my own life.”
And her job here was through, she realized. Staying longer wouldn’t accomplish anything. If Alisson realized the truth, others might, too. And then Jeremy would know.
“You should go introduce yourself,” she told Alisson. “He’d very much like to meet you, I’m sure.”
The woman gazed at her for a minute as if trying to read her mind. Then she turned away in the direction of Jeremy.
The gears clicked into place. Everything here was done. The play had ended. There was no more.
Panic and tears threatened, and Eden escaped the room. She found Donald and made up some story about being called away for an emergency. She asked him to have someone bring down her bags and drive her to the train.
Then she turned back in search of Jeremy. He was in the middle of a crowd. People were laughing, joking with him. The women all looked as if they had bedrooms on their minds. Then she saw Alisson give her one last questioning look.
In a split second Eden made her decision. She gave Alisson a nod and she headed for the door. Leaving without saying goodbye was a completely cowardly thing to do. It was such a wrong way to end things, given all that happened here these past few months, but—
If I stay, he’ll know. He’ll feel guilty and he’ll hate himself, because I couldn’t get through a goodbye without tears. Once I’m gone, I’ll call or I’ll send him a letter.
It was all she could do. In time, Jeremy would forgive her for leaving so abruptly and ungraciously. His world would right itself. Everyone finally knew the truth and had accepted it. Alisson was so right for him. Eventually Jeremy would see that, too.
Eden closed her eyes. She did her best to steady herself. Then she fled.
Jeremy was pleased at the results of this meeting, but he couldn’t wait for it to be over. He’d barely gotten to talk to Eden all night and now…where was she, anyway?
He glanced around, cursing the blurry areas where he couldn’t see clearly. Off to his right, a woman came into his field of vision. A small shock wave slipped through him but he quickly adjusted and decided that he wasn’t all that surprised. In her circumstances, he might have shown up, too. The woman held out her hand. “We haven’t met, but…”
“You’re Alisson,” he said.
She gave him a small smile. “And I’m clearly not really who you’re looking for.”
He frowned, not understanding. “I’m just a bit surprised to see you here.”
She shrugged. “I’m a bit surprised to be here. I saw the announcement of the event and I just came to get a glimpse, but your secretary suggested that I come meet you.”
“Eden?” The very sound of her name on his own lips had him glancing off to the side.
“I don’t think she’s in the room. I saw her leave.”
Suddenly Jeremy felt tired. He’d accomplished his goals for the evening. He had only a short time left with Eden, but no one showed any signs of wanting to leave yet and…damn, where was she?
“This is probably not the best time for us to talk,” Alisson said.
“Probably not, but we will, won’t we? In time?”
“Yes, I think we have to, but…”
He blinked and looked at her. She seemed uncomfortable.
“I’m involved with someone,” she said.
Now Jeremy understood. “That’s nice. You didn’t think I had made plans for you, did you?”
She gave a self-conscious laugh. “Not exactly, but your secretary, Eden, was singing your praises to me so much that I wasn’t sure what to think.”
Ah. Jeremy remembered Eden’s words. She was worrying about him again, trying to fix things for him again. When he spoke to her next, he’d have to set her straight. But she wasn’t here.
He glanced around the room again, more urgently. Donald came into view. Jeremy could tell by his stance that something was bothering him.
“I don’t mean to interrupt you, Mr. Fulton, but—”
“Tell me,” Jeremy said. Donald didn’t worry over trivial matters.
“She’s gone.” Donald blurted the words out. “Some emergency, she said. I just brought down her bags. One of the drivers is going to take her to the train. I thought you might want to know.”
The noise of the room seemed to increase a hundredfold. Jeremy’s tie felt too tight, the room felt too crowded. And empty at the same time.
He struggled to control himself, to breathe, to think, to maintain the cool fa
cade that had stood him in good stead all his life, the one that held his emotions in check. Eden was leaving. Now.
The words flayed him. He reminded himself that she wanted to leave. She’d come here because she needed money. She didn’t need him.
But she was leaving without even saying goodbye. He had to get across the room. He had to find her, but chairs had shifted, people blocked his way. The paths they had laid out yesterday weren’t clear anymore. He couldn’t get across the room without exposing the physical reality of his limitations.
“It doesn’t matter.” He said the words almost violently, making Donald flinch.
“It doesn’t matter what people think or what I can’t do or see. Eden!” And with that, Jeremy rushed forward.
A crowd of people seemed to appear out of nowhere. He crashed into them, knocking drinks from their hands and ignoring their gasps.
The clock was ticking. Had the driver already pulled around? Had she already gone?
Without taking time to apologize, Jeremy ran on. A table banged his leg, and he stumbled to his knees. The sleeve of his jacket caught on something and tore. He flung it off and ran on.
“Eden, don’t go,” he called again. “Don’t leave!”
He bumped a woman, and she shrieked. The crowd was starting to buzz. “What’s wrong with him?” some man muttered. “He’s gone mad.”
“He can’t see,” someone else yelled.
Jeremy ignored them all. Finding Eden before she left was all that mattered. Somehow he located the front door and threw it open, rushing out into the night.
The crowd followed him into the dark, harsh whispers breaking the stillness.
And then he saw a figure that had to be her, moving away from him down the drive.
“Eden,” he said, not a roar this time but a hoarse, anguished animal sound.
It was enough. She turned, she stopped. He rushed to her.
“You were leaving without a word,” he said.
She bit her lip and nodded. “Yes.” Her voice came out shaky.
Jeremy closed his eyes. “You didn’t want to say goodbye.”
“I—” She looked to the side. “I couldn’t and—my work here is through. You’ve accomplished all you need to. Everything is settled. You’re fine on your own.”
No, he would never be fine on his own. Not without her. But could he say that? He couldn’t try to hold her out of pity.
Suddenly she moved closer. “Jeremy, your jacket’s gone. Your shirt is torn, your tie’s askew and your hair—” She reached out and touched his hair. He thought he would die from the desire to reach out and pull her to him.
“He slammed into a few things trying to get to you,” Jonathan said from somewhere off to the side. “He kept calling your name. He fell. More than once.”
“Jeremy? You fell? Because of me. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” He snapped the word out, his throat aching. “It doesn’t matter. None of it. All my life I’ve built an impregnable wall around myself to hide my weaknesses and imperfections. And since my diagnosis I’ve hidden my condition. I presented an illusion to the world, and as long as I never let down my guard I could go on. Even tonight when I revealed the truth I was still playing a role, letting my pride dictate my actions. But…you were leaving and none of it mattered anymore.”
“I couldn’t stay,” she said softly and there were tears in her voice. “I was afraid you would see how hard it was for me to leave you.”
She was afraid of showing him how she felt? He knew that feeling. He needed to conquer his own tendency to hide his deepest thoughts, and yet…how could he tell her what he wanted to tell her? How could he ask for what he wanted?
He reached out and brushed his fingers over her cheeks and felt her tears.
“Eden, I hurt you once before when we were young. I know I did. And others have hurt you. I don’t want to ever hurt you again. I don’t want to cause you another moment of worry. And yet…”
She waited.
He, who had always known the right words, struggled for them now. His thoughts were a jumble. His heart pounded, and he fought for reason. This was Eden. She was his heart. The words he chose now were the most important he might ever speak.
Let her go. Let her go, he ordered himself. He’d brought her to tears, he thought, rage at himself sluicing through him.
And yet, he owed her the truth. The complete truth. Finally.
“I know you thought that Alisson and I might be a couple, but that’s just not going to happen, Eden. Despite what you want for me, she and I aren’t meant for each other. And…I’ve never ever loved a woman, so by rights I shouldn’t even recognize the emotion. The truth is that I’ve always thought I was like my father, incapable of love, an emotion that seemed to wreck so many lives that I never wanted any part of it, but…you…your voice…it’s what I listen for each day. Your touch is what I crave, your laughter makes my day complete. You’ve changed my world. I had to tell you that before you left. I—”
“Jeremy?” Eden said, her voice thick. She came closer. He felt her gaze full on him.
“I can’t lie to you,” he said. “I don’t want you to go, and I’m going to be hell to live with without you. But the fact that I feel that way…none of it matters, because as much as I want to promise you everything any man promises a woman, the truth is that I don’t know what the future holds for me. I can’t ask anyone to share that future. All the money I have can’t change things.”
His voice trailed off. Eden was gazing at him. The crowd was completely hushed. He stood before the world, emotionally naked, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t give a damn how the world saw him. Because his true world was Eden.
Eden could barely breathe, her heart was hurting so much. Jeremy was here, beside her. The things he had said…all the things he had said…
Was he offering…
No. Don’t hope, she told herself. He had said things, wonderful things, but he’d offered nothing.
Still…had he said he loved her?
Yes, but there was love and there was love. Jeremy had had many short-term relationships. He’d probably used the word before, but he didn’t have real relationships. He had told her that so many times.
She closed her eyes, confused and afraid. Her throat closed up. She fought tears. No more hiding from the truth, she told herself, even if the truth was humiliating.
“I don’t know what you’re offering or even if you’re offering anything at all, but I don’t absolutely have to have children,” she said. “Perfect DNA isn’t a requirement, and all your money won’t give me what I want, either.”
He stood there looking down at her, looking like all she wanted in the world, all she would ever want.
She leaned forward. Jeremy reached out.
Then he stopped. “Tell me what you want,” he said solemnly. “Tell me what you truly want and need.”
Taking a breath she steeled herself. She fought not to lie, to give him the truth no matter how difficult this was for her. “It’s always been you,” she finally managed to say, her heart hurting, tears gathering. “I shouldn’t even have come here at all, because deep in my heart, I knew that was true. I want you. I love you, Jeremy.”
He closed his eyes. “You know that I’ll never be a whole man,” he said.
A laugh bubbled up. His eyes opened. “Jeremy, you’re more of a man than I’ve ever met. You take chances. You help me take chances and challenge me to try new and exciting things, to push myself when I think I can’t. You continue to do your job every day, even when it’s a struggle. You’re kind and smart. You help people and you make me laugh and…you’re all I want.”
“Eden…” Jeremy fell to his knees.
Instantly she remembered the crowd that was watching this man who had fought all his life for his pride. She remembered that people had said he had fallen several times when he was coming for her. His hand was bleeding. This man who was such a fighter that he never gave in to weakn
ess, this man she loved…
Had he hit more than his hand? His head?
“Jeremy, what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Let me see your hand.” She dropped to her knees beside him and took his hand in hers.
He turned his head until they were nose to nose. “Eden,” he whispered, ignoring their audience and kissing the side of her neck. “You’re messing up my proposal, love.”
Somewhere in the background someone chuckled, but Eden didn’t care. She blinked and clutched Jeremy’s hand so hard that he winced. “What?” she whispered.
He smiled at her, and her heart melted completely.
“You said you loved me,” he told her.
“Yes.”
“And I told you that you were the only woman I’ve ever loved.”
He had, hadn’t he?
“I thought maybe you were just trying to send me away without breaking my heart too badly. I know that you’d feel guilty if you thought you had hurt me,” she said.
He caressed her cheek solemnly. “I would rather hurt myself than you. Any day, any time. You’re the most precious thing in my world. But I wouldn’t tell you I loved you if it weren’t true.” He kissed her, gently. “Will you marry me, Eden? Stay as long as you can?”
She frowned. “As long as I can, Jeremy?”
“I don’t actually know what I’ll eventually become or how great the difficulties will be. You might change your mind.”
“Jeremy,” Eden said, hitting him on the arm hard and frowning at him. “You either ask me for forever or you don’t ask at all.” She crossed her arms under her breasts.
The crowd cheered.
Jeremy ignored them. His grin was magic. It melted her fears completely. Her heart soared, and she couldn’t help smiling back at him.
He took her hand and made her stand up while he knelt before her. “Eden, my first and only love, will you be my wife and the mother of any children we adopt no matter what comes?”
She tugged his hand until he was standing beside her. “Just try and get rid of me,” she whispered. “I’ll be your wife, your companion and your lover.”
“I’ll build your school,” he promised, taking her in his arms.
Her Millionaire, His Miracle Page 15
