by Kristi Gold
His magnetic gray eyes drew her forward and she felt as if she floated down the remaining stairs. When she stood before him, he held out his hand to her, which she took without the slightest hesitation. No words passed between them as she turned and led him through the ballroom and out onto the verandah that overlooked the front lawn.
Once there, she faced Raf, yet before she could ask him why he was there, he said, "It was always you."
"I don't understand," she said, and she didn't. The only thing she could comprehend was his unexpected presence and how strongly he affected her.
He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, then toyed with the diamond-drop earring in her lobe. "The last night we were together, you were adamant that I make love to you, as if you believed someone else had come between us. That was not true. It has always been you. Only you."
Imogene found it difficult to breathe, much less speak. "But I thought—"
"That when I made love to you, I was making love with my wife. Nothing could be further from the truth." He gestured to the ornate bench in the corner of the verandah. "Sit with me for a while. I need to explain the circumstances of my previous marriage."
When she heard the pain in his voice, saw it in his expression, Imogene wasn't certain she wanted to hear it now. "Does it really matter, Raf? Maybe you were right, the past belongs in the past."
"My past will not be settled until you know everything."
As they sat on the bench side by side. Imogene listened quietly while Raf explained the marriage arrangement, his wife's resentment and her subsequent death when he refused to discuss divorce.
"She never wanted me to touch her," he continued. "Everything we did together was out of obligation, not out of love. She died hating me."
Only now did everything come together for Imogene. Only now did it all make sense. "So that's why you were so determined we take it slowly?"
"Yes. Both with the riding and our lovemaking. I needed to make sure you were safe on the horse and willing in my bed."
"I think I proved to you several times I was willing."
Finally he smiled. A small one, but well worth his effort, in Imogene's opinion. "I had to be certain. I vowed I would not make love to a woman who did not want my attentions."
"I did, Raf." She still did. She also needed the answer to another question. "Is that the only reason you came here, to offer an explanation?"
He brought her hands to his lips for a kiss before resting them in his lap. "I came here tonight to amend my offer."
Imogene's heart tumbled to her toes. She had so hoped he'd come because he'd missed her. "Amend it in what way?"
"I wish to offer you more. A partnership."
"In the stable?"
"Yes. I would be willing to give you half the interest."
"Why on earth would you want to do that?"
"I spoke with the Granthams yesterday. They informed me that you have left your employer. They also told me you convinced them to sign on with BáHar's syndication. You have proven you have the stable's best interests at heart."
And he was still deeply engrained in her heart. "My way of repaying you for your instruction. It was the least I could do."
"There is something else you could do for me." He lowered his eyes to their joined hands. "I am afraid the last time I did this it only involved signing papers."
"You've had a partner before?"
He lifted his dark gaze to hers. "I am not referring to only the business. I would like you to be more than only a business partner. I would like you to be my wife. If I am not assuming too much in believing you would do me the honor."
Imogene wanted to scream, "Yes!" But not until she had one more question answered. "If you mean you're assuming that I'm in love with you, my answer would be a definite yes. But how do you feel about me?"
He wore his heart in his eyes when he said, "You are the most strong-willed woman I know. The most passionate and beautiful woman I have encountered. And the only woman I have ever loved."
Imogene could do nothing but stare at him since speaking was impossible due to the boulder in her throat.
He thumbed away a tear that slipped from the corner of her eye. "Imogene Danforth, will you marry me?"
"Yes." She gave him a smile and the last of her heart. "On one condition."
"Whatever you ask of me, I will honor that as long as you agree."
She laughed through her tears. "Never, ever call me Imogene again."
"You will have my promise, Genie."
As he took her into his arms, it began to rain. A steady deluge that seemed to wash away the past and resurrect the time they had spent together in discovery of each other and their love. The rain intensified, and so did Raf's kiss—a kiss that held all the passion Imogene had come to know so well in his arms, and a newfound emotion she was only beginning to realize.
After a time Raf broke the kiss and said, "Perhaps we should return to the party so that you can say a proper goodbye."
Imogene kissed his cheek. "I hate goodbyes. As far as I'm concerned, I don't intend to have any more in the near future."
"Then we should return inside before we ruin your dress. And then we should return to the stables so that I might remove it, slowly."
"That definitely sounds like a plan."
They came inside out of the rain, arms around waists until they entered to find a crush of people gathered in the main hall. Before Imogene could register what was happening, a hand grabbed her arm and tugged her forward. "Go up to the front of the crowd and take your place. Tina's about to toss the bouquet."
Imogene glanced at her mother, who seemed to be oblivious to the fact that her daughter was soaked to the skin. But Imogene wasn't oblivious to the fact that she'd been set up when the bouquet landed in her arms to resounding applause.
Imogene tossed the flowers back over one shoulder to a flurry of activity behind her. No doubt, a few belles had seen their chance and grabbed it and the flowers. Frankly, Imogene didn't care about anything but getting out of there with Raf.
"Why did you do that?" her mother asked. "And why do you look like a drowned rat?"
Imogene laughed. "I just came out of the rain and that's why I don't need the blasted bouquet."
Miranda frowned. "You are making no sense whatsoever."
Imogene glanced behind her to see Raf standing back from the crowd, his tuxedo dotted with rain and his head now uncovered. "It will all make sense if you follow me."
She hooked her arm through her mother's and worked her way back through the crowd while everyone stared at her as if she'd stripped naked. Once she reached Raf, she stopped and sent him a smile. "Raf Shakir, this is my mother, Miranda Danforth. Mother, is this my fiancé, Raf Shakir."
Her mother stared at Raf then leveled a wide-eyed gaze on Imogene. "I beg your pardon?"
Imogene left her mother's side to take Raf's hand. "I'll give you details later. Right now, we have better things to do."
As they turned and walked away, Miranda called out, "Imogene Danforth, you can't leave now after telling me something like that. Where are you going?"
Imogene regarded her mother over one shoulder and winked. "We're going to go find a wine cellar."
* * *
Epilogue
« ^
As the afternoon reception on the front lawn droned on under overcast skies, Raf stood apart from the wedding guests and watched his new wife work the crowd like the consummate businesswoman she would always be. But now she was his partner, his life, his all.
They had made their commitment official only a few hours ago in a simple ceremony inside the house, before an "intimate" gathering of 150 friends, associates and Genie's abundant family. Raf had requested they go away to be married, but he had not been able to refuse Genie when she had asked if he minded a real wedding. At least this time he had wed a woman who had been there of her own accord, not through obligation. A woman who had willingly demonstrated the true meaning of love when
she had agreed to be with him for all time.
Having had his fill of his wife's absence, Raf made his way to Genie's side to intervene in her conversation with a portly, gray-haired gentleman and his doting younger wife.
"Thank you, Mr. Worth," Genie said as Raf slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her close to his side. "We'll send you the information as soon as we return from our honeymoon."
"Most definitely," Raf said. "Now, if you will excuse us."
Without giving Genie time to issue a protest, Raf pulled her across the lawn and toward the stables.
"Where are we going?" she said, holding up her dress as they entered the aisle. "I'm going to get my dress dirty."
"Not if I remove it," he said without slowing his steps.
At the bottom of the staircase leading to the apartment, he gathered her into his arms and took the stairs two at a time, driven by his impatience, his desire. He released her only long enough to open the door before carrying her across the threshold, a tradition Doris had informed him was absolutely necessary, otherwise the marriage was not valid. Of course, Raf had not believed her, but he was not willing to test his luck.
Once inside, he slid Genie to her feet and held her close to his racing heart. She smiled up at him and asked, "Why did you bring me here?"
"First, because I could no longer tolerate not having you alone. Second, because we have not made love in here. And lastly, if I had left you to your devices, you would have sold all the shares in BáHar before evening's end."
Her glaze faltered. "Actually, I already have."
"This does not surprise me."
She sought his eyes again. "Are you angry with me?"
He touched the corner of her mouth, one of his favorite spots to kiss. The other was covered by the dress, something he planned to remedy soon. "Never. Now we will have plenty of time to concentrate on other things for the next two weeks while in Italy."
She loosened his tie as if entertaining the same ideas. "I can't wait."
"We will leave first thing tomorrow morning."
"I mean I can't wait." With a vibrant grin on her beautiful face, she worked the buttons on his coat and slipped it off his shoulders. "I don't see any reason why we can't take a break for a few minutes to start the honeymoon."
"I could not agree more. But first I have a question."
She began undoing the buttons on his shirt. "Okay. Ask away."
"Are you interested in breeding?"
She released the last button and ran her hands over his chest. "With the right stud, I might be. As long as it doesn't involved any kind of dummies or teasing mares. Just you and me, babe, doing what comes naturally."
"Then you do want children?"
She raised her gaze to his and he saw his future there. "Yes, Raf, I do. At least six."
He frowned. "Six?"
"Yeah. Six. Ali said it's a nice, even number. He also said with that many, you're assured that at least one will take care of you in your old age."
Raf could not suppress his laughter. "Ali is a wise man. However, I hope I will have the energy to father six children."
She worked his fly with deft fingers. "I have no doubt you will."
"I said 'father' six children, Genie. Not conceive them. I assure you I will be up to that task for many years."
Genie freed him and ran a slow fingertip along his length, invoking his total arousal. "I believe you are up for it now."
Fueled by his passion for her, by his vast love for her, Raf divested her of the simple satin wedding gown and removed the rest of his clothes. But before he could carry her to the nearby bedroom, a rap sounded at the door.
Raf groaned with frustration. "What is it!"
"It is Ali, Sheikh. The bride's mother wishes to know when you will cut the cake. The crowd is growing restless."
So was Imogene since Raf had already starting touching her everywhere she liked to be touched. "Tell her to give us an hour and keep the champagne flowing. That should keep them—" she gasped when Raf found the right spot with one gifted finger "—happy."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
"Your Highness?" Imogene said when Raf swept her off her feet and into his arms.
"Yes, Genie. You are a princess now."
As Raf carried her down the hall, she laid her head against his strong chest. "And you are definitely my prince, especially when you're being so charming to my mother. She is totally smitten with you. And my dad really likes you, too. Now, my brothers, they're going to be a little harder to win over since I'm their little sister." And if only the other little sister had been there today, watching Imogene marry the man she loved. If only…
Raf laid her down on the patchwork quilt covering the bed and held her face in his palms. "We will continue to search for her, Genie."
Once more Raf had read her well, just one more thing she loved about him. "It's okay, Raf. I'm still going to hold on to that hope. It will be much easier now that I have you to hold on to."
His features seemed so solemn for such a wonderful time. "As much as I would like to finish this, I would not blame you if you wish to return to your family. You have my blessing, if that is what you want."
She lifted his hand and surveyed the plain gold band that matched hers, symbols that they belonged together. "You're my family, too, Raf. I want to be with you right now. Only you. Because I love you more than you know."
"I love you as well, Genie. Always and completely." The proof shone through when Raf made love to Imogene, not once closing his eyes, dispelling all her doubts that she was the only one on his mind, in his heart, in his life.
In the aftermath he said her name on a whisper, touched her with reverence, gave her the greatest pleasure she had known when he told her he loved her again.
And as they held each other, contented, satisfied, it began to rain.
"Thanks to tropical storm season, it looks like we won't be leaving here anytime soon," Imogene said. "I wouldn't want to ruin my dress."
Raf smiled the smile that had been partially responsible for Imogene's final fall into love. "Rest assured, Genie, I will never leave you. I would not want to ruin my life."
Imogene didn't worry about the abandoned and probably drenched wedding guests, or her future, or the things she couldn't control. She only wanted to stay in her husband's arms, making more memories to bring out on a rainy day.
And she hoped for many more rainy days to come.
* * * * *
