by Tina Duncan
‘What the A stands for.’
He laughed. ‘Do I have to?’
Shara nodded. ‘If you love me, you have to tell me.’
‘That’s blackmail.’
‘Quit stalling.’
‘Aristotle,’ Royce muttered.
Shara wrinkled her nose at him. ‘Awful.’
He nodded. ‘Awful. Promise you won’t ask me to give any of our children such an awful name.’
Her expression changed. ‘Children? You want to have children with me?’
‘I certainly do,’ he said firmly. ‘Although I want you to myself for a while first. Let’s wait until we’ve been married for a couple of years before starting a family.’
‘Married …?’
That was it. That was all she said.
He cupped the side of her face. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it yet. It’s probably too soon. I know you had a bad time with Brady, so I can understand if you’re a little hesitant about getting married again. But I want to put my ring on your finger. I want the world to know you’re mine. So think about it.’
‘I don’t have to think about it.’
Her expression was so serious that his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach and then kept right on going. ‘But—’
She laid a finger across his lips. ‘No buts.’
‘But—’
‘Let me finish.’
Royce snapped his mouth closed. She could finish—but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Defeat was not a word in his vocabulary.
Shara smiled. ‘You’re not very good at following instructions.’
‘What are you talking about?’
Her eyes twinkled. ‘If you want my co-operation what do you need to do?’
His face cleared. Then he dropped on one bended knee. ‘Shara Atwood, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
Her eyes misted. ‘Why?’
‘Because I love you with all of my heart.’
Shara flung herself at him. ‘Of course I’ll marry you. Just try and stop me.’
His lungs seized, then started working again. He let out a whoop that could probably be heard throughout the entire neighbourhood and then swooped, taking her mouth with his.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
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First published in Great Britain 2011
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Tina Duncan 2011
ISBN: 978-1-408-92638-3
