by Jan Colley
Adam cleared his throat. “Jasmine, last week I couldn’t say the right words. I would never marry anyone I wasn’t head over heels about. But I made a real mess of it and you were quite right to turn me down.”
She looked into his eyes and saw that he was completely serious. The tension overwhelmed her; the desire to believe him was immense. After all the secrets and games between them, could it be true that Adam Thorne wanted her for no other reason than love?
Adam lowered his arm and as he did, the ring box snapped shut. Jasmine couldn’t help the tiny moan of protest and longing that slipped out.
He noticed. Smiling, he lifted her hand and wrapped her fingers around the box, covering both with his hand. She looked up at him and opened her mouth to speak, but he put his index finger on her lips. “Just let me get this out.”
He was nervous, she realized incredulously. She had to bite her lip not to smile, not to pat his arm and tell him he was doing fine. Amazingly, wonderfully fine.
“I wanted you at first because you were so—cool and unattainable. And because Nick said I couldn’t.” A quick smile flashed over his face. “I like needling Nick. But then I got to know you, all your secrets and intrigues, all the sadness and disappointments. And then, Vienna.”
“Vienna.” Jasmine sighed against his finger. Where she had free-fallen into orgasm and the explosive knowledge that she loved him desperately at the very same instant.
“I agreed to Stewart’s demand because my pride was hurt,” Adam continued, “knowing deep down that it was wrong, it wasn’t what I wanted to do. But I couldn’t get my head around it. I mean, what engagement? It was a sham, and anyway, you’d finished with me. There were other valid reasons but I knew—I knew I’d let you down just like your mother and just like your ex. And I knew it would come back to haunt me.”
Jasmine’s heart went out to him, humbled that he, too, had suffered so much.
“After the publicity hit, I felt that marriage was the right—the only—thing to offer, but still I couldn’t admit to myself, let alone you, that I loved you. I’m so sorry for that.”
“I so very nearly said yes.” Jasmine exhaled sadly and reached up to place her hand on his cheek. The leather glove against his stubble scraped dully. “It’s not like I have high expectations. But I love you so much, I couldn’t stand to tie you into a marriage because you pitied me.”
There was no guilt or pity in his eyes now. He turned his head and pressed his lips against her fingers. “Then say yes, because love is the right reason, the only reason.”
His hand squeezed hers around the jewelry box, reminding her of its presence. Joy and hope, waiting in the wings for so long, began to fill and warm her from top to toe. Yet, caution—an innate part of her nature these last few years—still whispered questions in her mind. “And Stewart? Maybe I can talk to him?”
“I’ve talked to him already, told him that’s not the way I do business. He’s thinking about it. In the meantime, I’ve asked Nick to underwrite the debt if the other investors pull out. It’s a risk I’m prepared—and equipped—to take.”
Jasmine’s mouth dropped open. “You asked Nick for help?”
“He didn’t mention it?”
She shook her head, full of wonder.
“Probably still in shock,” Adam said, smiling.
For Adam Thorne to ask his brother for help was unbelievable. Nick was the very last person in the world Adam would admit to that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t have the deck stacked. “That must have cost you.”
“You have no idea.” He ran a hand along his brow.
Jasmine liked his family so much. When she’d refused point-blank to go to the launch tonight, Nick had pulled rank quite forcefully.
“You haven’t worked out your notice,” he’d warned. “That still makes me your boss. Now, get dressed!”
Now she smiled at his brother. “I get the impression Nick wants me back at work.”
“Nick will like the idea of you as his sister-in-law better, trust me,” Adam told her confidently.
Nick’s sister-in-law. It sounded wonderful.
Just one more thing stopped her from giving in to the impulse to jump on him and scream her delight, and get that gorgeous ring on her finger before he changed his mind—or they were mugged. “Where would we live?”
“There is room at that dusty old manor for me, isn’t there?”
“Of course.” She blinked. “But you always intended on going home, setting up there.”
He nodded. “There will be some teething problems, especially initially. I know I said I wanted everything perfect before I married, but we can work out these things over time.” He took both her hands. “All I know is, you need to be at Pembleton for now, and I need to be with you.”
“It’s not like we don’t have support, good support, here and in New Zealand,” she agreed. Gill was very capable if given direction and when her father passed, there would be Stewart. “I think a wedding will perk Father up, give him something extra to mutter about.”
Adam pulled her into his front, their hands in between them. “As soon as you like,” he said solemnly. “Sooner.”
Then he bent close. “I think it’s customary in deals of this nature to seal the contract with a kiss.”
They kissed, a long sweet kiss, full of friendship and forgiveness, hope and love. Jasmine felt the remnants of her reserve and caution melt away.
“Just one thing worries me.”
He pulled back, putting on a long-suffering look.
“You like excitement. Fast cars. Clubs and fine food. Travel and stock-market drama.” She cocked her head. “Isn’t playing an English gentleman in the countryside going to be rather tame?”
Adam all but rolled his eyes at her. In reply, he pulled her glove off and she watched, thrilled to bits as he slid the beautiful ring onto her finger.
“Let’s see,” Adam murmured, holding her hand up and bending each finger closed as he ticked off his points. “Fake engagements. Royal fiancé’s. A scandalous past. An eccentric billionaire.” He paused, but Jasmine was too caught up in the glitter of the diamond on her hand to notice.
“The sight of you in nothing but ankle boots on an antique canopied bed…”
She glanced up at his face, his wonderful, loving smile, and matched it with one of her own.
Adam squeezed her fingers. “Jasmine Cooper, if you promise to try and make life marginally less frenetic, I promise to love, cherish and try my best to keep up with you.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4102-6
HIS VIENNA CHRISTMAS BRIDE
Copyright © 2009 by Jan Colley
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