At that realization, something shifted in his heart. The bitter feelings he'd held against his father for so long had vanished. Victoria was responsible for that. After his breakup with Melanie, David had thought that he'd never trust another woman again. But Victoria had scaled the barriers of his heart. Through her, he'd seen another side of his cold-hearted father. She'd taught him that in order to get on with his life, he had to let his harsh feelings for his father go.
Standing, David paced to the window. From the first, Edward had known there was something special about Victoria. David wasn't sure why. He would never know. But that's why his father had taken her in, why he had encouraged her. Trusted her with the operation of the plantation in his son's absence.
It was why he'd asked David to take care of her.
Somehow, his father had known that Victoria would need him. He suspected, also, that Edward knew that he needed Victoria just as much.
But Victoria didn't know that, because David, trying to protect his heart, hadn't told her how he truly felt about her. Well, he wasn't going to let her go without a fight.
He loved her. With all his heart. God, she had to believe him.
He'd tried to talk to her again when they'd arrived back at Cottonwood, but Imogene had snatched her sister away to reminisce and bring her up-to-date on family matters. David hadn't wanted to get in the way, so he'd gone into his office. But he couldn't let Victoria leave without talking to her one more time.
He couldn't live without her.
* * *
Victoria stared out the window of her bedroom at the plantation. In only moments, her parents would arrive. As much as she wanted to see them, she dreaded every minute that ticked by. Each one inched her closer and closer to the moment when she'd have to leave David.
After her release papers had been signed by the doctor, she'd dressed and they'd left the hospital. By the time she checked out, the news media had staked out the entire area. The hospital staff had ushered her out through a private exit in order to avoid the horde of reporters who had set up camp just outside the front doors of the building. She knew that eventually she'd have to talk to the media, but she just couldn't do it now. Not while all of her emotions were on edge. She needed time to adjust to all that had happened to her.
Time to get over leaving David.
She fought back the tears that threatened. Imogene had reached their parents on their cell phone, giving them directions to the plantation and again assuring them that Victoria was all right.
All right.
Shivering, Victoria faced the truth. She was never going to feel all right again because she was leaving her heart here.
With David.
"Nothing will be the same when you go back."
At the sound of David's voice, Victoria's heart stilled. She turned, and her gaze found his. He stood in the frame of the doorway, a looming presence, his expression serious and intense, and oh, God, he could melt her with just a look. How was she ever going to get over him?
"Savannah?" A wistful look flashed through her eyes. "No, I suppose not. I'm sure it's changed."
"I'm not talking about Savannah." Shoving away from the door, David ambled across the room, stopping only inches from her. "You've changed. You're not the same girl you were when you left."
That was true, she thought. Now she was a woman, and she knew how it felt to be loved by him. "I suppose I have. But Savannah is my home."
"You're wrong, Tori. This is your home."
"No." Tears brimmed in her eyes as she shook her head. "Cottonwood is yours, not mine, David. It always has been."
He touched her face with the palm of his hand. "At one time I thought that was true," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "When I came back, I was ready to run you off."
"I know," she said quietly. "I was never after Cottonwood, or your father's money."
David let out a breath. "I didn't really think you were."
"You didn't?" Her eyebrows lifted.
"I was trying get rid of you because I was so damned attracted to you and I didn't want to be."
Caught off-guard by his confession, Tori stared at him, disbelief written on her features.
"Does that surprise you, Tori? That I wanted you?"
He moved closer and she felt engulfed by his male scent. It wrapped around her like a warm blanket, pulling her to him. "Yes," she whispered, wanting to believe him. But David had the power to destroy her.
"I've wanted you ever since I walked back into this house. Actually, I've wanted you for years. While I was living in Atlanta, I thought about coming back for you, but I couldn't risk the wrath of my father so I stayed away."
Victoria searched his face. His eyes were steady, his expression solemn. He was telling the truth. "I had no idea." At least, she'd had no idea when he'd left five years ago that he'd wanted her. Now, though, she did. But desire wasn't the same as love. As much as it hurt, she still couldn't stay here—not without his love.
"I didn't want you to know how I felt about you. To be honest, I'd been hurt, first by my father and then by Melanie. I didn't think I could ever trust someone again."
"But you can now?"
"You're unlike any woman I've ever met, Tori. You showed me how to let my bitterness for my father go. You taught me to forgive him."
Licking her lips, Victoria stared at him. "He loved you in his own way."
"I know that now," he said. "Just like I know that I can trust you with my heart."
"Really, David?"
"You taught me something else. You taught me how to love again."
Hope filled Victoria. She wanted so much to believe him. "I want to believe you," she whispered.
"I love you, Tori. Please don't leave me."
The heat of his body drew her toward him. Her heart hammering, she lifted her hands to his face. "You love me?" she asked, a shiver going through her.
Looking into her eyes, David slipped his arms around her. He leaned his head down and touched his lips to hers. Then he straightened, keeping her within the circle of his arms. "I do, sweetheart. And I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me."
Victoria's eyes teared. "Oh, David, I love you, too. I have for so long." She slipped her arms around his waist.
He groaned. "I've waited a long time for you." David felt the tension leave his body as she held him. His lips took hers in a heated kiss, his tongue briefly exploring her mouth before he raised his head. "I thought I was too late. I thought you were going to leave me," he admitted.
She smiled up at him. "I was. I didn't think you meant it when you told me at the hospital that you loved me."
He kissed her again. "I picked a heck of a time to admit how I felt about you, waiting until you'd gotten your memory back. But when Imogene confronted you at the Thanksgiving celebration, and it became clear that you were really her sister, I realized I could lose you. I've been such a fool. I should have told you a long time ago that I was in love with you. When you got your memory back, I could see you slipping away from my life. I began to panic."
She leaned up and kissed his mouth. "It was quite a shock learning my identity."
"For both of us." David tightened his arms around her. "I know that you want to be with your family now. Though I want to keep Cottonwood, I'm willing to move to Savannah so that I can be with you."
Her eyes widened as she leaned away to get a better look at his face. "You'd move to Savannah? What about your plans to return to Atlanta?"
"I'm not going back to Atlanta," he told her.
"But I heard you. Yesterday. You were on the phone with Justin, and I heard you tell him that your plans hadn't changed. I assumed you meant that you were planning on returning to Atlanta when the term of the will was up."
Understanding dawned on David. "That's why you suddenly become so quiet and distant, why you wanted to return to Cottonwood so quickly?"
She licked her lips. "Well, yes."
"Sweetheart, tha
t conversation had nothing to do with you, with us. It was about business."
"Really?"
"Believe me, honey, the only plan I have is to live with you wherever you want."
"Oh, David, I love you so much." Victoria smiled. In all of her dreams, she'd never thought that her life would turn out like this. She'd arrived at Cottonwood alone and confused, her memory wiped from her mind.
From the moment she'd seen David, he'd stolen her heart. Now she had her memory, her family and David's love. It was a fairy tale come true.
"What about your company in Atlanta?"
"I've turned the day-to-day operations over to Justin. He's more than capable of running the company. Once you've had time to get reacquainted with your family, I'd like to come back here, make it our home."
Victoria's heart flipped. "Live here?" she breathed out, her pulse racing. "At Cottonwood?"
"I've learned a lot since I came back home. I've accepted that my father couldn't change who he was."
"I think it broke his heart when your mother died. He never recovered. But he loved you, David. Like you, he didn't want to trust his heart to anyone, not even his child."
"I know. I'm sorry that we didn't totally iron out our differences before he died, but I believe we made a peace, of sons."
"You did," she replied, pleased by his insight. But that didn't pacify her uneasiness about his being happy here. Finding acceptance of your past and living in your ancestral home were two different things. The last thing she'd ever want is for him to regret such a choice. "And you're sure you wouldn't mind living here?"
"I fell in love with you here, Tori. I want to live here with you for the rest of my life." David took her hand and knelt down on the floor on one knee. "I love you. Will you marry me?"
Delighted, she stared incredulously at him. "Oh, yes, yes!" She hugged him. Leaning away she looked into his eyes, as a wondrous thought hit her. "Only—"
He eyed her with speculation. "Only what?"
She grinned. "This is an awfully big house. How would you feel about filling it with children?"
With a laugh, he kissed her hungrily. "I think we should get started on it right away. How do you feel about short engagements?"
* * *
Epilogue
« ^
Dressed in a stunning white strapless gown, Victoria made her way through the crowd of people gathered in the grand ballroom of one of the finest hotels in Savannah. The celebration of her Uncle Abraham's election to the Senate was in full swing. Continuous chatter from the crowd blended with the sounds of big band music.
After her parents had arrived at the plantation, she'd spent some time alone with them, assuring them that she was fine. Being with them had been wonderful. Once everything had calmed down, she and David informed them of their plans to be married. They'd already told Imogene and Raf. Imogene had confessed that she'd suspected there was something romantic between them.
It had gone well, she thought, as she pushed open the door of the ladies' room. Her parents had responded with enthusiasm, easily accepting their adult daughter's decision. After spending time with David, they seemed to be crazy about him, which thrilled her all the more. Over the past few days, he had been welcomed into the fold of the Danforth family.
So that she could visit with her entire family, Victoria had returned to Savannah for a few days. David had come with her, and they had spent hours visiting with her siblings, aunts, uncles and many cousins. All of them had been supportive and loving, and Victoria felt like the luckiest woman on earth.
But it only took a few days of being away from the plantation before she began missing her home. She and David had eventually returned to enjoy the peace and quiet of the country.
Or so they thought.
She thought back over the past week. The media frenzy had been totally exhausting, and their telephone hadn't stopped ringing. Her name and picture had been plastered on practically every newspaper in the country, as well as shown on all the major television networks. Reporters had been camping out at the entrance to their property for days.
Victoria had held a press conference just yesterday to talk to the reporters about her ordeal. Still, that did not satisfy their thirst for information. Their telephone had continued to ring.
David had insisted on hiring someone to represent them who could field requests for interviews. It was then that they'd decided on a course of action that would, indeed, surprise her family when they broke the news to them tonight.
Making her way out of a stall, Victoria began washing her hands. She was just about finished when she heard someone else come into the ladies' room. Looking up, she saw Nicola Granville, her uncle's campaign manager.
"Hello, Nicola," she said, smiling at the beautiful red-haired woman she'd met earlier in the evening.
"Victoria!" Startled, she stopped in her tracks. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
"We haven't had a chance to talk. I want you to know that I'm glad you're back with your family."
Victoria gave Nicola a warm smile. "Thanks. I hope my reappearance hasn't caused adverse publicity for my uncle."
"Hardly," Nicola replied. "He's been joking that it had gotten him the sympathy vote." She chuckled. "Seriously, Abraham is thrilled that you're back home, safe and sound. All of your family is. They can't stop talking about it." Suddenly, she stopped speaking and put her hand to her forehead.
"Are you all right?" Victoria asked, noticing the woman's pale complexion.
Nicola replied, "Yes, I'm fine."
But clearly she wasn't. Victoria walked toward her as she dried her hands with a paper towel. Before she could say anything more, Nicola cupped her hand over her mouth, then darted around her. She pushed through the door of a stall and abruptly lost the contents of her stomach in the toilet.
Victoria rushed to help her. "Oh, honey," she cried. "You are certainly not all right." She darted to the paper towel dispenser, grabbed a few towels, then ran them under cool water. Returning to Nicola's side, she held the compress against her forehead until she felt a little better.
"Thank you," Nicola said sincerely. She walked to the sink, rinsed out her mouth and washed her hands.
"Maybe you should sit down for a few moments," Victoria suggested. She spotted some tissues on the vanity. Snatching some, she gave them to Nicola.
Nicola, looking as weak as an injured bird, shook her head. "I feel better now."
"Really?" Victoria asked. She found that hard to believe. The woman's skin looked clammy, and her skin tone had regained none of its color.
The other woman shrugged. "I'm sure I am. I must have some kind of twenty-four-hour bug or something."
Victoria frowned. "Really? Well, I hope that's all it is. I heard the flu is going around." She tossed a paper towel into the trash can. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No, I'm fine. But thank you."
"Well, if you think you're okay, I guess I'll go."
"I'll be all right," Nicola insisted. "Thanks again for helping me."
"You're welcome. I'll see you later," Victoria answered. She left the bathroom and went in search of David.
"Looking for me?" David asked, slipping his arm around her as she walked back into the ballroom. He nuzzled her neck, and she moved into his embrace.
"Always," she murmured, her eyes shining as she gazed at him.
"Are you all right?" he asked. She continued to amaze him. Intelligent and graceful, she'd handled everything that had been thrown at her with innate charm. She'd had the reporters eating out of her hand.
"I'm wonderful." Pressing her mouth to his, she moaned softly when he drew away. "Are you ready?"
"I have to admit that I'm having second thoughts." Although David had never shied away from confrontation, he wasn't sure he was ready to face Victoria's family.
"Oh, you can't back out now, darling," she said, then started leading the way to the table where her parents and the rest o
f her family were seated. "It's too late."
"You're right," he agreed as he followed her across the room. "But they're going to be shocked."
Victoria smiled back at him. "Not as shocked as they were when Genie called them and told them she'd found me."
They arrived at the table where Miranda and Harold were seated along with Imogene, Raf, Jake and his wife, Larissa. Toby and Heather had left earlier in the day to return to Wyoming. Instead of sitting down, Victoria and David continued to stand beside the table. "Mom, Dad, everyone," Victoria stated to get their attention.
Everyone stopped speaking and looked at her. Victoria smiled at David, then shifted her gaze to her family. "David and I have an announcement."
Jake winked at his sister. "If you're going to tell us that you're going to another concert, the answer is no."
"Very cute." Everyone burst out laughing. Victoria gave her brother a mock look of frustration. She'd endured a lot of teasing since she'd returned, but she knew her brothers loved her, and it made her feel even more endeared to them. "No," she said patiently, a smile playing on her lips, "that's not what I'm going to say."
Taking a deep breath, she licked her lips. "There's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to tell you straight out. David and I eloped today. We're married!" Beaming, she held out her hand and showed them her rings, a gold band with diamonds that matched the round brilliant diamond he'd given her the day after he'd asked her to marry him.
"Married?" Harold exclaimed.
Miranda got to her feet. "What?" In moments, everyone was standing and talking at once.
"We know you're surprised, and probably even disappointed," David said. "But we decided against having a wedding, and we didn't want to wait to pledge our commitment to each other."
"This past week has been crazy," Victoria explained breathlessly. "The media hasn't left us alone. We figured it would be months before the publicity would settle down and we could get married without nationwide attention focused on us."
David spoke directly to Miranda and Harold. "I want you all to know that I love your daughter. She's the most important thing in my life."
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