The Consultant's Adopted Son

by Jennifer Taylor

  He suddenly bent and swept her into his arms, ignoring her startled gasp as he carried her into the sitting room and set her on the sofa. He sat down beside her and took her in his arms. ‘Try this for starters. If it doesn’t work, we can try something else.’

  ‘Something else—’ she began, but it was difficult to have a rational discussion when his mouth had claimed hers in a kiss that immediately stole her ability to string two words together. Rose sighed blissfully when he raised his head. ‘That was rather nice.’

  ‘Nice?’ He drew back in affront. ‘It was more than nice. It was brilliant!’

  ‘Sorry!’ She laughed, loving this new, gentler side he was showing her. The old Owen Gallagher would never have teased her this way and it was wonderful to know that he could be so open with her. ‘I didn’t mean to put a dent in your ego. Anyway, nice is a lovely word.’

  ‘It seems a bit half-hearted to me,’ he grumbled, pulling her back into his arms. ‘I’m aiming for a full-blown assault on your emotions, not some halfhearted little tin-pot campaign.’

  He kissed her again, and there was nothing halfhearted about this kiss. This kiss would have turned any woman’s head—and she wasn’t just any woman. She was the woman Owen had just confessed to love, and that made her feel very special indeed.

  Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She had no doubts about how she felt and she showed him that through her kiss. She loved him, too, loved and wanted him, and just being in his arms was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her…apart from finding Daniel, of course.

  Tears suddenly streamed down her face and Owen pulled back in alarm. ‘Rose! Darling, what have I done?’

  ‘Nothing. It’s not your fault,’ she murmured, laughing and crying at the same time. ‘Well, yes, it is. It’s you and Daniel, and how happy I feel…’

  She couldn’t go on, but he understood. His own voice was thickened with emotion. ‘I feel the same way. I have Daniel and I’ve found you. I never thought I could be this happy again.’

  ‘I’m so glad. I know how much you loved Laura, and I swear that I won’t ever feel jealous of what you had with her.’ She kissed him tenderly, meaning every word. ‘Even if you can only feel for me a fraction of the love you felt for Laura, I’ll be happy.’

  He returned her kiss and his eyes were brimming with tears when he looked at her. ‘I loved Laura, and I always will love her. But loving her doesn’t mean that I can’t love you, Rose. I love you just as much, and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how I feel.’

  ‘Then I think I can meet you more than halfway.’ She smiled up at him with her heart in her eyes. ‘I love you, Owen. I just want to be with you and make you happy, if you’ll let me. I was so afraid of telling you how I felt because I knew we couldn’t be together if Daniel didn’t want to see me any more.’ Her voice broke. ‘I would never have done anything to hurt you or him.’

  ‘I…You…Oh, hell!’

  He swept her into his arms and kissed her, leaving her no room for any doubts as his lips plundered hers. Yet even though his mouth demanded a response it also told her how much he cared about her, too. When he stood up and held out his hand Rose didn’t hesitate. She let him lead her into her bedroom and knew it was what she wanted more than anything. She wanted to put the seal on their love because this would be the commitment they both needed.

  Owen slowly undressed her, taking his time as he helped her out of her blouse and jeans. His eyes grazed over her, hot with desire and tender with love, and she shivered.

  ‘You’re so beautiful, Rose,’ he whispered, tracing the curve of her breast with a gentle finger. His hand moved lower, passing lightly over her belly. ‘Even more beautiful because you’re the reason I have Daniel. Thank you for being brave enough to give him up. My life wouldn’t have been the same without him.’

  Rose was so touched that she couldn’t speak, but she didn’t need words to tell him how she felt. When he stripped off his clothes and took her in his arms, she showed him how much he meant to her. They made love with a tenderness that made them both cry, but they were healing tears. They had both suffered terrible losses in their lives but they had found each other now.

  Rose kissed him on the mouth then looked deep into his eyes. ‘I love you and I want to be with you from now on. I know we will have to take things slowly because of Daniel, but I don’t want there to be any mistake about how I feel.’

  ‘There won’t be, because I love you, too.’

  Owen kissed her back, and the kiss was about to lead to something more when the phone suddenly rang. They both froze when they heard the answering-machine cut in, followed by a familiar voice leaving a message.

  ‘Hi, Rose. Hi, Dad. I just wanted to check that you guys were OK. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I’m going to do some studying. Somebody is going to have to keep you two in your dotage! Anyway, have fun and be careful—although a baby brother or sister could help to keep you on your toes while I’m at uni!’

  The message ended and Rose looked at Owen in horror. ‘I’m not on the Pill!’

  ‘Oh!’ He burst out laughing. ‘I don’t know how we’re going to live it down if you get pregnant. When I think of all the lectures I’ve given Daniel about having safe sex…!’

  Rose giggled. ‘We’re going to look like a real pair of idiots, aren’t we?’

  ‘We are. Although it would be worth it.’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘I can’t think of anything I’d like more than to have another child with you, Rose.’

  ‘Me, too,’ she agreed dreamily, her mind full of delicious thoughts of babies.

  ‘There’s just one proviso, though.’

  ‘And that is?’

  ‘We have to get married.’ His expression was stern all of a sudden. ‘We want to set a good example for Daniel, don’t we?’

  ‘I don’t think Daniel needs us to show him the way. You’ve brought him up so well that he knows what’s right.’

  ‘So you’re saying that you don’t want to marry me?’

  ‘No. I’m saying that I will marry you because I want to, not for any other reason.’ She kissed him softly. ‘My answer is yes, Owen, so do you think we should celebrate?’

  ‘Oh, yes! Celebrations are definitely in order!’

  The Times, Saturday 19th March Gallagher. To Rose (née Tremayne) and Owen, a daughter, Carys. A precious sister for Daniel. Mother and daughter both well, father and brother ecstatic!

  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 B.V. 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.

  MILLS & BOON and MILLS & BOON with the Rose Device are registered trademarks of the publisher.

  © Jennifer Taylor 2006

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-5861-0

  *Worlds Together