He lifted his head and stared down at her. 'I didn't—I'm sure—What did I say?'
Unexpectedly she felt a little shy. She said, so low that he had to lean near her to hear the words, 'You said, "Love me? I adore you." She gave an odd little laugh. 'Which on your list of girl-friends was that meant for?'
For a moment he looked baffled. Then he let out a roar of laughter. 'Oh—that! Yes, I remember now. It was an advert.'
'An advert?'
'Well, an idea for one. I was just doodling, trying to think of a good advertising gimmick for Durrant's writing paper. Afterwards I found out that the idea had been used before, so of course I scrapped it.' His voice changed. 'No, my darling girl, in spite of the incriminating evidence you thought you found, I was telling the truth when I said I'd never before told a woman I loved her. Never until you, my beloved little wife.'
Gemma was silent. It wouldn't have mattered— not now—but she felt a curious satisfaction in having at last had the riddle solved for her, and so very satisfactorily solved.
'You believe me, don't you?' He stroked her smooth hair back from her face, his dark eyes glittering into hers in the dusky room. 'You believe that there's never been another girl that I wanted to keep beside me—for good—that the others are just shadows in the past, where they'll remain? You believe me?'
'Oh yes,' Gemma said softly, 'I believe you.'
His head sank back on the pillow beside hers. His arms held her close.
'Love me?' he murmured against her ear and there was a smile in his deep voice. 'I adore you.'
Dangerous Male Page 16
