The Paper Marriage
Page 19
“I’m glad you and Miguel are friends again,” she said. “Do you realize that if he hadn’t kidnapped me you might be still dodging the issue between us?”
“What do you mean?”
“Every time I asked you about Stella you changed the subject or prevaricated.”
“Only because I was unsure of how you felt. Every time I tried to find out about how you felt about Kevin you stiffened and pulled away from me. Then from all accounts Miguel found favour with you, but you kept me in my place with all your talk about rights,” he taunted vigorously, turning her to him and kissing her very firmly on the mouth again.
“Owen, someone might see us,” she murmured, pulling away from him reluctantly.
“Who, for instance? And does it matter if they do?”
Brooke glanced round. Behind her the house was quiet. In front of her the fields shimmered gold and green in the bright sunlight. Shadows were strong and black where walls and trees stood. In the distance the hills slumbered in a violet haze. Later the moon would shine, a silver sickle in the purple-black sky, and someone would play a love-song on a cuatro.
“We’re all alone, you and I,” murmured Owen.
“Antonia?” she queried.
“Gone to her own house. She’ll come if needed, and I don’t think we’ll be needing her. Would you like to stay with me here for a few days?”
“What about Megan?”
“She’s doing well. She likes her new grandparents.”
“But you’ve always put her first.”
“Often, but not always, and not any more now that you’re around,” he said against her hair as he held her close again. “We didn’t have time for a honeymoon. Maybe if we had you wouldn’t have got so mixed up in your thinking.”
“I got mixed up!” she exclaimed, half laughing. “What about you? Oh, Owen, I’d love to stay here with you for a while.”
“Then we shall stay, but only on one condition,” he said bluntly. “What is that?” she asked coolly.
“That we share a bedroom, of course,” he retorted.
“Supposing I won’t agree to your condition, what will you do?” she replied, daring to tease him a little more.
His immediate answer was to act in a way which took her breath away. Moving quickly and decisively, he swept her up into his arms, holding her easily although she knew she was no featherweight.
“I can see that there’s only one way to deal with you, girl,” he threatened softly, and the blaze in his eyes made her pulse race and her cheeks burn.
“And what way is that?” she asked breathlessly. It was a new and wonderful experience to be held like this by the man she loved and she rejoiced in his strength.
“Show you that I love you,” he said simply, and kicking open the screen door with one foot, he carried her across the threshold and into the house.
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