Richard could not believe things had turned out this well.
And yet …
"You said you wouldn't marry for any reason other than love," he threw at her.
Her eyes softened, reminding him of the warm, loving, sensual girl he'd spent the weekend with. But then, suddenly, they hardened again.
"Don't argue with me, Richard. Will you do this for me, or not?"
"I'll do it today."
She breathed in deeply, then let it out in one long, shuddering sigh. "Good. One other thing."
"Yes?"
"Take me away somewhere. I … I have to get away from here for a while."
He saw it then, the fragility behind the superficial hardness. She was like a thin sheet of glass. One little shake and she would shatter. Getting her right away would be a good idea. He wouldn't mind a break himself.
"Where would you like to go?" he asked gently.
"I don't care," she said, desperation in her eyes. "Anywhere, as long as it's a long way from here."
"Do you have a current passport?"
"Of course not," she said with a bitter laugh. "You're looking at a go-nowhere nobody. A fool and a dreamer."
"I don't think you're a fool," he said, making his way slowly towards her. "And I don't think there's anything wrong with being a dreamer, as long as you dream nice dreams."
"I dreamt of owning Dad's flower shop," she said, her voice breaking off with a sob.
"I know, darling," he said softly, and gathered her into his arms. "I know."
"Oh, Richard," she cried, and buried her face in his chest, her hands clutching at the lapels of his suit jacket. "She was so horrid. So hateful! I don't understand people like that."
"Don't think about her any more, Holly. Put her out of your mind and out of your life. People like that are poison. And don't worry. This shop will be all yours by the end of the day. I promise."
"And I'll be all yours," she returned on a whisper, then began to cry again.
Richard tightened his hold on her, telling himself that he was doing the right thing. But he knew he wasn't.
She'd once said how corrupting it must be to be able to buy anything you wanted. It seemed it was. He'd wanted Holly as his bride. And he was about to buy her, even though he knew it was wrong.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to love you and leave you, Holly," he said, putting her at arm's length. "I have to get onto the real estate agent before they shut up shop today. I suggest you get busy as well. You said you have a girl who comes in sometimes to help you?"
"Yes, Sara. She comes from Wednesday till Saturday."
"Would she look after the shop for you if you went away tomorrow?"
"I'm sure she would. Did you say tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'm going to see if I can get tickets on the Spirit of Tasmania. I know it leaves Sydney for Tasmania every Tuesday afternoon."
"Tasmania!" Her lovely eyes lit up. "Oh, I've always wanted to go there. I saw a segment on a holiday programme on TV about that trip. You can take your car on the ferry and they have proper cabins and everything. It'll be like a mini cruise."
"I'm glad you like the idea." Richard was struck with a momentary crisis of conscience. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this, Holly? The shop, and the marriage, and everything."
Her eyes cleared. Her chin lifted. "Absolutely."
"So be it," he said.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"LOOK, Richard!" Holly exclaimed. "We're going under the Harbour Bridge! Doesn't it look fabulous from down here?"
"It sure does," he agreed.
They were standing out on the back deck of the Spirit Of Tasmania, along with several other passengers, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sunshine and the wonderful sights of the city as the ferry made its way slowly from the wharf at Darling Harbour towards Sydney Heads.
"I still can't believe how quickly you did everything," Holly said, with an awed glance up at the handsome man next to her. "The shop. This trip. My ring … " She looked back down at her left hand, and the glorious diamond engagement ring sparkling on her ring finger.
"My mother says I'm an overachiever."
Holly smiled up at him. "In that case, I like overachievers." She would have preferred to say love. But overnight, Holly had come to terms with her one-sided love for Richard. He did care about her. And he was totally committed to their marriage. That meant a lot. And who knew? In time, the memory of his wife would surely fade. Joanna was dead and Holly was here, in the flesh, to look after him, and love him.
Miracles did happen. After all, who would have believed she'd shortly be the proud owner of A Flower A Day? Or living in that incredible penthouse? Or having a man like Richard as her husband and the father of her children?
On the other hand, there was no getting round the fact that her impulsive decision to let Richard buy her as his wife was no miracle. It had been partly inspired by fury. A fury that hadn't yet abated.
"By the way, Richard," she said. "I want Connie to know that the shop was bought for me by my fiancé. Can you arrange that?" She liked imagining the looks on Katie's and Dave's faces as well, when they heard the news. She hoped they all choked on it.
"Of course," Richard returned. "But best leave such a surprise till after the contracts are exchanged, don't you think?"
"Yes, you're right. That bitch might pull out of the sale, if she thinks I'm going to get the shop. You are a wise man."
Wise, and wonderfully passionate. Holly could forgive Richard for not loving her, if his passion for her remained intact. Last night he'd been especially passionate.
A sudden thought occurred to her. Oh, dear, oh, dear. How could she have been so stupid?
"Richard," she whispered urgently.
"What?" he whispered back, bending his head down sidewards.
"In all the hurry to pack, I … um … I forgot to bring my pills."
"Is that such a problem? I mean, we both want children, Holly. And I, for one, don't want to wait too long. Why not just forget the pill from now on?"
"No, you don't understand. I'm happy to have your baby. But first, I'm sure to get a period in a day or two. And the thing is … I don't like … I mean … "
"I understand, Holly. Truly."
"Are you sure?"
"Please don't stress, darling. I'm not here with you just for sex. Besides, we still have tonight. Though I'll probably have a bad back in the morning if I attempt too much in that teensy-weensy cabin of ours with its teensy-weensy bunks and teensy-weensy shower."
"They certainly didn't choose those beds with a man like you in mind," Holly agreed, relieved that Richard wasn't annoyed with her.
"I'll manage," he said. "I noticed a nice firm little table between the bunks, and another one under the mirror. Not as good as my desk, or your work table in the shop last night, but necessity is the mother of invention."
"Shh," she warned, glancing over at the elderly couple standing next to them.
"You're right," Richard murmured. "Wouldn't want our fellow passengers to hear too much about our X-rated love life. The shock might do them in."
Holly knew what Richard meant. Most of the people on the ferry were on the older side. Retired couples going to Tasmania on holiday together. She supposed it was a good way to travel, taking their own cars with them. But she wondered if some might have been better on bus tours, especially the ones using walking sticks!
"Do you think we'll still be going away on holidays together when we're their age?" she said a bit wistfully.
"Absolutely," he replied.
"We'll have to keep fit."
"We'll keep fit running after our children. Look, the Heads are coming up," Richard said, pointing towards the impressive promontories that guarded the entrance to Port Jackson. "It's calm here in the harbour but things might get a bit rougher once we're out to sea. Do you get seasick?"
"I don't know."
"You'd better come with me, then. I brought some tablets, just in case."
Typical of Richard, she thought as he took her arm and led her inside off the deck. He was a planner, as well as a doer. She would always feel safe with him at her side.
Making their way back to the cabin took a few minutes. The cabins were located on a different level at the front of the boat, with lots of narrow hallways going every which way, rather like a rabbit warren.
Still, Richard seemed to know where they were going.
"No, it's this way," he said when she went to turn in the wrong direction at the end of a long corridor.