His After-Hours Mistress(33)

'I know I did, and up until a few days ago I fully believed I meant it.  Then something happened to change my mind,' he told her gently. 'I had  to get away to check it out. That was why I went to New York. I couldn't  tell you until I was certain, so I lied about the trip. My mind was so  mixed up I forgot about Grandfather, though.'

Having spent a night of sheer misery, cursing her own foolishness, Ginny  only slowly began to accept that the sky hadn't fallen in after all. On  the contrary, a miracle had happened.

Her heart began to swell with unexpected joy. 'You really love me?' she asked in a voice thick with emotion.

The laughter faded from his eyes, and he looked down at her intently. 'I really do.'

Tears overflowed, but they were happy ones. It only took a step to bring  her to him, and then she threw her arms about his neck and hugged him  painfully close. 'Oh, God, I thought I'd ruined everything!' she  exclaimed, and Roarke framed her head with his hands and looked down at  her.

'Instead your anger gave me hope. I nudged you into saying what I wanted  to hear, but when I wanted to tell you how I felt, you cut me off. So I  caught the first plane out in order to get to you and make it right.  Have I made it right? Do you forgive me for deceiving you?'

Her smile was watery. 'It couldn't be righter. And of course I forgive you. How could I not, when I love you so much?'

'Then come and kiss me. I need it like a thirsty man needs water,' he growled.

It was a kiss like no other they had shared for, whilst passion hovered  in the background, this kiss was a promise. A sealing of what they had  just said in words. It transcended the physical, and yet left them with a  sense of profound fulfilment.

'So, what made you change your mind about love?' Ginny asked some time  later when Roarke had carried her to the sofa and stretched out on it  with her in his arms.

'Caroline,' he replied, rubbing his cheek gently over her hair. 'She  thought we were in love. She thought it was obvious. So I asked myself  the question. Did I love you? The reply stunned me. I did.'

Ginny settled her hand over his heart, feeling it beating strongly. 'So why did you go to New York?'

'Because I had to be sure. I went to the place where I was bound to run  into any number of attractive available women. Do you know what I found  out? I wasn't interested in a single one of them. The highlight of my  day was talking to you at night. It didn't take more than forty-eight  hours to make me certain I didn't want anyone else.'                       
       
           



       

'It only took me ten minutes,' Ginny countered smugly.

'After I'd winkled the truth out of you!'

'That was a dastardly trick. Do you know how miserable I was, thinking I'd scored an own goal?' she charged aggrievedly.

Roarke laughed. 'I'll make it up to you.'

'The list is growing. You already said I could have anything I want for agreeing to help you out,' she reminded him.

'I did say that, didn't I? Have you decided what it's to be?'

Ginny smiled to herself as her finger traced lazy patterns over his  shirt. 'I think what I would really like is a baby. Two, actually, to  keep each other company. Then we could add to them as time goes by.'

Roarke laughed huskily. 'Don't you think we should get married first?'

She lifted herself enough to meet his eyes. 'Are you asking me?'

'Sounds like it,' he confirmed lazily.

'Then the answer is yes. However, it doesn't stop us working on the  baby, does it?' she flirted with him, eyes gleaming suggestively.

Roarke groaned and settled her back down. 'You're shameless, do you know that? You only said it because Lucy's in your bedroom.'

Ginny laughed happily. 'She won't be long. Besides, we have time. All the time in the world.'

Which was just as well, for when Lucy came out of the bedroom some time  later she found them wrapped in each other's arms, fast asleep.