His Secretary Mistress(63)

One day at a time, Alex had advised about their relationship, and she was determined to do just that—no looking forward, no dwelling on the past; she would enjoy what she had today and let fate determine tomorrow.

She was unaware that Alex was watching her, reading the emotions that flitted across her face and feeling hope unfurl in his chest. Trust didn’t come easily to her—not surprising after the way her ex-husband had treated her—but he had been patient; well, fairly, he conceded with a wry smile. He wasn’t renowned for his patience, but as he caught her glance and watched the way her grey eyes darkened to the colour of woodsmoke a smile curved his lips and he contemplated the end of a very long journey.

It was late when Nora and Charlie returned to their own house. Chris decided to take his girlfriend on a tour of the local pubs, and Maisie was finally persuaded to go to bed. The house looked as if it had been blitzed, Jenna thought ruefully as she went downstairs, but in the living room Alex had switched off the overhead light, and the room looked cosy and romantic, bathed in the glow of the Christmas tree lights.

‘I bet your flat never looks like this,’ she quipped as she joined him on the sofa and accepted the glass of champagne he offered with a blissful sigh.

‘Never,’ he agreed. ‘It’s always felt rather sterile and unwelcoming—which is why I’m planning on buying a house. Aren’t you interested to know which house?’ he queried when she sat silent, staring at him with wide, expressive eyes over the rim of her glass.

‘Which house?’ she asked obediently, fighting her sudden feeling of panic. He wouldn’t buy a house just for him—but surely he wasn’t planning to marry Selina after all?

‘The one next to the park. Maisie calls it the fairy house because she says it looks magical.’

‘Well, that’s nice. We’ll practically be neighbours,’ Jenna murmured, finding it suddenly hard to think coherently when his arm, which had been lying along the back of the sofa, settled around her shoulders and he pulled her close. ‘That’s odd—I didn’t notice that there earlier,’ she said, leaning forward to view a small package that dangled from a branch of the Christmas tree. ‘Maisie must have forgotten to unwrap one of her presents.’

‘Maybe you should open it,’ Alex suggested softly as she stood in front of the tree, and her heart began to thump as she stared at the small parcel.

‘You gave me my presents yesterday,’ she reminded him as she pulled off the paper to reveal a small velvet box. It would be earrings, of course, or possibly a small pendant, she told herself, unable to prevent a gasp as she opened the lid and stared at the exquisite solitaire diamond set on a white gold band. ‘Alex, I…’

He had been sitting quietly watching the play of emotions on her face, but now he came to stand behind her, wrapping his arms round her and drawing her against his chest. ‘Marry me?’ he begged, his voice muffled in her hair, but she caught the note of uncertainty, an almost vulnerable quality that turned her heart over.

‘We’ve been through this before,’ she began, unable to quell a delicious shiver as his lips caressed her ear, sharp teeth nipping the sensitive lobe before he trailed a line of kisses down her neck.

‘And you told me that a marriage between us wouldn’t work because we don’t love one another.’ He turned her in his arms so that she was facing him, and she stared at the male beauty of his face, shaken by the depth of emotion evident in his eyes. ‘But that’s not true—is it, my darling? I love you more than life, more than I believed it possible to love another human being. You are my world,’ he murmured huskily, ‘and you have been since the moment you fell into my arms in the storm. I think that deep down you care for me too. I know how badly Lee hurt you, and I can wait, and hope for your love to grow, but tell me you’ll marry me. I need to know that I at least have the right to protect you and Maisie. I need to know you’ll be there every day for the rest of my life.’

He looked like a man about to be sent to the gallows, Jenna thought through a mist of tears. He had said he was sure that she cared for him, but he wasn’t that sure—she could tell from the rigid line of his jaw that he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.

‘You don’t have to wait,’ she reassured him, stretching up to wind her arms around his neck. ‘I think I’ve loved you for ever. You don’t know how many times I nearly admitted that I was no longer married, but I was scared. I was sure you were only interested in a brief affair, and I had Maisie.’