‘You really, truly love me?’ she blurted out at last.
‘You’d better believe it, my darling.’
‘Oh ’ She cupped her cheeks as tears flooded her eyes.
‘Dare I hope those tears mean you love me back?’
‘You you know I do,’ she choked out.
‘Hell, no! I didn’t know any such thing!’ He jumped up, his face beaming. He raced round the table and pulled her up into his arms.
‘Tell me again,’ he said fiercely. ‘Say the words.’
‘I love you,’ she said, and blinked away the tears.
‘Again,’ he insisted.
‘I love you,’ she said more loudly.
His groan was a groan of sheer relief. ‘I told Russ and Nickie the night after we married that I thought you might be in love with me.’
‘Then why didn’t you come after me straight away?’
‘I wanted to, believe me. I went to your flat at Ashfield but you weren’t there.’
‘I’d come up here.’
‘I realised that. I also realised I had to do something to prove to you that I wasn’t a lazy, spoiled, arrogant jerk. I wanted to have more to offer you than money and sex. So for the last month I’ve worked my silver tail off, setting up a business of my own.’
Kathryn was truly taken aback. ‘Really? What kind of business?’
‘The only one I know well: publishing. But books this time, not magazines. Australia’s got more than enough magazines, as you know. I’m going to publish fiction. We have loads of great writers in this country who don’t ever get published. I’m going to give anyone with talent a chance. Then I’m going to take that talent to the whole world, show them what Aussie authors can do.’
‘Oh, Hugh, that’s a marvellous idea.’
‘See? That’s what I want to see in your eyes whenever you look at me: respect. So, will you come back to Sydney and help me?’
‘You mean as your PA?’
‘Hell, no. As my partner, both in business and in life! We’ll have a big proper swanky wedding in a couple of months’ time, with all the trimmings. It’ll cost dear old Dad a fortune and make my mother happy at the same time. She’s going to be over the moon when she finds out we’re getting married. I’ll get Reverend Price to officiate. He won’t tell anyone it’s a rerun.’
Kathryn laughed. ‘You are crazy, you know that, don’t you?’
‘I’ve been crazy ever since you came into my life. That, I know. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
‘You wouldn’t?’
‘No.’
‘Neither would I,’ she said, her heart turning over. ‘I love you, Hugh.’
‘Just as well, because I spent a small fortune on this.’ Out of his jeans pocket he drew a small box. A ring box.
‘You can change it if you don’t like it,’ he said as he flipped the lid open.
Kathryn stared down at the most exquisitely beautiful diamond engagement ring. It wasn’t too big, or too showy. And it wasn’t gold.
‘It’s lovely,’ she said. ‘How did you know I prefer silver?’
‘I’m not totally inobservant. But it’s not silver, it’s white gold.’ He took it out of its blue velvet nest and slipped it on her ring finger. It fitted perfectly.
‘How did you know what size to pick?’
‘I didn’t. I made an intelligent guess. There’s a matching wedding ring, but you don’t get to wear that one yet.’
‘Oh, Hugh. I don’t know what to say.’
‘Then don’t say anything.’
He kissed her then, after which he kissed her some more. They somehow made it into the main bedroom where their clothes were dispensed with at amazing speed.
Their lovemaking was fast and furious, neither of them stopping for breath till it was all over. Only then did Hugh speak.
‘I didn’t use a condom,’ he said somewhat raggedly.
‘I know.’
‘You’re still on the Pill, aren’t you?’
‘What would you say if I wasn’t?’
‘Yippee?’
‘Wonderful answer,’ she said with a smile on her face, and in her heart. ‘But it’s all right, I am.’
‘That’s good. I want our first child to be conceived within wedlock.’