Wife for a Week(53)

‘I’m going to start small. Approach a few collectors and find out what they’re buying. Then see if I can find it for them.’

‘Because if you need more, I’d be more than willing to back your business venture.’

‘You’d do that? Even after all the trouble I’ve caused you?’

‘Yes. You have what it takes to succeed no matter what you do. I’ve told you that before.’

Hallie’s eyes filled with tears. He was making it hard, so hard, for her to let him go. Not like her brothers at all, this man before her. Freedom, equality, respect; he’d shown her them all. If only he’d fallen in love with her as well…

But he hadn’t. And if they became business partners she’d never be able to keep her feelings for him a secret and then where would they be? ‘Thank you,’ she said huskily. ‘Your support means a lot to me but I need to do this on my own.’

Nick nodded. ‘I can understand that. But if you ever need help you’ll call me.’

‘Sure.’ Never. She closed the lid on her bulging suitcase. She was all packed. ‘I’m going to miss Kai and the Teys. And you.’ Her heart was close to breaking with just how much she was going to miss Nick, but she summoned a smile. ‘I’ve enjoyed our stay. It’s been quite an adventure.’

‘Very Lara Croft,’ he said.

‘I’d rather be Indiana Jones.’ And when he lifted a questioning eyebrow. ‘It’s the hat.’

‘I can see you in the hat,’ he said, his eyes darkening. ‘I can see you in nothing but the hat.’

‘First the necklace, now the hat.’ She could do this; get through this. Her brothers always told her she could banter with the best of them. ‘Maybe you’re developing an accessories fetish.’

‘The necklace was spectacular,’ he said with a wistful sigh. ‘The necklace will haunt me until the day I die. Now, so will the hat. Thank you so very much.’

‘Definitely an accessories fetish,’ she said. ‘I’m thinking shoes now. Stilettos. That might work for you too.’

‘It’s not the accessories.’

‘It’s not?’

‘No.’ He was close, very close. ‘You’re not wearing your rings.’

‘They’re in the bathroom. I hadn’t forgotten them. I just…’ Hadn’t had the heart to leave them on. Hadn’t been able to bear the pretence any longer. She didn’t finish her sentence.

He went into the bathroom, came out with them in his hand.

‘You want me to wear them,’ she said, and felt her heart shatter into pieces. Of course he did. They weren’t done here yet. Not quite.

‘No. You don’t have to wear them if you don’t want to,’ he said quietly. ‘The thing is, I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do next too. I have a plan as well.’ And with a deep, ragged breath, ‘I want you to keep the rings.’

‘You’re giving them to me?’ Fine tremors racked her body as she looked away. ‘You know I can’t accept them.’

‘I’m not giving them to you.’ He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her back to face him, and now he could feel her trembling too. His eyes widened, and he stroked his hand down her arm as if to soothe her, but he didn’t let her go. Instead, he captured her hand in his and traced the knuckles of her wedding finger with his thumb. ‘Actually, I suppose I am giving them to you, technically speaking, but there’s a catch.’ His smile was crooked, his eyes uncertain. ‘You have to take me too.’

‘I…what?’

‘I can’t let you go,’ he said quietly. ‘I won’t. So the way I figure it, you’re going to have to marry me for real.’

‘I…you want to marry me?’

‘That’s the plan,’ he said. ‘Of course, it does depend on you saying yes to the plan. And it would really help my confidence if you stopped shaking.’

‘My brothers are going to kill you,’ she said faintly. ‘We’ve only known each other a week.’

‘Was that a yes?’

‘I’ll drive you crazy.’ She couldn’t think straight, couldn’t break free of the blossoming joy that threatened to engulf her. Nick loved her! He wanted to marry her! If anything, her trembling increased.

‘Was that a yes?’ he wanted to know. ‘I’m taking that as a yes. But I’m going to need a declaration of love as well. Just to be sure.’

‘You want to hear me say I love you?’

‘It’s a crucial part of the plan,’ he said gruffly.