A Match for Celia

She sat on the end of the bed, facing him. “You’re not really a tax accountant, are you, Reed?” It was a stupid question, really, but the first one that occurred to her.

Reed didn’t smile. “No. I’m not a tax accountant. I’m a federal agent.”

“And you’re not from Cleveland, either.” It wasn’t a question.

“Taos,” he said. “New Mexico. Cleveland seemed more in character.”

“Are your parents still living? Are you really an only child?”

“Yes. And, no. I have two younger brothers, one of them still in college at my parents’ expense. My parents couldn’t afford to give me a vacation like this if they wanted to.”

She moistened her lips. It seemed to get worse with every revelation. “Was your birthday really last week?”

“No. Next month. I’ll really be thirty-three then, though.”

The last, rather hopefully offered tidbit didn’t cheer her much. “Are you married?” she asked, her fingers twisting in dread.

He looked startled. “No. Of course not.”

She didn’t see that there was any “of course” to it. “Is your name really Reed Hollander?”

“Yes.”

For some reason, that meant a great deal to her. At least the name she’d called out in ecstasy had been his real one.

She had only one more question, and it was the hardest of all to ask. She wasn’t at all sure she could find the courage to do so. But she was just as certain she couldn’t go another minute without knowing the answer. “Do you love me?”

“Yes.” Reed answered without hesitation.

Her eyes flooded in relief. “Then—that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?” she asked a bit brokenly.

A moment later, the chair was empty, and Reed was beside Celia on the bed, his arms locked tightly around her. “I’m sorry,” he said, his clean-shaven cheek against hers. “I’m sorry I lied to you. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you from the start. I’m sorry I made such a mess of everything and almost got you killed. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

Tears were beginning to overflow her eyes. “Oh, Reed.”

“But,” he said, as though she hadn’t spoken at all, “I’m not sorry I met you. I’m not sorry I fell in love with you. I will never regret that, no matter what happens in the future. Do you believe me?”

“Yes,” she whispered, touching trembling fingers to his hard, tanned cheek. “I believe you. I love you, Reed.”

“Oh God, Celia.” He kissed her, roughly, deeply. And then he kissed her more gently, lingeringly.

Almost dizzy with love and happiness, Celia wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to the bed with her.

It was a long time later before either of them spoke again. “I have so much to learn about you,” Celia murmured, stroking her hand down his bare, still heaving chest.

Reed covered her hand with his own and held it over his pounding heart. “You already know everything that’s important to me. I love you.”

She smiled and kissed his jaw. “I love you, too. It’s strange, isn’t it? We’ve known each other such a short time. We should be little more than strangers to each other. And yet I feel as though in some way I’ve always known you.”

He smiled and touched her lower lip. “Are you going to turn sappy and sentimental now?”

“Probably. Do you mind?”

“No. Go right ahead.”

She laughed softly at his indulgent tone. “You’re still trying to make up to me for lying to me, aren’t you? Something tells

me you’re going to be very agreeable today.”