‘I...I might have told you about it when it was too late for a termination.’
‘I sincerely hope so. Still, you’re going to have to marry me now,’ he said, smiling.
‘If you insist.’
‘I insist.’
He kissed her then, the kissing leading to more than kissing. Lots more. Finally, they moved into her bedroom. Afterwards, Harriet snuggled into Alex’s arms, happier than she’d ever been in her life.
‘I can’t believe that you love me,’ she murmured.
‘Fishing for compliments, Harry?’ he said softly and kissed the top of her head.
‘Not really. But feel free to give them, if you like.’
He laughed. ‘In that case, be assured that I love everything about you, including your obsessive sense of independence.’
‘I’m not that bad. Surely?’
‘You don’t think it obsessively independent to not tell the father of your child that you’re pregnant?’
‘I would have told you. In the end.’
‘I hope so. So when are we getting married?’
‘Not too soon. I don’t want a rushed wedding, Alex. How about we have the wedding in that little chapel you’re building up at the golf resort?’ she suggested, thinking it would be romantic to marry near where they’d first got together.
‘But that won’t be finished for months!’ he protested.
‘Does it matter?’
‘Would you live with me in the meantime?’
‘Of course. But I won’t be selling this flat. It can be the beginning of my property portfolio.’
‘Done!’ he said. ‘What about work? Will you come back to work for me?’
‘I don’t see why not.’
‘Thank God for that. If you don’t, I would never be able to show my face around there ever again. Audrey called me heartless. She even threatened to get another job. The only one who loves me there is Romany.’
‘Don’t be silly. Everyone there loves you. You’re a great boss.’
‘I don’t care about everyone else. Just about you.’
‘Oh, Alex...’ The tears came hard and fast then, tears of happiness and relief, all the emotion and tension Harriet had been bottling up over the past month finally set free.
Alex drew her close, his heart squeezing tight at the thought that he might have lost her today. Lost her and his child. It had been a close call. Too close for comfort. Never again, he vowed, would he let her doubt his love for her. Never, ever again. And, as he held her even closer, he felt sure that his mother would be pleased that he’d finally found true love with a wonderful girl like Harriet. Being a philanthropist was all very well, but being a good husband and father was just as important.
‘By the way,’ he whispered into her hair. ‘After the wedding, I’m taking you to Venice for our honeymoon.’