Painted the Other Woman

‘Every time you look at me,’ he promised her, his voice warm and rich and full of all he felt for her, ‘you’ll see my love for you. It will be your mirror for all time. A true mirror. That I promise you.’

Her gaze was troubled suddenly. ‘It hurt,’ she said. ‘It hurt so much to realise that all the time you knew me in London, all the time we had on holiday, it was just … fake. The whole thing. When I thought it was real … ‘

Now the negation was his—and fiercer.

‘It was—it was real! That was the whole torment of it all! Knowing that if it weren’t for Eva, for what I thought I was doing to save her marriage, I would be spending that time with you without that hanging over my head. That’s why I so arrogantly thought I could get you back again—get that time back again. Oh, God, Marisa, to hold you in my arms again—to have you for myself this time, only myself. With no other reason to get in the way of us.’ He gazed down at her, emotion pouring from him. ‘And now … finally … after all this time … there truly is nothing to part us … to confuse and confound and blind us. Now—oh, my most beloved girl—there really is only this … ‘

He kissed her. Tenderly. Carefully. Lovingly.

‘Only this,’ he murmured.

He eased her away from him, changing his hold on her to put an arm around her shoulder, holding her hand in his across his body as he started to walk her along the path again. Side by side.

Peace filled her. Peace she had not felt for so long. A peace that she knew now would last for ever.

‘What fools we’ve been,’ she said dreamily, leaning her head against his shoulder.

He gave a low laugh. ‘Me more than you.’

She shook her head. ‘No, me more than you.’

He glanced down at her. ‘You’ll have to grant me the privilege of being right this time around.’ He dropped a kiss on her hair.

‘Uh-uh.’

He lanced the quirking smile at her that made her heart turn over—her tumbled, jangled heart that had finally found its resting place.

‘An argumentative woman, are you?’ he teased. ‘Well, there is only one way to settle it. You shall be right, my darling, all the time henceforth. Will that keep you happy?’

She shook her head. ‘Only one thing will keep me happy.’

‘Oh?’ he queried, his smile tugging deeper. ‘And what will that be?’

‘You,’ she said. ‘Only you. For all time.’ Love blazed from her eyes. A fire that could never be quenched.

‘Done,’ he answered. ‘And shall I seal the deal like this?’

Their kiss was long and deep and stronger than time.

Which stood still all around them and always would.

EPILOGUE

‘READY?’

Athan’s tone was a mix of encouragement and support. His arm, to which Marisa was clinging tightly, was steady as a rock. A rock she knew she could always lean on—all her life. Including this evening.

‘OK, let’s do it,’ he said.

He started forward, opening the door and leading the way into the room beyond. Marisa was conscious of a slight increase in her heart rate, but that was only to be expected. She walked in, Athan at her side. Together they paused on the threshold.

‘Marisa!’ Ian’s voice was warm and welcoming as he hurried up to them. He bestowed his golden smile on her, and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

His smile encompassed Athan as well, and Athan returned it. His regard for his brother-in-law had increased dramatically now that he was assured that nothing of Martin Randall’s faithless nature was in him. Ian had proved increasingly loyal and steadfast, working hard to make his new job a success, and ensuring Eva was the happiest wife in the world.

Almost the happiest, he amended, and his glance down at Marisa at his side was rich and full with love. He felt his heart constrict. How very much he loved her! She was the centre of his world—the other half of his being …

‘Marisa?’