The Right Mr. Wrong
‘No. For you...’ she paused to draw in some steel ‘...I’m fighting.’
‘Fighting me?’
‘If I have to.’ She walked around the desk.
He leaned away slightly, letting the desk take some of his weight as he regarded her. ‘I was an idiot,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry I lost my temper.’
The smallest smile appeared on his lips. ‘I was glad you weren’t afraid to with me.’
‘I was afraid,’ she admitted softly. ‘That’s why I sent you away.’
‘It hurt.’ He barely moved as he spoke.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘I deserved it. You accused me of not listening to you. And you were right, I didn’t. Not back then. Back then I was too busy trying to figure solutions on my own. It was what I was used to and I was too proud to let you in. I’m sorry about that. But last week I should have. Then you put the words in my mouth—that I wouldn’t want more from you—’
‘Words you’d once said.’
‘But it’s not only women who’re allowed to change their minds.’ The corner of his mouth curved. ‘And honestly, for me it wasn’t a change of mind, it was more a recognition of what’s been true all along.’
Vivi’s heart was almost bursting from its speed. ‘What is it that’s true?’
‘That I love you. I realised I’d never actually told you. But I do.’
‘I never believed you felt for me as strongly.’ Her eyes filled again, this time the tears spilled.
‘How could I not?’ He jammed his hands into his pockets. ‘I fell so hard. I gave up everything for you.’
‘So did I.’
‘I know that now.’
And she’d just thought he’d done it because it was a challenge. And that once he’d had what he wanted he’d got bored. She hadn’t ever realised he’d been as flipped out by it as she’d been. That he’d lost as much as she.
She glanced at the picture and then looked back at him. ‘I’m still scared, Liam, but I’m not going to let that stop me from asking for what I want any more. And I’m asking for you to come over here.’
‘I can’t.’
‘No?’ Her heart smashed.
A small, rueful smile softened his mouth. ‘You know what will happen if we touch.’
‘Well...’ She bit her lip, relaxing a smidge as she saw that smile. ‘I was kind of counting on that.’
‘We’re not making the same mistake as we did then. We touch now, it’ll be all on. We have to talk this through first.’
‘What more do you need to know?’ She gazed at him. ‘I love you. I’ve always loved you. And it totally scares me.’
His rigid stance melted; in a step he was there, his arms around her. ‘Okay,’ he muttered into her hair. ‘There’s nothing to be scared of now.’
He kissed her. Kissed her the way he’d kissed her the other night. With all the love in the world, until her toes curled in the crazy high heels she’d worn specially to get tall enough to see eye to eye with him. And she kissed him back—as fervently, deeply, sweetly.
‘I can’t let you go now.’ He groaned. ‘You know I was going to London this afternoon.’
She knotted her fingers into his shirt, keeping him close, and failed to answer coolly. ‘Your assistant mentioned it.’
‘I was coming after you. I’ve never felt so bad. Hurt. Furious with myself. I realised I’d never been honest with you either. I’d never let you in the way I should have. I never told you...so many things I should have. Especially that I was in love with you.’ He pulled her closer into his heat, a pained expression on his face. ‘I should have opened up to you all those years ago. I should have come after you.’
‘No. We weren’t ready. Way too young. I had baggage to get over. I had to grow a spine.’ She smiled. ‘And you had a business to build. It’s better now.’
He bent, resting his forehead on hers. ‘I love you. Always have.’
A feeling of utter contentment seeped into her bones, but as she leaned against him reality—logistics—bothered the bliss. ‘How are we going to make this work?’ she voiced her fears. ‘We failed so badly last time.’
‘No.’ He framed her face with his hands, tilting her so she had to meet his gaze head on. ‘Failure is making the same mistake twice. The first time wasn’t failure. It was merely a mistake.’
‘Merely?’
‘Merely.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘We won’t fail now. So long as you ask, I listen.’
‘And vice versa.’ She nibbled on her lip, clutching his shirt more tightly. She never wanted to leave him but there was no choice. ‘We can make distance work.’
‘No,’ he said softly. ‘I’ve had enough nights without you already. I’ve done what I can with the business here, now I’m ready to sell it on. I’m ready for the next project. That will be wherever you are.’
Shocked, she dropped her hand and stepped back. ‘You can’t sell your business.’
‘I can.’ He chuckled, capturing her by the waist and moving in close again. ‘Darling, I’m bored. I need a new challenge.’ His eyes sharpened. ‘And, no, I will never get bored with you.’
That wasn’t what she was worried about. ‘Your career matters. I won’t let you sacrifice anything for me. You’ll resent me.’
‘This isn’t a sacrifice. I came looking for you and as soon as I saw you again, spoke to you again—it was all over. It just took me a bit to get my head around. I’m never losing you again. You’re what matters most in my life. This time I need to give us the chance. This time I can. I can’t afford not to.’
‘But your business—’
‘What is it that matters to you—the financial security I have or me?’
She stared at him—at the vulnerability in his eyes, the same that had been caught in that portrait. It was real. Now she understood—part of him was as afraid as she. ‘You.’ She tightened her arms around his neck. ‘You, you, you.’
She felt the tension ebb from his body—and another kind of hardness steal in.
‘Then if you don’t mind risking it with an entrepreneur, you’ll be fine. I’m ready for new challenges. Business challenges. Family challenges.’ He grinned. ‘Trust me, Vivi.’
‘Vivi?’
‘That’s who you are—my Victoria, my Vivi. My life.’
She smiled, glowing inside. Knowing, believing that he loved her the way she loved him. Suddenly she saw that the overwhelming passion wasn’t going to drown her. Their bond was so much more than sexual, it had humour, support, substance. Being with him would enhance her life, not diminish possibilities, but expand them. He’d never stifle her. And she’d never hold him back either.
‘If you like,’ he muttered, ‘I’ll even come with you on your three-a.m. runs with Gia.’
‘Actually, there’s no need.’ She grinned, feeling a sense of strength and pride rippling through her. ‘I stood up to her. Handed her a dictation machine and told her to go with the bodyguard.’
Liam laughed and kissed her. ‘How’d she take it?’
‘She basically high-fived me.’ Vivi giggled. ‘But you know, there’s still a problem.’
He looked concerned. ‘What’s that?’
‘My body’s used to a really tough workout in the early hours of the morning. I’m going to need some kind of activity to replace that run...something really, really energetic...’
He bent, sweeping her into his arms, that wicked smile on his mouth. ‘You know, I think I can come up with something that might wear you out...’
‘When can you come up with it?’
‘Oh, it’s up now.’
She chuckled at the lame innuendo, delighted in being carried off by the one true love of her life.
Long, quiet moments later he gazed into her eyes—his own free of tension, alight with love and passion.
‘It was only ever you,’ he promised.
‘And you,’ she answered.
Finally. Always.
For ever.
* * * * *
THE WEDDING DRESS DIARIES
Aimee Carson
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five