Millionaire's Woman

“Have to?” she cried. “Why is that?”

“Because we’re getting married—for real this time.”

Chapter Fourteen

Ellie stared at him in astonishment. “Was that a pro-posal?”

“Yes.”

His tight-lipped response was not exactly romantic. “It sounded like an order.”

“Ellie…I…that is…oh, dammit.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, they looked a very dark green.

“I can’t live without you, Ellie. Will you please marry me?”

The cold wind had stopped blowing at the beginning of his uncharacteristic, stammering speech. By the end, the clouds in the sky had parted and a moonbeam streamed down onto the porch. It danced over her skin and slipped inside her veins, making her feel as though she were lit from within. “Garek,” she breathed. “Oh, Garek!” and hurled herself into his arms.

She saw the tension in his face disappear and an expression she’d never seen before light up his eyes, before his arms closed around her and he was kissing her fiercely.

She returned the kiss with equal strength, until she could barely breathe. She felt as though she were going to float up off the ground, her happiness was so intense.

With a choked laugh, he broke off the kiss. “I don’t want to spoil your ‘no sex before marriage’policy at this late date. Can you be ready tomorrow?”

She blinked up at him, surprised and rather disappointed. “Tomorrow?” she repeated vaguely, trying to resist the urge to unbutton his coat. “For what?”

“For our wedding, of course.”

She gasped, his words dispelling her sensual haze, somewhat. “You want to get married tomorrow? That’s impossible!”

His jaw tightened in that stubborn way she knew so well. “Why?”

A choked laugh escaped her. “I have to buy a dress, I have to give Martina time to find a new roommate, I have to get time off work—”

“I’ll pay the rent for Martina and you can quit your job.” His eyes dark and sensuous, he whispered, “I can’t wait much longer, Ellie.”

A shiver coursed through her. Of course, she wasn’t going to quit her job or let him pay her rent. But the truth of the matter was, she didn’t want to wait either. “Give me a week.”

For a moment, she thought he was going to refuse. But then he said, “You’ve got your week—but I warn you—” his eyes gleamed “—I’m kidnapping you after that.”

She laughed. “A week doesn’t give me much time. I’m really going to have to cancel our date tomorrow.”

“If you insist. But you’ll have to make up for it now.”

He kissed her—extremely thoroughly—until they were both breathing hard.

“Maybe it’s better that I don’t see you this week,” he said huskily, resting his forehead against hers. “I can’t take too much of this.”

“Do we really have to wait?” she asked, still breathless. “Why don’t you come inside?”

“Ellie…” He leaned back, his hand cupping the curve of her cheek, his gaze dark and serious. “For once in my life, I want to do the right thing. I’m going to marry you first.”

She would have laughed at the grim determination in his voice if her throat wasn’t suddenly so impossibly tight. “Oh, Garek,” she whispered, blinking back foolish, happy tears.

He groaned. “Don’t look at me like that, or I won’t be able to help myself.” He kissed her hard, then again, more slowly. “I can’t go a whole week without seeing you. We can at least have lunch together. Monday. Come to my office around noon?”

She nodded. With one final kiss, he released her and thrust his hands into his pockets, as if to prevent himself from reaching out for her again. She went inside and closed the door, but couldn’t resist running to the window to watch him go. He strode down the stairs to the sidewalk, looking tall and strong and handsome.

She hugged her arms around herself. She couldn’t believe this was happening.