Love's Only Deception

‘To you I get married.’ He held both her hands in his, caressing life back into their chilled numbness. ‘Callie, I love you. I want to marry you.’

He was so earnest, so sincere, that she could no longer doubt he meant every word he was saying. ‘We hardly know each other—’

‘I knew I loved you the moment I looked at you,’ he insisted firmly. ‘You were intelligent as well as beautiful. It’s taken me some time to admit to the way I feel, but after tonight—! I don’t intend leaving you open to any more barbs like the ones Danielle made tonight. You’re special, not a part of some damned routine to get you into bed. Do you believe me, darling?’

She had never doubted that she meant more to him than any of the other women he had had in his life, had known by his physical restraint that he respected her—but marriage! It had never occurred to her, not even in her wildest daydreams about this man.

‘Callie?’

She looked up at his pale, strained face, seeing the tension that surrounded him as he waited for her answer. ‘Logan, I—’

‘For God’s sake don’t turn me down!’ he groaned. ‘You have no idea how much I need you.’

She gave a breathless laugh. ‘Only a fool would turn you down, Logan,’ she smiled. ‘And I hope I’m no fool.’

He drew in a ragged breath. ‘Does that mean the answer is yes?’

Her amusement deepened, her eyes glowing with happiness. ‘Don’t look so surprised! I love you too, you see.’

‘You do?’

‘Of course.’ She gave a choked laugh at his astonishment.

‘Oh, Callie!’ He enfolded her in his arms, his face buried against her throat. ‘I thought you’d say no,’ he rained kisses over her face and throat. ‘I didn’t think you would want me.’

She touched his face with trembling fingertips. ‘I’m yours, Logan. I thought you already knew that.’

‘I do now. Callie—’

‘Dinner is ready, Mr— oh!’ a red-faced Mrs Brown stood in the now open doorway. ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ she said stiffly. ‘I had no idea you were—occupied.’ Her arms were folded disapprovingly across her ample bosom.

It took tremendous effort of will for Logan to answer the woman and keep a straight face. ‘We’ll be there in ten minutes, Mrs Brown,’ he said dismissively.

‘Yes, sir.’ With another scathing look she left the room.

‘Oh, Logan!’ Callie giggled, snuggling into his arms. ‘The poor woman was scandalised!’

‘Damn Mrs Brown,’ he growled. ‘I’m the one you should feel sorry for, I only have ten minutes to show you how much I love you!’

Her mouth quirked provocatively. ‘Then you hadn’t better waste any of it, had you?’ she tempted.

Logan grinned. ‘I think I’m going to like being married to you.’

‘I hope so, because I don’t intend sharing you,’ she told him seriously.

‘I doubt I’ll have the time,’ he murmured into her hair.

‘I’ll make sure of it.’

‘Not like this you won’t,’ he taunted.

She stood on tiptoe to kiss him, gasping as Logan took over the initiative, his mouth at once demanding and possessive.

By the time they walked into the dining-room fifteen minutes later Callie knew herself to be thoroughly kissed—and by the disapproving look on Mrs Brown’s face she knew it too!

‘Perhaps you should tell her we’re getting married,’ Callie giggled. ‘Then she might stop looking at me as though I’m one of your women.’

Logan gave what she thought of as ‘one of his arrogant looks’. ‘Even if you were just one of my “women”,’ he said ha