She couldn’t deny it. Logan had behaved badly, had acted jealous of a dead man. Jeff had never hurt anyone while he was alive, he certainly couldn’t hurt anyone now he was dead.
Logan gave her a sideways glance. ‘Do you still want to marry me?’ He was gripping the steering-wheel so tightly his knuckles showed white.
Her hand moved to rest on his thigh. ‘Of course,’ she answered without hesitation.
‘Oh, Callie!’ he pulled the car over to the side of the road, turning in his seat to look at her. ‘You’re sure?’
‘I never doubted it,’ she replied with certainty. ‘Maybe you’ve changed your mind?’ Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for his answer.
‘Not for a moment.’
Her breath left her in a sigh. ‘That’s all I needed to know. I won’t talk to you about Jeff again—’
‘No!’ he shook his head. ‘He was important to you, I have no right to deny you to talk about him.’ He pulled her into his arms. ‘Maybe you could just not do it too often, eh?’ he added ruefully.
‘I won’t,’ she said happily, raising her face for his kiss.
Logan drew back with a sigh, resting his forehead on hers. ‘I must have spent the worst night imaginable.’
‘No, I did that.’ Her fingertips gently touched his hard cheek.
‘God, I’m a fool,’ he groaned. ‘I think I’ve always been possessive. Maybe it comes from being an only child, but anything that’s important to me I find impossible to share.’
Callie frowned. ‘But Jeff could never have hurt you. He—’
‘No more, Callie,’ he put gentle fingers over her lips. ‘It’s Christmas, we’re newly engaged, so no more arguments. This last one nearly killed me,’ he admitted raggedly.
Such pain merited a kiss, two kisses, three kisses, so many kisses that when they slowly moved apart they were both breathless.
Callie gazed up adoringly into Logan’s harsh features softened by love. ‘I hate to spoil the moment,’ she murmured softly. ‘But what time is your mother expecting us for lunch?’
‘Lord, yes!’ He straightened in his seat. ‘Thanks for reminding me.’ His gaze was caressing as he started the car. ‘The necklace looks nice, by the way.’
‘So do the cufflinks,’ she said shyly. It had given her intense pleasure to know that the cufflinks he wore with the light blue shirt were the ones she had bought for him.
They were laughing together when they entered Mrs. Carrington’s house half an hour later, Callie once more secure in Logan’s love.
But shyness overcame her at the thought of meeting her future mother-in-law. ‘Do I look all right?’ she asked anxiously.
‘Beautiful.’
‘Seriously, Logan—’
‘Seriously, Callie,’ he teased. ‘You look beautiful. That silky thing is perfect.’
‘That silky thing’ happened to be a tan and brown suit that fitted smoothly over her slender figure, the high heels on her sandals adding height and giving her confidence. Her hair gleamed cleanly golden, the fringe winged back, the rest hanging straight to her shoulders.
‘If you’re sure?’ She was still nervous. The housekeeper who had opened the door to them was daunting to say the least, although Logan greeted her familiarly enough.
‘I’m sure,’ he smiled, her hand held firmly in his. ‘I can’t wait to see my mother’s face when she sees you.’
An elderly woman rose from the chair next to the fire, her grey hair softly permed, grey eyes twinkling kindly in the linked powdered face. Mrs. Carrington was no taller than Callie, although age had given her a regal bearing, and her figure was still petite; she was wearing a ‘silky thing’ herself, in blues and greens.
‘Logan!’ she greeted her son with obvious warmth, receiving his kiss on the cheek with a similar gesture.
Logan pulled Callie forward as she hung back shyly. ‘Mother, this is Callie Day—my fiancée.’
His mother looked startled, surprised, but most of all, overjoyed. ‘Welcome to the family, my dear,’ she said warmly, kissing Callie on the cheek. ‘Goodness, this is a happy day for me,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I thought Logan would never get married!’