‘I know that, because “girl” was the appropriate word. I’m used to sophisticates, women of my own age who wanted what I wanted.’
‘And I didn’t?’ she asked shyly.
‘Not at first. It took all of my persuasion to get you to even go out with me.’ He frowned. ‘Lauren, do you love me?’
‘You haven’t finished telling me everything yet,’ she stubbornly refused to answer him.
‘You little—! Okay,’ he sighed, touching her lips with the tip of his thumb. ‘God, I want to kiss you!’
‘Later,’ she dismissed impatiently.
‘You really mean that?’
‘Yes! Now, please …’
He drew a ragged breath. ‘When you say yes like that—! All right, I’ll finish what I was saying. But later—!’ His eyes were eloquent with meaning. ‘I loved you on sight. But I knew I was in for trouble because the next time I saw you were kissing that boy in the lift,’ he said with remembered anger.
‘He was kissing me,’ she corrected. ‘And I soon forgot about that when you kissed me immediately afterwards.’
‘You did?’
‘Mm,’ she nodded.
‘I wish I’d known. I was furious—’
‘I gathered that.’
‘So would you have been if you’d been me. After that I used any way I could of seeing you—blackmail, seduction, you name it and I tried it. But I never saw you as a means to revenge on Laurence. Never! But I was going about winning you in completely the wrong way. Like I said, you’re a fighter, and by forcing you into seeing me I was ruining my chances.’
‘I was very attracted to you.’
‘Was?’ His fingers bit into her arm.
‘Still am,’ she corrected.
‘Have you heard enough now?’ he groaned, his gaze locked hungrily on her mouth.
‘No.’
‘God, you’re a little tease! It would be difficult to rape you in the front seat of this car, but I think I might manage it,’ he warned. ‘Through sheer desperation.’
‘You should have brought the Rolls,’ she said practically. ‘There would have been more room in that. Actually, the simplest thing to do would be to go into the house, we have it all to ourselves.’
‘Lauren?’ he looked hopeful.
‘Mm?’ she asked innocently.
‘I’m warning you—’
‘Ooh, I love it when you come on all strong and domineering!’ She gave him a mischievous glance from beneath lowered lashes.
‘Will you be serious for five minutes,’ Alex snapped tautly. ‘I never thought that when I proposed my intended bride would laugh at me!’
‘I’m not laughing, Alex. And you haven’t proposed.’
‘I haven’t?’ he frowned. ‘No, I haven’t, have I? And I don’t intend to,’ he said with the old forcefulness. ‘You’re going to marry me—and no arguments. I have your parents’ permission, and that’s all that matters.’
‘You’ve spoken to my mother and father?’ Her eyes widened.