Convincing Alex by Nora Roberts

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

she realized, and, drawing back, she managed a smile. "And I can't let
you back in, because you were always here."
Her words brought a pressure to his chest. He pressed their joined hands
against it to try to ease it away. "Just that easy?"
"It's not easy." She supposed it would never be easy. "It's just the way it
is."
"Mikhail said I would grovel," he murmured. "Bess, you humble me."
"Let's put it behind us." She drew a deep breath, then kissed both his
cheeks as a sign of peace. "I'm good at fresh starts."
"No." Taking her hand, he pulled her to the couch. "I like our other start.
We don't need a new one, only to play this one out. Sit." He pulled her
down with him, keeping her hand close to his heart. "You explained,
now I will. I was afraid to believe in you. No woman has ever meant
what you mean, and I let myself imagine that you'd be with me forever.
Just as I let myself imagine that you'd turn away. And because I was
more afraid of the second, it seemed more real."
"It's hard to be afraid." She turned her cheek to her hand. "I know."
"You don't know all." He glanced away, toward the flowers subtly
scenting the room. "You kept the lilacs."
"I tried not to." She smiled again. "But they were so beautiful."
"I brought you something besides lilacs that day." He reached into his
pocket and drew out the box. Her hand went limp in his. He watched her
lips tremble apart. "I don't think it's ostentatious." When she only
continued to stare, he shifted. "That was a joke."
"Okay." The two syllables came out in a whisper. "Are you are you
going to let me see it?"
For an answer, he opened the box himself. Inside was a gold band set
with a rainbow of gems. He knew what they were only because he'd
asked the jeweler to identify each of them. The amethyst, the peridot, the
blue topaz, the citrine.
"I know it's not traditional," he said when she remained silent. "But it
reminded me of you, and I wanted hell, I wanted something no one
else would have thought to give you."
"No one has," she managed, barely breathing. "No one would."
"If you don't like it, we can look for something else."
She was afraid she would cry again and knew it would do neither of
them any good. "It's lovely. Beautiful." She managed to tear her gaze
from it. "You bought me this before? You had it with you the other
night? You were going to give it to me, then you walked in and saw me
with Charlie." Laughing, she lifted a hand to her cheek. "I'm surprised
you didn't gun us both down. I couldn't have written it better myself."
"Then you forgive me?"
She already had, but since he was looking so nervous, she nodded.
"Anyone with such good taste deserves a second chance."
"I bought this days ago, but it took me a while to work up the nerve.
Facing a junkie with an Uzi seemed easier." But he was into it now, and
he was going to finish. "My idea was to pressure you to accept it, then
push for a quick wedding so you wouldn't change your mind. But that
was wrong." He closed the box, and was encouraged by Bess's quick
gasp of dismay. "It was stupid, and it showed a lack of faith in both of
us. I'm sorry."
"I You " She let out a frustrated breath. "I don't mind."
"Of course you do," he said. "It was calculating, even devious, when a
proposal of marriage should be romantic. So, when we're both ready, I'll
ask you properly."
Her face fell. "When we're both ready?"
"I don't want to push you when you might be feeling a little vulnerable.
Especially since a long engagement is out. So I'll give you time."
"Time," she echoed, ready to scream.
"It's fair." He waited a beat. "Okay, I'm ready."
Before she could laugh, he was down on one knee. "What are you
doing?"
"A proper proposal of marriage." He nearly launched into his humble
little speech. Instead, his eyes darkened when she continued to laugh.
"You don't want one."
"Damn right I want one. But I want you up here." She took his hand to
tug him back to the couch so that they were at eye level with each other.
"I want you to look me right in the eye."
"Okay, then I get something I want, too."
"Name it."
"I want to hear you say it." He caught her hand, brought it to his cheek.
"I want very much to hear you say it. I need to hear the words from
you."
"I love you, Alexi." For the first time, she said the words smiling,
knowing they would be taken as they were meant. "I'm going to love you
forever."
He turned his face so that his lips pressed into her palm. Taking the ring
out of the box, he slipped it onto her finger. It shot out a rainbow of
color. As he linked his fingers with hers, he lifted his head. "Be my
family." He shook his head before she could speak and felt himself
stumble. "I meant to be romantic. Let me "
"No." Overwhelmed, she laid a hand over his lips. "That was perfect.
Don't change it. Don't change anything."
"Then say yes."
"Yes." She threw her arms around him and laughed. "Oh, yes& "
If you enjoyed reading about the Stanislaski brothers, look for
THE STANISLASKI SISTERS: NATASHA AND RACHEL
complete novels available in one fabulous volume, from Silhouette
Books and
CONSIDERING KATE,
a brand-new book in the Stanislaski saga, available from Special
Edition.
Only from #1 New York Times bestselling author
NORA ROBERTS
Both books on sale in February 2001, at your favorite retail outlets.
Here's a sneak preview of
TAMING NATASHA, the first story in The Stanislaski Sisters: Natasha
and Rachel.
It was only dinner, Natasha told herself as she walked to the door. And
he was only a man, she added, pulling the door open.
An outrageously attractive man.
He looked wonderful, was all she could think, with his hair swept back
from his face, and that half smile in his eyes.
"Hi." He held out another red rose.
Natasha nearly sighed. Giving in a little, she tapped the blossom against
her cheek. "It wasn't the roses that changed my mind," she said.
"About what?"
"About having dinner with you."
He smiled then, fully, and exasperated her by looking charming and
cocky all at the same time. "What did?"
"I'm hungry." She set her short velvet jacket on the arm of the sofa. "I'll
put this in water& "
The restaurant he'd chosen was only a short drive away. Over her first
glass of wine, she told herself to relax and enjoy. Over dinner, she was
careful to steer the conversation toward subjects they had touched on in
his class. But Spence was equally determined to explore more personal
areas.
"Tell me about your family."
Natasha slipped a hot, butter-drenched morsel of lobster into her mouth.
"I'm the oldest of four," she began, then became abruptly aware that his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Linki