"It's best if you come to grips with who you are and stop pretending to be someone else. That girl will never fit into your lifestyle. You think you can be faithful to her, be the husband she wants you to be, but you're mistaken. The Collier men have always been unfaithful and that will never change. Your mother and I understand each other. We might see other people, but at the end of it we always stick with each other."
He forced himself to look back at her. The thought of letting her go created a hole inside him that was so deep, he felt as if he was drowning. But he needed to be unselfish. For the first time in his life, he wanted to do the right thing.
He should let her go.
"Everything they said in that piece is true. I was involved with a princess in Spain, and it went sideways." He continued grimly, forcing himself to relive the whole sordid affair. "It was just a fling to me, but she wanted more." His hands clenched into fists. "She was beautiful and I thought we were just having fun." He closed his eyes briefly. "She had been with other men, not that it was any excuse, but I wasn't the only one. She had this idea in her head that I would marry her. I made it plain to her that I wasn't interested in anything long term."
"When I tried to break it off-" He turned and stared out the glass, the pain etched on his face. "She tried to take her own life. I was lucky to get away with mine. My parents and hers cleared it all up, but it was still leaked." He rubbed his palms over his thighs."There have been others, but I don't want to get into it right now." He turned to face her then, expecting to see the look of derision and scorn. Instead, she was gazing at him with a serene expression on her beautiful face.
"I suppose you expect me to say goodbye now?"
"Yes," he answered gruffly.
"Would you like the ring back?"
She wanted out. The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach was spreading. He couldn't blame her one bit.
"No." He had to swallow the lump that had lodged deep in his throat. "You can keep it. It's yours, and anything else you want from me. I-" He could not continue.
Emotions stormed inside her as she gazed at a face that had become so precious to her in such a short space of time. "What about the flowers?"
"What?" He stared at her askance. "What flowers?"
"The ones you send me almost on a daily basis and the stuffed toys and earrings."
"You get to keep all of them."
"All I want is you." Taking his large hands in hers, she linked their fingers. "You don't think I know all about what you did in the past? Do you honestly expect me to leave?"
"You-" His fingers gripped hers until he was rubbing at the delicate bones. "You're staying?"
"Unless you've changed your mind about wanting to marry me." Her smile came again and was like the sun bursting through the storm cloud. He could hear birds chirping and the scent of spring filled his nostrils. His heart was swelling inside his chest.
Tugging on her hands, he hauled her into his arms and simply buried his head between her neck and shoulder and breathed her in. Her scent was an exotic combination of crayons and her subtle perfume.
"I thought for certain that you would change your mind. That the whole press business and the article would turn you off." He eased back so he could see her face. "I don't deserve you. I was prepared to do the right thing and let you go."
Lifting her hands, she used them to frame his face, her eyes eloquent. "You made a promise to me, and I expect you to honor it. I do not have a sterling past as you well know, therefore I am not in a position to judge you. However," her expression turned steely, "if you're ever unfaithful to me, I'll forget that I attend church and teach Sunday school. Am I clear?"
It was so unlike her gentle demeanor that at first he just stared at her without commenting. When she continued to gaze at him steadily, he smiled and then burst out laughing.
"Yes, ma'am." His voice was solemnly tender. "You're precious, do you know that?"
She shivered at the look on his handsome face and was happy that she had managed to change his mood.
"And you're beautiful and wonderful. You just don't realize it yet."
With a fevered groan, he seized her lips in a kiss that had them both melting.
*****
"I should go," he whispered hoarsely, reluctantly lifting his mouth from hers.
"Not just yet." She snuggled closer, fingers brushing over his bare chest. They had stopped to collect her car and come back to her place, and had Galahad jumping through hoops when they took him for a long walk.
Afterwards, she had ordered Chinese and was enjoying making out on her sofa. But it was getting hot and heavy and he knew he could not stand much more of it.
"Darling," he said, clamping a hand over her roving fingers firmly. "I want you," he told her bluntly. "I want to sink myself so deep inside you, I would find it difficult getting back out. So, unless you want me to take you right here and now, I'm going to have to leave."