One Secret Too Many Read online

  She was very still. His eyes closed, then opened again, meeting hers. She swallowed and said, ‘Sam, you don’t have to say it.’

  ‘I love you,’ he said, very softly. ‘I’ve loved you forever, I think, and I hope you’re going to marry me, because I don’t think I can settle for less.’

  ‘Yes,’ she whispered, but he didn’t seem to hear.

  He said slowly, ‘I know it’s upsetting you, wondering what people are saying about you and— They’ll accept it, Alex. Even if you don’t want to marry me yet, they’ll come around. If—once we’re married no one will think anything of it, and—honey, if it bothers you, wondering if they’re talking—just give me a little time and I’ll work out something. We can move if you want, or—’

  ‘I don’t want to move.’

  He didn’t seem to hear her. ‘So long as we’re together. Alex, I swear I can make you happy! You—I can’t—I couldn’t face the thought of your leaving.’ He sucked in a ragged breath, said, ‘I’m greedy. I want it all. I want to wake up to the sound of our baby crying, to bring him to you and watch him sucking at your breast. I want—always, Alex. I want all the years, all of you.’

  He was trembling. She took his face in her hands. ‘Sam, I’m not leaving. I love you. You’d have to throw me out to get rid of me, and even then I don’t think I would be willing to go without a fight. I—I’m going to marry you.’

  She felt him shudder, then he took a deep breath and simply said, ‘Good.’ He touched her hair and said in a voice that tried to be casual, ‘I think we should dry your hair before I make love to you.’ She shivered at what was in his eyes, his voice, as he said, ‘You must not catch cold. And I’m glad you’re going to marry me, because the police are expecting an invitation to the wedding.’

  ‘What?’ She pushed herself up on to her elbows, staring at him. He smiled and shook his bead, disappearing into the bathroom and returning a second later with a dry towel and a brush.

  ‘Sit up and we’ll get your hair dry,’ he commanded. She knew that he was still uncomfortable with his declaration of love. The words had been hard for him and she realised that he had to draw back a little even though he loved her deeply. She smiled and asked, ‘What’s this about the police?’ She found herself sitting to his command, with Sam cross-legged on the bed behind her, rubbing her hair dry with the towel.

  He did not answer her for a moment, but pushed the gown off her shoulder and pressed a kiss on to her neck. His voice was low and amused. ‘I told the officer who stopped me that I wasn’t responsible for my behaviour.I was trying to get up my nerve to propose to the woman I loved.’

  She trembled and knew that he felt it. ‘You were speeding?’ she accused.

  ‘Not me,’ he defended himself. ‘I haven’t run a red light in months, and I’ve been driving the Corvette as if it was a—an old maid’s car.’

  ‘That’s not true!’ She twisted around, found herself breathlessly facing him with only a few molecules of air between their lips. ‘You were going sixty in a fifty zone on the way to the waterfront last night, and you know it! You—why did the police stop you?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’ He shrugged, grinning, looking like the kind of man a minister’s daughter should be warned against. ‘I think he just thought I looked suspicious. He was determined to find something, and he managed.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘No motorcycle endorsement on my licence.’ His mouth was serious, but she saw the laughter in his eyes and knew he was going to tease her. ‘I thought of fighting it,’ he said slowly. ‘I thought I could think up some grounds for defence, like being insane with love for the minister’s daughter, not being in my right mind.’

  ‘You got a summons?’ She couldn’t help the laughter, knowing that this was going to be all around town by the time the day was over. She murmured, ‘You’re going to be the disgrace of the town. Dr Dempsey getting a summons for driving Mary Houseman’s motor scooter without a licence.’

  ‘We need something for Emily to talk about.’ He was smiling, then the smile faded and he said, ‘Alex, don’t worry. It’ll be all right. When we’re married, even your mother will come round.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, and it was true. She reached for the man she loved, knowing that he loved her, knowing that everything else would look after itself so long as they were together.

  Later, she would tell him that they were going to Emily’s for dinner next week.

  The End