The Widow and the Wastrel (20 page)

But he was oblivious to her protests, pulling her rigid body against his and forcing her head back to receive his long, hard kiss. He kept on kissing her until she stopped resisting him and the love she couldn't deny. Only then did he release her lips, allowing her to bury her face in his chest. She felt utterly miserable.

"I know you'll never believe me." Her sobs were muffled by his shirt. "But I swear I'd decided to marry you before that phone call. At the airport, I started to go back to tell you, but you'd said you wanted to be alone and—Oh, you'll never believe me now!"

"Stop crying." He shook her gently as he scolded her with mock gruffiness. "I was on the patio."

"I know you were." Her voice throbbed with pain. "And I know what you must think of me."

"You don't understand." Forcing her head up, he tenderly wiped the tears from her cheek. "I heard everything. I was on the patio listening to you play the piano before Mother came home. You told her before the phone rang that you were going to marry me. I was on my way in to make you tell me that. I never guessed the call would be for me. I'd left Sam's number for my attorney, but unfortunately he forgot to give me the message. So you see, darling, I know you're telling the truth, that you're willing to marry me for richer, for poorer."

"Oh, Jed," Elizabeth gasped, her lashes fluttering shut for a second. "I was so afraid—"

"I know, darling." He folded her more tightly into his arm. "Now I have to ask you to forgive me. I wasn't being fair when I kept the truth from you and demanded that you make a decision without knowing what kind of future, if any, I could offer you."

"Why didn't you let anyone know?" she asked softly, her hands lovingly caressing his face. "You should have been proud of your success."

"It was foolish Carrel pride," he smiled crookedly. "I wanted to be welcomed for myself, not for my accomplishments. Kurt and Sam, my friends, were the only ones who could do that. And you, my lovely enchanting Liza." He kissed her lightly. "It seems I shall have some business to take care of in Hawaii. Would you object to spending our honeymoon there?"

"No," she smiled happily.

"It'll be a month or more before we can come back."

"Here?" Elizabeth frowned. "With your mother?"

"Good lord, no!" Jed laughed. "I may care for her, but I could never live in the same house with her." His expression became more serious. "We'll find a place of our own, ours and Amy's. Not too far away, because Mother needs us. She hasn't anything, darling, and we have so much. She needs our love." He lowered his head to her lips. "And I need yours."