with
him, and more nights folded in his arms.
Blood thundered in her ears as he waited for her answer. “Yes,
I will.” The words burst from her mouth before she even decided to say them.
Somewhere in her autonomic nervous system a button had been pressed and her
future decided without the more complex workings of her ego being consulted.
“Fantastic!” A broad smile spread across James’s face. He rose
to his feet, whipped out a ring, a large sparkling diamond, and slid it onto her
ring finger before she had time to catch her breath.
She blinked. The air around them suddenly seemed so bright and
hot she could hardly see or breathe. Had she really just agreed to marry James
Drummond?
Their lips met in a passionate kiss that was a huge relief
because it meant she didn’t have to come up with any words. His strong arms
around her felt wonderful, but all the time her brain was racing. Why had he
proposed? What made him think she’d say yes? His arrogance was
extraordinary.
Yet she had said yes.
They pulled apart, and she found herself staring at his face.
The chiseled, eye-catchingly handsome face of a man descended from warriors,
with more land and money than some small nations. And he wanted to be her
husband.
“You look rather shell-shocked.”
“That’s because I am.” It was a relief to admit it. They
weren’t actually going to get married, of course. In between now and the
imaginary wedding she’d just agreed to, their relationship would somehow fizzle
out and they’d go their separate ways. It was a temporary fantasy they’d both
agreed to participate in. “In a good way.”
“I’m glad you could see that although we haven’t known each
other long, there’s no reason for delay. You’re decisive. I think it’s the same
instinct that makes us so successful in business.”
“Yes.” She agreed blindly, still incapable of actual thought.
“Absolutely.”
“We’ll get married right away. We’re not kids who need a long
engagement. We can probably do it next week.”
Fiona’s throat tightened. “But…my parents.” She thought
immediately of her dad, who would probably have a stroke if she actually married
James Drummond. But her mom and stepdad would be devastated if she got married
without them present. Not that she was really getting married. “And we should
spend more time getting to know each other.”
“Of course we’ll include them. I know just the planner to
organize an event everyone will remember.”
He held both her hands, and they were definitely sweating. “I
need time to…find the right dress.” Her brain scrambled for roadblocks to slow
down this freight train that seemed to be getting out of control. “And my
bridesmaids and maid of honor.” All things she’d never given a moment’s thought
to.
James’s brow rose, and humor twinkled in his eyes. “Do you
really want those trappings of tradition?”
“Oh, yes.” It was hard to speak with her heart thumping against
her ribs like a caged animal.
“Then you shall have them.” A smile lit up his face and toasted
her heart with its warmth. James Drummond wanted to marry her. It didn’t get any
stranger than this. Why did he have to be so handsome and intelligent and, well,
awesome? She’d never in a million years have dreamed that someone like this
would want to marry her. She wasn’t a jaw-dropping beauty or a brilliant
conversationalist. Even now that she was wealthy, men were hardly stopping her
in the street to invite her out. And this man, undoubtedly one of the world’s
most eligible bachelors, wanted to rush her to the altar. It didn’t make sense.
He must have some ulterior motive. But what?
Taffy had grown tired of standing still and was trying to
stretch her neck down to nibble the heather. “We should probably…” What? The
words fizzled.
“Of course.” James strode toward the horses and untied their
reins, then handed her Taffy’s. She climbed onto the horse with a sense of
relief.
him, and more nights folded in his arms.
Blood thundered in her ears as he waited for her answer. “Yes,
I will.” The words burst from her mouth before she even decided to say them.
Somewhere in her autonomic nervous system a button had been pressed and her
future decided without the more complex workings of her ego being consulted.
“Fantastic!” A broad smile spread across James’s face. He rose
to his feet, whipped out a ring, a large sparkling diamond, and slid it onto her
ring finger before she had time to catch her breath.
She blinked. The air around them suddenly seemed so bright and
hot she could hardly see or breathe. Had she really just agreed to marry James
Drummond?
Their lips met in a passionate kiss that was a huge relief
because it meant she didn’t have to come up with any words. His strong arms
around her felt wonderful, but all the time her brain was racing. Why had he
proposed? What made him think she’d say yes? His arrogance was
extraordinary.
Yet she had said yes.
They pulled apart, and she found herself staring at his face.
The chiseled, eye-catchingly handsome face of a man descended from warriors,
with more land and money than some small nations. And he wanted to be her
husband.
“You look rather shell-shocked.”
“That’s because I am.” It was a relief to admit it. They
weren’t actually going to get married, of course. In between now and the
imaginary wedding she’d just agreed to, their relationship would somehow fizzle
out and they’d go their separate ways. It was a temporary fantasy they’d both
agreed to participate in. “In a good way.”
“I’m glad you could see that although we haven’t known each
other long, there’s no reason for delay. You’re decisive. I think it’s the same
instinct that makes us so successful in business.”
“Yes.” She agreed blindly, still incapable of actual thought.
“Absolutely.”
“We’ll get married right away. We’re not kids who need a long
engagement. We can probably do it next week.”
Fiona’s throat tightened. “But…my parents.” She thought
immediately of her dad, who would probably have a stroke if she actually married
James Drummond. But her mom and stepdad would be devastated if she got married
without them present. Not that she was really getting married. “And we should
spend more time getting to know each other.”
“Of course we’ll include them. I know just the planner to
organize an event everyone will remember.”
He held both her hands, and they were definitely sweating. “I
need time to…find the right dress.” Her brain scrambled for roadblocks to slow
down this freight train that seemed to be getting out of control. “And my
bridesmaids and maid of honor.” All things she’d never given a moment’s thought
to.
James’s brow rose, and humor twinkled in his eyes. “Do you
really want those trappings of tradition?”
“Oh, yes.” It was hard to speak with her heart thumping against
her ribs like a caged animal.
“Then you shall have them.” A smile lit up his face and toasted
her heart with its warmth. James Drummond wanted to marry her. It didn’t get any
stranger than this. Why did he have to be so handsome and intelligent and, well,
awesome? She’d never in a million years have dreamed that someone like this
would want to marry her. She wasn’t a jaw-dropping beauty or a brilliant
conversationalist. Even now that she was wealthy, men were hardly stopping her
in the street to invite her out. And this man, undoubtedly one of the world’s
most eligible bachelors, wanted to rush her to the altar. It didn’t make sense.
He must have some ulterior motive. But what?
Taffy had grown tired of standing still and was trying to
stretch her neck down to nibble the heather. “We should probably…” What? The
words fizzled.
“Of course.” James strode toward the horses and untied their
reins, then handed her Taffy’s. She climbed onto the horse with a sense of
relief.
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