Intimate Strangers (22 page)

Hannah stopped dead in her tracks, the puzzle in his mind finally coming together. Nicholas Benteen and Edmond St. Gregory had to be the same man. There was no other rational explanation for the similarities between Nicholas and the hero of the book.

Nicholas paused in mid–stride and looked at her, concern and confusion in his eyes as she stared up in shock at him. "Hannah?"

Somehow, she found the courage she needed, the courage to repeat the phrase that echoed repeatedly in her head. "’Tender is the mercy of a lover, for she will liberate my soul and heal my heart.’"

He paled.

"Let me be that lover, Nicholas."

He took her by the shoulders and gently backed her against the nearest wall. Towering over her, he said quietly, "You are, Hannah."

Tears filled her eyes.

He smoothed his hands over her shoulders, down her arms, and back up again. His gaze narrowed, and his expression grew more vulnerable than she’d ever seen it during their time together. "You are that lover, Hannah. You’ve already liberated my soul and healed my heart. That’s why I’m here. I thought you realized that."

She gripped the lapels of his suit jacket. "You’ve been to hell. I refuse to allow you to go back."

He smiled at her. "I don’t plan to, especially since you’ve taken me to heaven. You’re stuck with me, little girl."

"You’re Edmond St. Gregory."

He winced. "Guilty."

"Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you trust me with the truth?"

"We were a little busy with other things, but I intended to tell you when the time was right." He glanced at his watch.

"Where are you going now?"

"I have an appointment with a realtor."

"Why are you really here?"

He looked dumbfounded by her question. "You really have to ask?"

"Answer me," she whispered.

"I’m making some major changes in my life. Buying property, that sort of thing. Think about it, Hannah."

"Why a realtor? You can stay with me whenever you want to visit St. Louis."

Obviously surprised, he said, "We’ll have different requirements once we’re married. Your condo’s too small. We need more space. We’ll have a security team when we aren’t in Nevada, but they won’t bother us."

She felt light headed. "Was that a proposal?"

"I guess it was." He brought his hands up and gently cupped her head. "I love you, Hannah Elaine Cassidy. When a man finds a woman who is capable of accepting him for himself, he’d be a fool to let her get away. When a man discovers a woman who believes in him and who is strong enough to understand and forgive his past, he’s finally able to stop wrestling with his conscience and his self–doubt. He welcomes that woman into his life and his heart, and he thanks God that they found each other in time to make a life together. And when a man loves a woman who’s that unique, he damn well marries her."

"You make it sound so… simple," she said.

"I don’t want to live my life without you," he said with heartfelt sincerity before he dropped a hard kiss on her parted lips. "It won’t be simple or easy. Your safety means everything to me, so we’ll need to be careful. I’ll have to travel back and forth between Nevada and St. Louis, since I wouldn’t ask you to give up your teaching or your work as a child advocate. And perhaps someday you’ll decide to work with children in Nevada. I want you to be happy, Hannah, and I want a life with you. We’ll find a way to make it work if you’ll take a chance on us."

She trembled, too overwhelmed by her love for Nicholas and the emotions going wild inside her to do anything but stare up at him.

"I hoped you’d approve of the changes I’ve already begun to make. I want to be whole, Hannah, not continue this half–life I’ve been living for so long. But most of all, I want you, and I don’t intend to live in fear of the unknown or allow threats from obscure Third World adversaries from my past to stand in the way of our happiness."

"You’re making me a little crazy."

He laughed. "I thought I’d make you into something else."

"What?"

All of the humor left his face. "My wife, if you’ll have me, Hannah. You haven’t said you’ll marry me."

"I’ll have you!" Hannah exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. "Of course, I’ll marry you. I love you so much."

He brought her even closer, embracing her with the tenderness and warmth she’d always known were essential parts of his personality. "I adore you, Hannah Cassidy."

Nicholas kissed her then, a searching, scintillating kiss that drew a whistle from Sarah, applause from the people waiting for the elevator, and broad smiles from his two armed bodyguards.

–End–