No Greater Joy (20 page)

'Oh, Clint!' Alison thought she had never been quite as happy as she was at this moment. 'If only I'd been there!'

'All along I promised myself to give you all the time you needed to get over Raymond. But camp had ended, and I knew I couldn't wait any longer. Alison darling, I was going to ask you to marry me.'

Joy made the blood pound in her veins. She lifted herself on the pillow and kissed him lingeringly.

'You're a witch,' he groaned. 'A maddening, utterly desirable little witch. I'm dying to make love to you, my darling. Do you know what it's like to know that I can't?'

'You'll just have to get better quickly.'

'Will you marry me if I do?'

Her pulse was beating a crazy tattoo. 'Yes! Yes, my darling, I want so much to be your wife.'

'You can still have your stables,' Clint promised.

'Oh, Clint, I'd like that!'

'You already own the lovely horse you wanted so badly.'

'I do?' She looked at him disbelievingly.

'I bought it for you. It's being boarded till you're ready for it.'"

'I don't know what to say.' Her voice was ragged.

'You don't need to say anything. Just kiss me again.'

She did—more provocatively this time, letting her tongue trace the outline of his lips, laughing softly when he groaned.

'Start making plans,' he ordered, 'because I intend to get out of this place quickly.'

*I hope the counsellors can all make it to the wedding,' said Alison happily. 'And I'd like Mary and my sister Lynn to be my bridesmaids. Clint, do you think Timmy would be able to come?' she added.

'We'll have to convince his parents to bring him. We couldn't have a wedding without your Timmy.'

'My father is in the waiting-room with Mary and Virginia. I know he'll want to meet you.'

'I want to meet my future father-in-law, too. I'll ask him for your hand, and if he says no, I'll tell him you've given it to me already.'

'I'll call him.'

'Kiss me again first,' demanded Clint.

She did so. And this time he was even able to reciprocate—so thoroughly that when the nurse opened the door to see how her patient was doing, neither Clint nor Alison were aware of her presence.

It was amazing what miracles love could bring about, reflected the nurse, as she closed the door quietly, and left them to it.