One Touch of Topaz (18 page)

Joy like the nova of a giant sun flooded through her. It had come. It was here. Dear heaven, it was here!

“You mean it?” Her words were only a breath of a sound. “Fletch, do you really—” She stopped and suddenly tore away from him, her face lit with an inner radiance as she backed away from him. “Go out on the terrace.”

“What?”

She turned and ran toward the stairs. “Wait for me on the terrace. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going? We’ve got to talk about this. There’s no way I’m going to let you go back to St. Pierre with—” He broke off as she suddenly disappeared from view around the curve of the stairs. He was both exasperated and frustrated as he turned and strode across the foyer.

He was standing on the terrace looking out over the garden when he heard the French doors open behind him.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting; I tried to hurry.”

He turned. “You pick the damnedest times to—” She was wearing the golden gown, and she was so beautiful that he forgot what he was going to say. Everything about her was radiant: the shimmering gown, her shining hair, her face. He cleared his throat. “You changed.”

She nodded. “Everything but my shoes.” She lifted the hem of her gown to reveal bare feet. “I couldn’t find the matching sandals, and I was in such a hurry that I decided not to bother. I didn’t think it would make any
difference, anyway”—she released her skirt and came toward him—“since it’s just the two of us. Now we can resume our conversation.”

“May I ask why you’re trying to vamp me?” He suddenly frowned. “You’re not going to change my mind, you know. I’m not going to let you go back—”

“Hush.” She stopped before him. “I’m not trying to vamp you.” She grinned. “If I haven’t done that by now, I’m in big trouble. And you know I wouldn’t let you stop me if I really wanted to do something. I changed because I wanted everything to be absolutely right. I refuse to have another romantic moment spoiled because I feel like a grubby street urchin. The first night I wore this gown, I was walking on air and so full of hope that I was nearly dizzy. Everything went wrong then, but tonight it’s going to be different.”

“Is it?”

“Oh, yes.” She took a step nearer. “Because you’re going to tell me something
I’ve waited a long time to hear. You almost told me before I went upstairs, and now I want to hear the words.”

“What do you want to hear?”

She shook her head. “Damn, you’re a difficult man. All right, I’ll go first. I love you, Fletch. I love your mind, your body, and that streak of idealism you won’t even admit to yourself. I want to have your children and raise them, and then I want to spoil our grandchildren rotten. In spite of our agreement, I’m not going to leave you in two years, in twenty years, or in seventy years. You’re stuck with me. If you ever try to divorce me, I’ll probably murder you, and if you take a mistress, there’s a good chance I’ll murder
her
. Do we understand each other?”

He stared at her incredulously for a moment. Then he smiled with a joy so brilliant, it took her breath away. “Such violence,” he murmured. “I believe Topaz has assumed control.”

“You bet she has.” She smiled up at him
lovingly. “And she’s not going to let you off until she gets what she wants.
Tell
me.”

“It’s not easy for me,” he said haltingly. “I’ve never …” He gazed down at her face. “God, I love you.”

“Very good. How much?” she prompted.

“There aren’t any words,” he said simply. “You know what an inarticulate bastard I am.”

“Try.” Her fingers touched his cheek. “I won’t ask you again, but tonight is special. Tonight it’s important that I
know.”

“How can you help but know?” he asked gruffly. “From the first moment I set eyes on you I was practically torn apart.” He turned his head so that his lips touched her palm. “I wanted to protect you and ravish you at the same time. You filled me with confusion and anger and …” He pressed her palm against his cheek. “Love. So much love that I thought it would kill me. For a while I believed I could control it, but that didn’t last long. I was the one who was being controlled. And every day it gets worse because
it gets better.” He made a face. “Hell, just listen to me. I’m not even making sense.”

“I think you’re being very clear,” she whispered. “That’s the way I feel too.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me? I was worried as hell that you’d get bored and walk out on me.”

She shook her head. “And I was being so careful not to make you feel boxed into a corner. You told me in the beginning how you felt about women interfering in your life.”

“You should have known I didn’t feel like that anymore. Didn’t I spend every minute I could with you? Didn’t I show you I couldn’t—Stop laughing. This is a very serious point I’m making.” Then he was laughing, too—free, joyous laughter. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her gently. “Okay, you’re not a mind reader, and neither am I. We’ll start over.”

She shook her head. “No, we’ve already come a long way. We’ll just continue on the
same path.” She stood on tiptoe to brush his lips with her own. “With love, Fletch.”

His arms tightened around her, and he buried his face in her hair. “St. Pierre. You won’t …”

“You could have asked me in the beginning instead of trying to stack the deck against my going back,” she said soberly. “I’ve already fought my battles there. I’m glad there’s a chance for St. Pierre to be saved, and I’ll do everything I can to help make that come about.” She felt him stiffen against her and added quickly, “With you, Fletch.”

A sigh of relief shuddered through him. “Thank God.” He lifted his head to look at her. “And thank you, Samantha.”

“For what?”

“For loving me. Heaven only knows why you do. I’m so much older than you, and rough as hell, and God knows I’m nothing to look at.”

She smiled up at him. “And I don’t have your maturity, I’m independent as the devil,
and will probably be so possessive that I’ll drive you crazy. And you’ll have to learn to live with Topaz as well as Samantha. So what? We’ll still have it all, as long as we have each other.”

He nodded slowly, gazing at her with glowing tenderness. “You’re right.” His voice was husky with emotion as he drew her closer with exquisite gentleness. “It doesn’t make a damn bit of difference, love. We’ll have it all … Topaz.”