Right Before His Eyes (18 page)
Read Right Before His Eyes Online
Authors: Wendy Etherington
“Engagement?” she echoed. “Likeâ¦to get married?”
“I'm too old, right? Twelve yearsâ¦might as well be thirty. But blast it, Mellie, my heart doesn't seem to care. I love you, and I want you in my life forever. But you've got so much ahead of you, so I understand ifâ”
Mellie's heart was pounding double-time. “Are you proposing to me?”
His expression turned wary. “Is that bad?”
“Bart!” called out his PR person. “Time's up.”
“One more minute,” he shouted back, then turned to her. “Mellie, please, just think about it, okay? And don't go anywhere, promise? Even if the answer is no, justâ¦just, don't, okay?” He turned to leave, still holding her hand.
She gripped his hard and stopped him. “Yes.”
He looked back at her. “Yes, you won't leave?”
“Yes, I'll marry you.” She couldn't stop an enormous smile from spreading over her face.
“No, you'd better think about it, Mellie. I don't think you're ready to make that decision. You're too young.”
Somewhere inside, the part of her that had always been older than her years showed her what was really happening with him. “Are you scared of me, Bart?”
“What? Of course not.”
“I'm not a child, you know.”
His eyes went hot. “I'm very aware of that.”
“So⦔
“Bart!”
“Coming!” he shouted, and pulled Mellie along. “Soâ¦what?”
Mellie felt more sure of herself than she had in a very long time. As they rounded the corner and not only the PR rep but a battery of cameras and microphones greeted them, she tugged at Bart's hand until he slowed and faced her. “I know my own mind, Bart. And I would love to marry you.”
He scanned her features for the truth, and what he saw seemed to convince him. He grinned and drew her close, then glanced back over his shoulder. “Here's your scoop, gangâthe future Mrs. Bart Branch.”
He swept Mellie up into an elaborate embrace, then dipped her right in front of the cameras and proceeded to lay a very thorough kiss on her.
When they came up for air, both their ears were ringing from the shouted questions, but Bart placed his mouth close to her ear when he spoke.
“Too late to run now, Miss Mellie.”
All she could do was smile.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7577-9
RIGHT BEFORE HIS EYES
Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
AT LAST
Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Liz Allison and Wendy Etherington are acknowledged as the authors of “At Last.”
END OF THE LINE
Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Jean Brashear is acknowledged as the author of “End of the Line.”
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