Ella took her time sitting down. "It's quite simple." She
crossed her legs and smoothed the silk skirt along her thighs, keenly aware
that Rafe watched her every movement. "You married me. Now you're stuck
with me."
"You know why I married you," he informed her through
gritted teeth.
"Yes, I know. You want me. Well, guess what?" She held his
gaze, her
feelings reflected in that one forthright look. "I want you, too."
"This isn't going to work," he announced. "I'll arrange a
return flight for you first
thing in the morning."
She shook her head, her hair swirling in a graceful arc
around her shoulders. "I'm not going anywhere. Not yet. Not until we've
sorted this out."
His fist crashed against the teak table top. And that's
when she saw it. He still wore his wedding band. It caught the rays of
sunlight streaming in the window and sparkled in a bright, golden promise.
"We sorted out our differences two months ago," he bit out. "If you'll
recall, our marriage ended as rapidly as it began."
"That's where you're wrong. You see..." She steeled herself
to deliver her next little bombshell, somewhat bolstered by the sign of
commitment he carried on his finger. "I have no intention of releasing you
from your vows until I'm convinced you have no feelings for me."
"Feelings? Our marriage has nothing to do with feelings," he
practically roared. "Our marriage is a travesty, one of my own making I
admit. But at least I had the good sense to walk away before it went too
far."
She leaned forward in the chair, her hands clutching the
armrests in a white-knuckle grip. "Well, I refuse to walk away. I've loved
you for almost six years and I'm not going to ruin my one chance for
happiness because you're too pig-headed to take a chance. If you want to get
rid of me, you'll have to physically throw me out."
He surged to his feet. "Do you think I won't?"
"You may try." She stood as well. "But we both know what
will happen the minute you put your hands on me. If you carry me anywhere,
it won't be out the front door. It'll be to your bed to finish what we
started two months ago."
"Don't tempt me to prove you wrong!"
"Let me make it easy for you." She opened her arms. "Go
ahead, Rafe. I'm all yours. Pick me up and we'll see whether we end this on
the front step or in your bedroom."
Fury exploded in his diamond-hard eyes, along with a blazing
passion. He started around the desk toward her, his strides eating up the
distance separating them. She knew a momentary twinge of fear, but it died
as swiftly as it was born. He could fight and struggle and snarl all he
wanted. It wouldn't do any good. What existed between them couldn't be
denied any more than it could be controlled. A single kiss would shatter
every purpose but one...
To finish what he'd started
on their wedding night.
Related Fairytale
Wedding Books:
Temporary Husband
Accidental Wife
Shotgun Marriage
Bridegroom on Approval
Long-Lost Bride
From the book:
SHOTGUN MARRIAGE
by Day Leclaire
Harlequin Romance #3440–January ’97
ISBN: 0-373-03440-7
4 ½ STARS for DAY
LECLAIRE’S SHOTGUN MARRIAGE!
