The Commitment (18 page)

"I never wanted to hurt you, Miranda."

A smile lit her lips. "Tell me again."

"Huh? Oh, the out of work actress."

"No, you idiot. The other part."

"The part about …" Realization hit him at the same moment her smile gave way to laughter. "I wish I'd gone ahead with the real thing."

Her laughter quieted, and then went away. "What do you mean by that?"

"I …" He knelt on one knee in front of her. "I mean, marry me, Miranda." He didn't know what he'd do if she refused. "I can't imagine my life without you in it."

She turned her head away. A silver droplet rolled down her cheek until he caught it on a fingertip.

"Why?" Her voice was only loud enough for his soul to hear.

Answering in the same vein, "Because I love you." Anguish rammed into him. What if he was too late, or if she didn't care? "What do you want, Miranda?"

"You." She looked back at him. This time the tears in her eyes glistened and sparkled as she smiled. "Are you sure you want a ready-made family, complete with Pumpkin?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Then her words hit home. "You are pregnant." Joy burst through him.

"Oh, yes. And I wasn't kidding when I said that twins run in my family. They tend to skip a generation. It may be our turn."

"I can't wait." He turned to the receptionist.

The grandmotherly lady was sobbing into a handkerchief. She said, "Bueno," over and over again. When she had her emotions under control, she escorted Drake and Miranda into the lawyer's office.

* * * *

The hotel's honeymoon suite was waiting when Drake and Miranda arrived. As they rode the elevator up Miranda whispered to Drake, "I don't have anything, you know, special to wear. A wedding night deserves something unforgettable."
Thinking about the red satin jumpsuit he'd crammed into his suitcase at the last minute, Drake whispered back, "I've got the perfect thing."

"A toga?"

"What?"

She winked.

THE END