His Black Sheep Bride (15 page)

She swallowed hard as she took them from him and placed them aside. “Why?”

He raked his free hand through his damp hair. “Because I can do without Kincaid News, but I can't live without you. Because I've searched for a way to have you trust me, and this is the only way I have left to try to convince you that you matter more.”

She sucked in a breath. “Oh, Sawyer.”

“I took the wrong tack when I came here the other day,” he went on. “But for the record, you still have something that belongs to me.”

“What's that?”

He took her hand and guided it until it lay flat against his heart.

Her eyes widened. And then, all of a sudden, her heart began to thud loudly.

Time slowed. From outside, the dim noise of the roaring city could be heard.

Her lips parted, and then closed again.

Emotion clogged her throat. “I—”

“Help me out,” Sawyer joked, his voice nevertheless carrying an undercurrent of need.

Instead of replying, she went on tiptoes, pulled his head down to hers and pressed her lips against his mouth.

In response, he banded his arms around her, and opened his mouth over hers.

They kissed in a hot press of need, unable to get enough of each other.

When they came up for air, he looked into her eyes. “I love you.”

“Oh, Sawyer.” She felt the prick of tears. “I love you, too.”

Tenderly, he cupped her face and stroked his thumbs over the dampness near her eyes. “What's this? Tears for me?”

She nodded. “I've been shedding buckets for the past several days.” She took a tremulous breath. “In fact, I was coming to see you just as soon as the rain let up.”

He looked at her inquiringly.

“My father came here yesterday to tell me you were refusing to go through with the merger, and he had some surprisingly sage advice to deliver with the news.”

“Shocking.”

She gave a smile at his dry humor. “I thought so, too. Apparently, it was clear to others much sooner than it was to us that we'd suit, quite apart from Kincaid News or Melton Media. He made me begin to think…to hope…”

“Sweetheart.” Sawyer lowered his hands as his eyes traveled down to her throat. “Is that why you're wearing the necklace?”

She nodded. “I thought you'd take it as a sign when I showed up on your doorstep. Did you mean it when you said the necklace was always meant for me?”

Her heart squeezed because his answer still mattered.

“Yes,” he said, lifting his shoulders with obvious mock regret. “There was no past girlfriend. The jewelry was a ploy to get close to you.”

Relief washed over her even as she swatted him. “Oh, you…”

He chuckled as he caught her hand, but then sobered. “I promise, no more deception.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “I was so hurt and angry when I discovered you had to sleep with me in order to gain control of Kincaid News.”

“There was no
had to
about it,” he countered. “It was pure want all the way. I may have told myself in the beginning that it was at least partly for the sake of the company, but ever since our first kiss, I'd been fighting my growing desire for you.”

“Do you think we'll be able to make it work?”

“What? Our marriage?” She nodded.

“We have so far.”

She gave a small smile. “Do you think the world is ready for a Countess of Melton who sports a tattoo?”

“They already are,” he replied, his hand inching up her dress and caressing her thigh. “And they're going to love your jewelry.”

She searched his face. “You really want me to continue designing jewelry?”

“Yes, without a doubt. You have a wealth of talent. And on top of it all—” he smiled with secret promise “—I have some jewelry I'd like to commission for a certain woman.”

“Oh?” she asked, even as he lowered the zipper on her dress and let it drop to the ground—in the process, doing delicious things to her insides.

“There's a necklace I have in mind for a certain flame-haired, green-eyed entrepreneur.”

“Mmm?”

“Yes,” he said huskily, trailing a finger down her cleavage. “I have an idea in mind for a large ruby pendant that will come to rest right here.”

“Do tell,” she said. “I see the beginnings of a wonderful collaboration.”

“One of many,” he responded.

And then he proceeded to demonstrate exactly how pleasurable their latest collaboration could be.

“T
his is fast becoming your favorite spot.”

Tamara looked up and smiled at Sawyer. She nodded toward the ducks nearby as he sat down next to her on the picnic blanket. “We have to keep up appearances for the ducks. Kiss me.”

Sawyer arched a brow, but amusement lurked in his eyes. “I doubt they're expecting us to act all lovey-dovey.”

She nodded seriously. “Their sense of well-being depends on it.”

“In that case…”

He obliged her with one of his heart-hammering kisses. Afterward, he tucked her into his embrace and nuzzled her temple.

Tamara sighed. She and Sawyer had decided to make as many trips back and forth across the Atlantic as they could until it was no longer possible for her to travel during her pregnancy.

And Gantswood Hall was fast becoming her favorite
retreat. She looked forward to raising children here—and in New York.

She was still finding her way in her role as the Countess of Melton. She trod the line between expectation and her own temperament. But in the way that mattered most, she knew she filled her role exceptionally well—she had Sawyer's love.

“Your father has arrived,” Sawyer remarked.

“Oh?”

“Business matters,” Sawyer replied shortly.

She nodded. Of course, her father had been thrilled with the news that Tamara and Sawyer had reconciled.

“Not come to gloat again, has he?” she asked, turning her head.

Sawyer laughed. “Maybe that, too.”

With a baby on the way, and Sawyer and Tamara so obviously devoted to each other, Viscount Kincaid had declared himself completely satisfied.

Tamara sighed. “Oh, well. Gantswood Hall is a large estate. Let him gloat in the east wing.”

Sawyer laughed. “We could have warring factions under the same roof, and it would hardly register in a home the size of Gantswood Hall.”

Tamara smiled wistfully. “Speaking of warring factions, I wish Belinda and Pia would resolve their differences with Colin and Hawk. It would be nice to invite our friends here at the same time.”

“They'll work out matters,” Sawyer said with conviction. “Now kiss me—there's a duck eyeing us.”

Tamara laughed and turned for Sawyer's kiss.

Some things were worth more than the most precious gems.