His Last Chance at Redemption (22 page)

Lexi swallowed and contained the surge in her heart with some difficulty. ‘So …’ she cleared her throat ‘… I need to amend his forms.’

‘Damn it, Lexi, I don’t give a stuff about Ty’s forms.’ He rose and stood in front of her as if he wasn’t sure what to do next and then he paced to the back of the room. ‘
Bohze
, I’m making a hash of this.’

‘Making a hash of what?’

He frowned. ‘Of telling you how I feel. It’s because I’ve never done it before.’

Lexi was pleased he wanted to tell her how he felt about Ty, but really she would have felt less pain stretched out on a rack of ten-inch nails with rats gnawing on her stomach.

‘Leo, I couldn’t be happier for you and Ty but—’

‘I’m not here because of Ty. I’m here because of us.’

Lexi watched him warily. ‘You made it pretty clear last week that there was no
us
.’

‘I said a lot of stupid things that morning. Most of them, as you rightly pointed out, because I couldn’t let go of the past. I’m sorry I hurt you. In my defence, I was feeling a little unhinged that morning.’

‘Because your mother called?’

‘Because my mother called. Because our lovemaking the night before had been so damned beautiful.’ He paused, watching her as if trying to gauge her reaction to his words. ‘For years I buried myself in work and refused to face Sasha’s death because I was afraid to let emotion in. Only you made it impossible for me not to feel. Not to
care
. But the truth is angel …’ his voice cracked ‘.the truth is that I love you.’

‘You love me!’

‘Not just love you. I adore you. I fell in love with you the minute I saw you and—’ he grimaced ‘—I’ve been
running—’ He stopped. Stared at her. ‘You took off your necklace.’

Lexi reflexively touched the place her necklace had hung for too many years, her mind still spinning from Leo’s passionate declaration. ‘It was time.’

‘No; I ruined that for you.’ His voice was soft, remorseful. ‘I’m sorry.’

Lexi shook her head. ‘Please don’t apologise. I had some growing up to do where my father was concerned. For years I refused to face that he wasn’t coming back, idealising him as much as my mother had, but I was living in the past. When I was younger I wore the necklace to keep a connection with him, but over the years it had become a habit. And I guess, as you said, I never wanted to admit that he chose his other family over us.’

Leo obviously heard the catch in her voice because he rounded her desk and pulled her out of her chair and into the warmth of his embrace. Lexi sank against him like a stone, her nostrils flaring as she drank in his familiar male scent. God, she had missed this. Missed him.

His hands ran over her back soothingly.

‘Angel, he was a weak man. Like my father. They could never accept responsibility for their actions. I was like that for a time but you pointed out to me that life is a choice. We may have been given a bad start, but if we really want something different we can have it. At least I hope we can.’

She raised her head and dared to hope that maybe his declaration of love before wasn’t just a fantasy she had conjured from thin air. ‘What do you mean?’

He shook his head and moved back to perch on her desk, taking a deep breath. ‘I need to touch you but …’ he folded his arms tightly across his chest ‘… first I need you to know that, even though you refuse to see what I have inside of me, I nearly killed a man once.’

Lexi stilled. ‘Tell me.’

‘It was a month after my uncle’s death. He was in a bar, spouting off about his promotion because of his cost-saving strategy. A cost-saving strategy that meant he’d bought substandard equipment that had ended my uncle’s life.’ He swallowed and she knew how hard it was for him to talk about this. ‘I saw red. Hit him. And I didn’t stop. Four men had to pull me off him. If they hadn’t …’ He shuddered.

‘Leo, you were young, hurt. What you did was wrong, but I know that deep down you’re not a violent person.’

‘I nearly hit Tom Shepherd.’

‘But you didn’t.’

‘Because of you.’

‘No. You chose not to. Leo, you might have used your fists when you were younger, but—’ she took a chance and stepped forward, cupping his face in her hands ‘—I know that’s not who you are now.’

‘Lexi, I love you. Marry me.’

‘What? You don’t do commitment.’

‘That’s because I’ve never been in love before. But I’m not letting you go,
moya milaya
.’ His hands dug into her waist and his lips claimed hers in an elemental kiss that went on as long as time. Finally, when breathing once again became a necessity, he released her mouth and leant his forehead against hers. ‘I used to think that love was to be avoided at all costs. That it meant nothing but pain. Now I know that one day with you in it is worth a thousand without you. I’ve missed you, angel. Say you’ll marry me. Say you’ll make me the happiest man alive and Ty the happiest child by giving him ten siblings.’

Lexi felt so choked she almost couldn’t speak. ‘Ten!’

‘Okay, maybe I’m thinking of the practice more than the reality of ten kids, but at least two. Whatever you want. I will be yours to command for the rest of your life if you’ll have me.’

She smiled. ‘Really?’

‘Yes.’ The glint in his eye was devilish. ‘Of course you will have to wear a very short skirt when you do it.’

Lexi’s insides melted as she recalled their incredible lovemaking that night on his pool deck.

‘I think I can manage that,’ she murmured huskily.

‘For ever?’

‘It will take me that long to believe this is all true.’

‘Oh, its true, angel, and I’ve a mind to show you just how true right here on this desk.’

‘Only we’re in the childcare centre and that’s a really clean window,’ she pointed out.

‘I told you your standards were too exacting.’

‘No, they’re not. They’ve just been holding out for you.’

Leo groaned. ‘I adore you Lexi Somers.’

He kissed her fiercely. ‘And you haven’t said it yet.’ His voice had a rough quality that held a note of uncertainty.

Lexi stroked her hands over his chest and reached up to loop them around his neck. ‘I love you.’

‘And?’

‘And yes, of course I’ll marry you.’

A slow grin spread across his face. ‘That’s all I wanted to hear.’

‘You’re very easy to please.’ Lexi laughed, feeling wildly ecstatic at the realisation that the man of her dreams loved her as much as she loved him.

‘Actually, I’m not. No woman has ever come close to pleasing me the way you do. You’re the most beautiful woman I know—inside and out—and I still don’t think I deserve you.’

‘You do, Leo. You definitely do.’

‘Shall we go and tell Ty the good news?’

Lexi felt her heart swell. It felt as if she had loved Ty since the moment she’d first met him but … ‘What if he doesn’t accept me in such a permanent role in his life?’

‘Lexi, he adores you. As do I. Come. You have nothing to worry about.’ He looked at her fiercely. ‘Ever again.’

Lexi knew her eyes were glowing with happiness. ‘Have I told you that I love you?’

Leo smiled down at her and gathered her in tight. ‘Not enough, angel.’ He brought his mouth to hers. ‘Not nearly enough.’