Lifelong Affair (14 page)

'Yes?'

'That
it was the practical thing to do,' she improvised lamely.

'Practical?
Yes, I suppose it is,' he nodded. 'I've arranged the wedding for Friday. I hope
that meets your approval.'

Three
days. Just three more days and they would be husband and wife. This time a
month ago she hadn't
seriously thought of marrying anyone, let alone Alex
Hammond. But this time last month Glenna had still been alive.

Yes,
that—that's fine,' she agreed shakily. She had been so busy the last two
weeks that she had managed to push the air crash to the back of her mind. Now
it came back with a vengeance, leaving her weak and shaken.

'What
is it?' Alex demanded sharply. 'Morgan? Have you changed your mind about the
marriage?'

'Of course not. Have I acted as if I have?'
she derided. 'No, I was just thinking about Glenna. If she hadn't died
------------

'Don't think about it.' His hand came out to
clasp hers. 'I'm sorry, I've been inconsiderate, questioning you like this; you
must be tired. J ust rest for now, we can talk later. I was going to take you
out to dinner, but
-----------------------------------------------------------
'

'Oh,
I'd love to go out with you,' Morgan said eagerly. 'I'll have a lie down when
we get to the house and then I'll be ready to go out later, okay?'

'Only
if you feel up to it.'

She
was determined to. She might be marrying this man, but they had never even been
out together!

'My
mother is staying with Janet for a few days,' he told her as he halted
the
car outside the house.

Morgan
smiled. 'She knew I was arriving today, hmm?'

His
mouth twisted. 'I would be lying if I said anything else.'

"That's
what I thought!' She walked into the house at his side, and was surprised when
Symonds offered her his congratulations before having her luggage taken
upstairs.

'All
the staff have been informed of our marriage,' Alex told her softly. 'I thought
it best.'

'Mm,
especially when I move into your bedroom,' she added teasingly.

'But
you won't be.'

'Alex
---
'

'Look,
we'll discuss all this over dinner.'

'But
---
'

'Later,
Morgan.' He kissed her firmly on the mouth to stop further speech.

After
she had spent some time with Courtney Morgan did manage to fall asleep in her
room for a couple of hours, although Alex's claim that she wouldn't be sharing
his room disturbed her. She thought they had settled all that before she went
back to the States. Well, no matter what Alex had decided in her absence, she
would not settle for a sterile marriage; she wanted Courtney to eventually have
brothers and sisters. It was with that thought in mind that she finally drifted
off to sleep, a smile on her lips as she imagined holding Alex's baby in her
arms.

She
dressed with special care that evening, seeing admiration flare in Alex's eyes
as she joined him in the lounge. The long green dress clung smoothly over her
breasts, completely strapless, her breasts jutting out firmly beneath the
clinging material, her stomach was taut and flat, her hips curving slenderly
before the dress flowed softly to her ankles.

'You
look beautiful!' He came forward to take her hands in his. T have something for
you.'

'For
me?' Her eyes brightened.

'Yes, he smiled at her enthusiastic response,
sliding a hand into the hip pocket of his dinner jacket, bringing out a small
ring box. He flicked open the lid, revealing a delicate gold ring with a
diamond and emerald setting. 'Your engagement ring. If you like it. If you
don't
'

'Of course I like it!' She was still staring at the
beautiful ring. 'You chose it for me, so of course I love it. It's really
beautiful. Put it on for me. She held out

her
hand, the nails painted the same vivid red as her lip gloss.

It
was slightly loose on her finger, but not so loose it would fall off.

'I'll
get it made smaller while we're on our honeymoon,' Alex promised.

'Oh, it doesn't matter
'

'Do
you want to lose it?'

Considering
that it looked as if it cost a fortune she certainly didn't want to do that.
She shot her head. 'Okay. But it stays where it is until I have the plain gold
band to take its place. It is going to be plain gold, isn't it?"

Alex
chuckled as he opened the car door for her. 'When you aren't losing your temper
you're quite bubbly, aren't you?' he teased.

'I
don't get engaged every day of the week, Mr Hammond!'

'Believe
it or not, neither do I,' he said dryly, driving the Mercedes with his usual
skill.

'Have
you ever been engaged before?"

'No.'

'Married?'

'No,'
he derided.

'Well,
Glenna never mentioned it, and I was—I was curious.' And now she knew
that he hadn't actually made any commitment to the woman who had hurt him so
badly. That was encouraging at least.

'Well,
don't be,' he taunted. 'I've never been engaged, married, or into serious
relationships for any long period of time.'

'Neither
have I,' she told him lightly.

'No?'
he mocked.

Morgan
shot him a sharp look, not liking his tone at all. 'I refuse to argue with you
tonight, Alex, not when we've just become engaged.'

'Why
should you want to?'

"Because
I think you just insulted me!'

'I
did?

Tou
know you did,' she said crossly. 'But you'll see, Alex, you're wrong about me,
so very wrong.'

His
eyes were glacial, his jaw rigid. 'Am I? I doubt it' He heaved a deep sigh. 'As
you said, let's not argue tonight. I hope you like the restaurant I've chosen,'
he firmly changed the subject.

'I'm
sure I shall!'

His
mouth softened. 'Don't be angry with me, Morgan. There are thirty-eight years
of cynicism and scepticism that you have to deal with.'

Her
eyes flashed deeply green. 'And there are twenty-six years of independence and
honesty you have to deal with!'

Alex
touched her cheek gently. 'I'll cope.'

'So
will I!' she vowed determinedly.

The
restaurant was very full, although they were somehow shown to one of the best
tables in the place, a secluded table in one corner of the room. The restaurant
was styled like an old country inn, the service friendly and intimate, the
lighting a soft red glow.

I
like it,' Morgan told Alex once they were seated.

T
hoped you would.' He nodded briefly to the waiter as he arrived with their
champagne. 'To us,' he toasted her minutes later.

'To
us,' she echoed fervently.

Alex
sipped the bubbly wine, looking at her speculatively. 'That sounded very
intense!'

She
met his gaze steadily. 'I'm a very intense person.'

'I've
noticed!'

'And
I don't just mean my temper,' she glared at him.

'Let's
order,' he suggested gently.

'Are
you always going to shut me up by feeding me or kissing me?' she asked in a
disgruntled voice.

ioNo,'
he told her softly once the waiter had left with their order. 'Once we're
married I'm going to use a much more effective method. The way I remember it,
you're a silent lover—except for those deliciously spine-tingling noises
you make in your throat.'

'Alex!'
For all her sophistication colour flooded her cheeks, and she looked about them
self-consciously.

'Indeed,
Alex,' he drawled. 'What have you done to me, Morgan McKay? I've never been
known to engage in conversations like this before.'

'You
were never going to be married before, she teased, loving him so much she ached
for him. 'But you said earlier that I wouldn't be sharing your bedroom when
we're married/ she reminded him with a frown.

He
shook his head. 'I said you wouldn't be moving into my room at the house, and
you won't be. I thought we could go and look at houses tomorrow if you're
feeling up to it after your flight.' He quirked dark brows questioningly.

Morgan
frowned. 'Houses .. .? You mean, of our own?' she gasped her surprise.

'Of
course.'

'Just
the three of us?'

'And
a housekeeper, and possibly a maid or two. I trust you have no objection to
someone else doing the cooking and cleaning while you take care of Courtney?'
he mocked.

'No.
But—Your mother?' she frowned.

'Doesn't
like the idea at all,' he confirmed drvly.

'Then why
--
'

'I'm
not marrying to please my mother, Morgan. Far from it!' he rasped, revealing
more than words the pressure he had been under during her week of absence to
change his mind about marrying her. 'But I remember the problems you said you
had facing you, and buying our own house would solve two of them—

seeing
too much of my mother and living in I bouse as her. You've chosen for us all to
r England, so obviously you feel you can cope with tba. The last problem I am
unable to do anything about,' be finished harshly.

That
they didn't love each other! No, they didn t, but she loved him, and she was
going to do her damnedest to make him fall in love with her. 'Tell me some more
about the houses, she encouraged huskily. He gave her a searching look. 'You
like the idea, he said at last.

'I
love it!' she smiled. 'Although not too far Irom your mother, so that she can
visit Courtney whenever she wants to.'

'After
the way she's treated you that's very generous

of
you,' he said stiffly.

'She's
his grandmother,' she explained simply.

They
had an enjoyable meal together, in fact it was a long time since Morgan could
remember enjoying herself like this. Perhaps she never had; she had never been
in love before.

'Nightcap?'
Alex queried huskily when they got back to the house, a silent house where the
servants had already gone to bed.

She
was very conscious of the fart that there was no malignant presence of Rita
Hammond upstairs tonight just waiting for their ascent, and that fact alone
made her feel almost lightheaded. Or perhaps it was the champagne doing that?
She didn't care what it was, she loved the feeling. 'I'd love one.' She
followed him into the lounge, where a fire had been left burning for their
return, as the September evenings were very cool.

'Brandy?'

 
'So did I-' The admission seemed somehow
to be forced from him 'We'll have to do it often when we're married. I trust
you'll have no objection to leaving Courtney with a reliable housekeeper on the
occasional evening?'

Not
at all,' she smiled. 'After all, I'll be your wife too, not just Courtney's
mother.' She became suddenly serious. 'Will we adopt him as our own, Alex?'

He
handed her her brandy, sitting down beside her on the sofa. 'I thought we
might.'

She
nodded. 'I think that when he's older, and we tell him the truth about his
parents, knowing we cared enough to make him legally ours will make him feel
more wanted and not as if he's ever been a burden to us. Especially when he has
brothers and sisters to contend with.' She gave Alex a sideways glance, waiting
for his reaction.

'Brothers
and
sisters?'
he repeated slowly.

'Oh yes, I've always wanted a family. Both
Glenna
and I
---
' she broke off, her face
suddenly blanching.

'It's
all right, Morgan.' Alex's arm came about her shoulders as he held her close to
him. 'I still feel the pain of losing them too.'

She
buried her face in his chest. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spoil the evening.'

'You
haven't.' He took the glass of brandy out of her shaking hand and put it beside
his on the coffee table, tilting her chin to wipe away her tears with his
thumbtips. 'You're a warm and loving woman who cares deeply for people.' He
kissed her gently on the lips. 'I think a family sounds a wonderful idea. After
all, I have the best pan,' he mocked.

'You
think so?' she teased him.

'I
know so.' He moulded her body against his. 'We have the house to ourselves,
Morgan,' he prompted softly.

She
stiffened, sobering completely, the effects of the champagne a thing of the
past. 'We don't really.' She moved away from him with a light laugh. 'Symonds
and the other servants are in the house, aren't they?'