Somewhere I'll Find You (48 page)

Shaking her head, Paige moved to Miles, whispering in his ear.  When he looked at her, his shoulder sagged at the truth shining in her eyes.

“You’re certain they are there?”
he asked weakly.

“You can count on it,” she said with a smile.  “And yo
u heard Michael . .
. consider
both
of us
retired.”

As Michael took her hand, he shook his head.  “You k
now that we never really retire, don’t you?
”

“
You
will
. . .
After all,
it would be terribly difficult to do field work with a broken leg
, say
. .
. Or
an injured arm.”
She let her eyes rove over his body, her smile widening to a grin.

Michael narrowed his eyes. 
“You wouldn’t, Angel.”

Her laughter drifted in the breeze.  “Want to bet?”

Laughter rang through the large mansion as two lovers lolled on the floor before a blazing fire.  The sun had long since set, leaving a chill in the air the lovers seemed not to notice.

“Come on Paige, you need a nice long soak.”

“Perhaps that isn’t
all
I need.”  Her voice filled with laughter as a slender hand reached out to stroke a well-muscled thigh.

“Oh no
,
you don’t.”  Michael’s voice choked as her hand began doing delicious things to his body. “I saw the way that you just winced.  It wasn’t as if I was exactly gentle with you.  Besides, as charming as this rug is, I rather fancy having you in a bed the next time we make love.
Besides, I can see beard burns on various spots of your body.”

“
What a wonderful memory to keep,
”
she giggled.  “You’ve left me souvenirs.”

“Angel, I’m serious.”

And suddenly, he was just that. 

A queasy feeling struck
her gut
as Paige noticed the
way the laughter left his eyes. 
“What is it, Michael?”

“I have a confession to make.”  His deep voice was solemn as
he took her hand,
studying her fingers
for a moment,
as if his life depended on it.
  He took a deep breath. 
“I’m a fake, Paige.”

“Michael, what are you trying to say?”

“When I was a lad I felt t
o
o Russian among my English
mates
and t
o
o English in my own home.  So I learned to play a
role – hiding the pain . . .
denying that it ever existed.  That’s why being a bodygua
rd was so easy. It was one big
act.”

“
Michael
,
you don’t have to tell me this,
”
Paige insisted, lifting her fingers to cover his lips.

He pulled his face away. 
“No, let me finish.  I want you to believe that the act ended that day in England when those teenagers died,
Miles told you about it, I know.  But that day, I had to face who and what I was.
I don’t want to be a fake any longer – I want to be a man, with feelings and
… Believe
me, I could never be the man that your father was.  It’s not as if I still don’t
…
watch.  I’m watching eyes,
waiting
for the flash of a gun, and steeling myself to take a bullet if it comes.”  He shook his head.  “It isn’t going to happen overnight.  But it will. And until then I have my wife to keep me sane.”

“Your wife?”

He turned to her, a grin lighting up his eyes.  “Yes, of course, my wife.  You don’t think t
hat I’m going to let you go now, do you?” 
Slowly he removed a ring that he wore on a chain around his neck.  “I’ve waited a long time to find the girl of my dreams,” he murmured.  “Will you wear my mother’s ring?  Will you marry me, Angel?”

“Michael, you’re impossible
,” she stammered.
 
“I mean, w
e haven’t known each other long enough too . . .”

“We’ve known each other a
very
long time, lass,” he murmured in a poor imitation of an Irish brogue.  “And dinna think you’re going to get away from me now.
”

Paige didn’t laugh. 
“But can you accept who and what I am?  We are talking about a man who
,
until just recently
,
thought that I was as crazy as a loon.”

“And I would still want you as my wife
even if you were,
”
he replied calmly.

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“
Indeed I am
.  I mean to continue being unreasonable until I have your
answer
and it better be yes.”  Michael smiled downward. 
“I think you remember how well I handle the word ‘no,’ don’t you?”

“I love you,” she whispered softly.  “I want to spend my life with you.  But
,
are
you
sure?”

Michael made a sound born of utter exasperation.  “I’m sure, woman.  The only thing I’m waiting on is you!  Yes or no, Paige.  Make an honest man of me.”

She shook her head as she put her arms around him, her eyes bright with love.  “The answer is yes, since you’re foolish enough to want me.”

Kissing her forehead, his eyes searched hers, his pulse racing.  “And now, where to, my lady?  Paris? Rome? Madrid?  The world is your home.”

Looking up with him with shining eyes, she shook her head.  “I
am
home, right here in your arms.”