The Bride Who Wouldn't (14 page)

She would not.

The second mistake that was made—and it is the one I shall regret forever—is that I could not find a way to protect you both from his brutality. I returned to Russia as often as I could but your mother always said that it made his temper worse and pleaded with me to stay away.

Kate swallowed the tears at the back of her throat; it was not her place to cry now, though she struggled for a moment to read on.

Those were the toughest years of my life though I know it pales in comparison to what you boys had to go through.

When you both joined me in England, life began again. Finally I had my sons with me—two strong, independent men who have made me endlessly proud. You have brought such joy to my life and I love you both with all of my heart.

Isaak, I thought I would die knowing that Roman was happy with Ava but then came the terrible events. I trust you to look out for him and to tell him the truth about his past at a time you think right.

My beautiful sons, you were never my possessions yet, at the end of a rich life, I know that you are both my proudest achievement and my greatest legacy. I wish you the most wonderful futures. Please know that you have always had my love and I leave you with but one suggestion—use yours wisely.

With love always,

Ivor/Papa x

Isaak was very quiet for a long time after he read the letter, and then he read it again and then folded it and put it by the bed.

He lay back on the pillows and thought for a while.

“Come to Russia with me?” Isaak said, picking up her hand, kissing it and for a second she thought he meant to search his history. But then, with one word, Kate realised what Isaak meant. “Today.”

“You want to see him?” Kate asked.

“I don’t want to tell him what I have found out, and I won’t, but I’m wondering, if he suspected, if maybe that was why he was such a brute.” He shook his head. “I don’t condone what he did, even for a moment, but maybe I can understand him a bit better now.” He lay there silent for a moment. “Maybe I can tell him I forgive him before he dies.”

“You can,” she said and he nodded.

There were flights to book, places to be, but he pulled her into his arms and gave her a tender kiss that turned passionate, and he loved how she responded to him, how her body had awoken to him, and she loved how he made her smile.

“What have I unleashed,” Isaak said as her hand crept down of its own accord.

“I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Oh yes.” Isaak smiled at the very thought. “But we have somewhere to go before we leave here.”

“Somewhere?”

“I got you another present,” he said. “In my jeans.” He pointed to them.

“Isaak.” Kate grumbled because she didn’t want to get out of bed, but she did so, and Isaac watched smiling, as completely naked, all rumpled, and finally unbuttoned, she reached into his jeans.

“Your wallet?” Kate frowned.

“Other pocket,” Isaak said, looking at her breasts and wondering if they could get a later checkout and flight.

“A padlock?”

“I want to rewrite
our
history,” Isaak said. “I want to go back to Pont des Arts, to the Lovers Bridge and do things properly, then we come back here and make love.”

Kate wore the lilac dress, the first dress he had bought her and she wore her strand of pearls without a knot and her hair was wild and curly and blowing in her eyes as they clipped their padlock to the Pont des Arts on their last morning in Paris.

Isaak took his bride in his arms. “Time to throw away the keys?” He waved them in front of her. “But I warn you, if we do this it means we will be together forever.”

“That sounds more like a promise to me,” Kate said.

“Oh, it is,” Isaak said and as they threw the keys, he pulled her in for a kiss and
always
he made her smile. “The honeymoon’s over, baby.”

The End

Honeymoon Series

If you loved
The Bride Who Wouldn’t
, you’ll love the other Honeymoon novellas!

Second Chance Honeymoon
by Ally Blake

coming June 2014

The Honeymoon Prize
by Melissa McClone

coming July 2014

The Honeymoon Trap
by Kelly Hunter

coming July 2014

Carol Marinelli
has written at least seventy romances and hopes for at least seventy more. A single mother of three, she is originally from England but now lives in Australia. Generally she loves to write strong alpha heroes but every now and then she fancies a change and is grateful that her imagination obliges and lets her explore longer length women’s fiction. Carol’s hobbies are writing and catching up with friends so it would seem that she’s in the right place and very excited to be writing for Tule!

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www.tuleholidaybooks.com