The Sheikh’s Reluctant Bride (13 page)

“I was under the impression that is what you wished.”

“I do. And it makes me very happy.”

Confusion creased his forehead. “I do not understand. If you are happy, then why do you cry?”

“I’m sad, too. You would have been an amazing father.”

She had nothing left to lose by telling him that. Since the day she’d told him she wasn’t carrying his child, she’d had a lot of time to think about things. How her mother must have felt—pregnant, alone, scared. And in love with a man she could never have. But knowing love once made her want the feeling again and she had looked, but was doomed to the disappointment of never finding it. Loving Kardahl, wanting to be with him and only him, made Jessica understand. The power of love, the unbelievably wonderful feeling was why her mother had kept searching to find it again.

Something inside Jess melted away and she suspected it was bitterness she hadn’t even known she carried. She hadn’t realized she needed to forgive her mother, but she felt the burden of resentment lift from her heart.

Kardahl took her hand in both of his. “I am pleased that you think I would be a good father. But I find myself in need of a woman who would be a good mother.”

Her gaze jumped to his as hope swelled inside her. What if just once life came down on the side of the hopeless romantic? But what if she was wrong?

“It’s too late, Kardahl. The divorce is proceeding. Maybe it would be better just to let it go on. Maybe we’d be better off apart—”

“No.” His eyes were fierce and stubborn determination pressed his mouth into a thin line. “I cannot speak for you, but I know for certain that I would
not
be better off.”

“But we—”

“I love you,” he said simply.

“What?” She couldn’t believe her ears weren’t substituting words that her heart desperately wanted to hear.

“You can go through with severing our union, but that will not end it. I will continue to pursue you and as you have pointed out on numerous occasions, I have had much practice in successfully pursuing women.”

“There is a saying—never judge a book by its cover. I am guilty of that. I didn’t know you or understand what you’d been through. I didn’t realize that you were capable of deep and lasting feelings. And now—”

“Now, my darling, I am in love with you. I have courted and won many who were unimportant, but I love only you. That makes you beyond important, it makes you priceless.”

She struggled against all her perceptions honed by sadness and loss. “It’s difficult for me to believe—”

He touched a finger to her lips to silence her. “Believe it. You are the one who breathed life into my soul once again. You are the one who brought me out of the shadows. Your fingers touched my unresponsive heart and pulled it free of the dark place where I have hidden it to keep it safe. And now that I have begun to feel again, I can no longer be satisfied with this empty life I have known.”

“Oh, Kardahl—”

He took her face in his hands and there was a desperation in his touch, in his gaze. “If you do not return my feelings now, at least give me another chance. I will do everything within my power to change your mind—”

“I do love you.”

He went completely still, then slowly a smile relaxed the tension in his mouth. “That pleases me.” Lowering his head, he touched his lips to hers in the most exquisite kiss. When he pulled away, he said, “I am humbled and honored. And very grateful.”

Then he went down on one knee as he slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a ring. “Your courage and spirit in facing life are an inspiration and I wish to be your equal, to embrace life with you by my side. This ring has been in my family for generations and it is fitting that one who knows the fragility and value of family be the one to wear it.” He met her gaze with an earnest sincerity that took her breath away. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.” She was dazzled by the sapphire surrounded by diamonds as he slipped it on her finger. Then she smiled into his eyes. “I’m already your wife.”

“I wish to have a ceremony, an exchange of vows—face-to-face this time. Vows spoken with the love we have found through the tradition of betrothal by our beloved families, the love we will share for the rest of our lives. Will you do that?”

“I will.”

He stood and pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “Oh, my heart, you have made me the happiest man in the world.”

She rested her cheek on his chest and heard the solid steady beat of the heart she’d brought back to life. A happiness she’d never known before expanded inside her. “You’re a good man, so different from what I thought at first. Now I know you simply lost your way for a while.”

“And you have shown me the path to contentment.”

“Right back at you. Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife and have children with you. Together we can make the world a better place.”

He nodded. “It is my solemn promise to my reluctant bride.”

She wasn’t reluctant any longer. She was a hopeless romantic who’d found the love of her life halfway around the world and validated what she’d always believed.

Love will find a way.

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