“Did you mean all those things that you said about me?”

Lucy fought not to roll her eyes. “About you being a liar?”

He grinned at her. “No, about me being hard-working, loving and kind. Oh, and good with children.”

“You probably are good with children, because you act like a child sometimes. Playing silly games, when you should be well into adulthood.”

“You never told me you were rich, either.”

“So what? My complaint is not over the fact that you have money in the bank. It’s over the fact that you lied to me about who you were. I thought you were a drunk and a womanizer and I was trying not to like you, based on those flaws.”

“So poor Mr. Newby doesn’t have a shot with you?”

She did roll her eyes that time. “Be serious.”

He laughed. “So basically, you liked me against your better judgment, even though I was poor, drunk, and a womanizer.”

“I had no intention of marrying a man that is any of those things. I just didn’t believe that you were. I saw potential.”

He laughed. “Oh, I’m not.” A pause, then he said, “You said you had no intention of marrying a man like that. Does that mean you’re going to marry me?”

She glanced around as they drove across town. “Are you truly proposing to me on the back of a horse, Mr. Jackson?”

He shrugged. “I may have money, but I’m not a classy guy. You should know that about me upfront.”

That made her laugh. “Really? I never would’ve guessed.”

He chuckled. “But I do like pretty things.”

“Like your fancy house?”

“That too. Are you going to marry me, or what?”

She laughed again. Life with this man would not be dull. “I’m still mad at you.”

He stopped the horse in front of his house and dismounted. He reached for her and hauled her down. “I like picking you up.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“So?”

“No more lying?”

“Never.”

“Then I’ll think about it.”

“Let me show you my house. It might change your mind.”

She was still laughing as he hauled her up the stairs.

* * *

It was sweet how anxious Boone was to show her the house.

He showed her the different woods he used throughout, and described the carvings of birds and leaves on the way up the stairs.

He showed her the stained glass, told her where it came from, and why he’d chosen it.

He showed her the parlor, dining room, and kitchen. The gas lamps, the wood stacked by the fireplace even though there wasn’t much to be had in the area.

He showed her the library, the ballroom, and finally the bedrooms.

It was when he stopped in the children’s room, that her heart seemed to melt.

“Do you want children?”

“Sure. A whole house full of them.”

She grinned at him.

“And on that note, would you like to see the master bedroom?”

She was laughing again. How this man did make her laugh. She thought about how serious things had always been with Mr. Hargraves, how stilted and boring.

This man would never bore her.

He suddenly took both her hands into the warmth of his and exhaled on a gust of breath. Voice thick, he clenched her hands and said, “I love you, Lucy.” He swallowed. “So, will you have me? If you will, I’ll give you whatever you want. Do you think you could love me back? For myself?”

She inhaled sharply and her heart started to thrum in her chest as his words sank in. He really did love her, didn’t he? “I don’t know. It’s a pretty nice house.”

He pulled her into his arms and growled into her neck.

“But, since I thought that you were a handyman the first time you kissed me, and I fell in love with you regardless, I suppose I will marry you, just for yourself.”

He pulled her tighter against him, pressing his face into her neck before easing back to look at her. “You’ll marry me?”

“Yes. I really do love you, Boone. I love you so much.”

“Lucy…” She could hear his ragged exhalation, and then someone was coming up the stairs and, thinking it was the butler, Lucy stepped back from Boone.

“Oh, my dearest. There you are.”

It was Boone’s mother and Lucy found herself blushing to be caught alone with him like this.

“Mrs. Jackson.” What must this woman think of her?

“I was just showing Lucy around the house.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“But really, the two of you together like this. I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist upon a wedding.”

Lucy blushed harder. “Oh. I… that is to say…”

“I mean, of course I understand that your fiancé is in town. But with you and Boone alone like this… I’m sorry, my dear, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist that you do the right thing.”

“Mother! I’m trying to talk her into it right now.”

“Really?” His mother looked delighted. “Well, far be it for me to get in the way of such things. Don’t mind me at all, my dearest. I think I’ll just head downstairs. But just so you know, I think we’re going to need a quick wedding so that she doesn’t get away.”

“Mother!”