Chapter Seven
Sitting in a secluded booth surrounded by Rafe’s world, Ellis felt out of place. She was the bought bride, the woman he’d used to get what he wanted while she’d been the silly one who fell in love.
That’s why this hurt so much. She loved him, and the thought of walking away wasn’t welcome. In fact, it just made her want to cry even harder. Maybe she was blowing this all out of proportion, or something like that?
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she waited as Rafe ordered them both some food. Once the waiter left, he reached across the table, and she stared at his hands.
“Please, Ellis, let me touch you.”
Licking her dry lips, she rested her hand within his. Watching his much larger one close around hers, she breathed a sigh of relief. So far, so good.
“My mother has been arrested.”
This made her look up at him. “What?”
“Not only was she stealing from the company, she was also trying to sell its secrets to our competitor, and in our world, that is not allowed.”
“Oh.” She was shocked. “I’m sorry I missed that.”
“It happened after she tried to tear us apart, and I know you just wanted to get up and walk away. Yes, there was an heir in the marriage clause, and no, I didn’t tell you because you looked a bit put out by the whole five-year plan.” He sighed, and his gaze kept moving toward her hand, then her face. “I didn’t want you to back out because this was all supposed to be really easy, but it’s not really easy, is it?” he asked. “You see, I had this carefully organized plan for everything. Stop the playboy lifestyle, win back my father’s company, marry a woman, and of course have a kid. I didn’t want to actually get involved. The wife was a clause, the kid was as well, so if I bought one it meant I didn’t have to care.”
She nodded and glanced down at their hands.
“But that’s where I fucked up, and I didn’t plan right. You see, Ellis, I never intended to fall in love with you.”
This made her head jerk up. “What?”
“I love you, Ellis. I love being around you. I mean, I didn’t have to have you at the office with me all this time. You could have been home, shopping, doing whatever you wanted to do. Not reading books just so that I could look up and see you there. I like looking at you.”
“I’m not pretty.”
“To me you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, and I’m not just saying this. I’ve felt this for a long time, and I don’t want to give you up. I don’t want to be married to you because some will told me I have to. I’ll give up the entire company just to show you exactly how much I love you.”
She shook her head. “No, I couldn’t let you do that.”
“But you see, I’d rather have you than the company. I want you to fall in love with me. I didn’t care about getting you pregnant.”
She glanced around the restaurant to make sure no one was too close. “We had sex without the condom.”
“I was too impatient to be inside you, Ellis, to care about a condom. I know that doesn’t make it all right. But I didn’t want anything between us.” He gripped her hand even harder. “I know everything I say right now is going to fill you with doubt. I don’t even blame you. I just want you to know that I love you. That I don’t care about the company, and I will do whatever you ask to keep you.”
Staring into his eyes, she saw the truth shining back at her. Rafe had never begged for anything in his life, and to know he was willing to give up his company, she knew without a doubt he loved her as well.
“I’ve been … erm … quite scared because I thought you were just this spoiled brat of a guy.” She bit her lip and smiled. “I never for a second thought that I could fall in love with you, or that we could possibly have a long future together.”
His grip on her hand tightened. “You love me?”
“I love you more than anything. It kind of scares me, how much I love you. I’ve never felt this way about everyone. I thought I was going a little crazy actually.”
Suddenly he stood up, pulled her to her feet, cupped her face, and stared down at her.
“We’re in a room full of people,” she said.
“I don’t give a fuck. They can stare because I’m going to do this.”
He slammed his lips down on hers, and everything else faded as the pleasure of his kiss took over.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she closed her eyes, feeling so much warmth. She had fallen in love with this man, and it had nothing to do with his wealth or anything else. It was all about him.
Slowly, hearing the round of applause greet them around the café, she opened her eyes, and saw him smiling down at her. “Marry me.”
“I’m already married to you, Rafe.”
“No, I want a real wedding. With a church, and you walking toward me dressed all in white, and smiling at me. I want the real thing, and you deserve the real thing. A fresh start for the both of us.”
“You love me?” she asked.
“Yes, more than anything in the world.”
“Then yes, Rafe, I will marry you for a second time.”
He kissed her again, and she didn’t care that they were the center of attention. Just a few hours ago, her world had been crumbling all around her, and now it was like everything had fallen back into place.
Rafe loved her.
She loved him.
Nothing else would ever come between them.