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“Jake, my love.” Tears streamed down Cat’s cheeks. “I’d give up the money in a heartbeat. Don’t you know that? I’d give up the world to spend the rest of my life with you…But I can’t.”
“What do you mean, you can’t? You just said—”
“If I don’t marry according to the dictates of my parents’ will, you won’t be able to fulfill the conditions of your father’s will! You’ll never know the names of your brothers. And—and I love you too much to do that to you.”
She started to turn away. Jake wouldn’t let her. He clasped her hands, brought them to his chest so she could feel the beat of his heart.
“Listen to me, Catarina.”
“There’s nothing you can say that will—”
“I lived thirty years without knowing these men existed. I’ll regret not finding out who they are, sure.” His hands tightened on hers. “But I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you.”
How could she lie to him when his eyes were locked to hers?
“It would be empty,” she whispered, “as mine will be without you.”
“Cat, I love you. I adore you. If you think I’m going to let you walk away, you’re wrong.”
“I can’t do this to you, Jake. I told you, I love you too much to—”
He kissed her. Slowly. Tenderly. When finally he lifted his head her mouth was trembling.
“I love you,” he said again. “Besides,” he added softly, “the key to this mess isn’t in your hands. It’s in mine.”
“What do you mean? If I marry the right man—”
“Yeah, but you won’t. If you won’t marry me, I won’t let you marry anyone else. You need my approval for the guy you pick, remember?”
Did she? Or could she marry anyone as long as he met the standards of the will? Jake didn’t remember and didn’t care. What he’d just said sounded good and he wasn’t about to back away from it.
“You understand, Cat?” he said sternly. “It’s me or nobody. You want us to end up two stubborn people, going through life alone? It’s up to you.”
Her future, his, a lifetime of love and joy stretched ahead. They were the richest gifts a man could give a woman, and Jake was offering them to her.
“Are you sure?”
Jake drew her against him and kissed her again. This time when he lifted his head her eyes were soft.
“Oh, Jake. I love you so much.”
“Enough to marry me?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes…”
Jake gathered her close, kissed her until the world was spinning beneath their feet.
“I’m not going to give you the chance to change your mind,” he whispered, rocking her in his arms.
She looked up so he could see her smile. “I have no intention of changing my mind, senhor. You forget how stubborn I can be.”
“In that case I won’t insist on our wedding taking place tomorrow.” Jake laughed at the expression on her face. “Next week will be fine. That’ll give me time to introduce you to my mother, and for Belle to take you shopping for a wedding gown.”
“Your mother might want to come, too.”
“Yeah,” he said gruffly. “Come to think of it, she might. You’ll like her, sweetheart. She’s a strong woman, the same as you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You have any special place in mind for the ceremony?”
“Yes. Right here, Jake. In your home.”
