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“Here? So soon?”
“Yes.” His voice was strong as steel. “So soon. As soon as possible. We can live in Hull if you like. Or London. Or here. Wherever you want, as long as you’re my wife.”
Her impulse was to ask for time, but time for what? Time was the one thing she didn’t need. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Thank God,” he breathed against her lips as his mouth sought hers out. “You’re shaking,” he said just as she realized her teeth had started to chatter. “Are you cold?”
“Yes. Or excited. I’m not sure.”
“I’ll pretend it’s excitement even as I whisk you inside and into the warmth.”
“Thank you.”
He paused and turned back to kiss her one last time. “Thank you. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. And you’ll have the happiest mother-in-law too. Another wedding to plan . . .”
“Perhaps we should wait a while longer. To give her time for preparations—”
“No! I mean . . .” He cleared his throat. “You may do what you like, of course. You’re the bride. But I urge you not to give her time. Believe me . . . less is more in this case.”
“If you insist,” she said with a doubtful look.
“I’m only trying to protect you. And she has Cousin Harry’s wedding in a few months. Best to space them out, right?”
She stopped with her hand to the door. Her breath fogged against the glass. “This week, Aidan? Are you sure?”
“Are you?”
She watched the people move through the bright lights of the house. She and Aidan were separate here. In their own world. And she’d rather be out here in the cold and dark with Aidan than anywhere else. “Yes. I’m sure.”
“Good. Because we’ve waited long enough.”
He pushed the door open, and she slipped back into the heat.
“Look,” Kate murmured. “There may be yet another wedding in our future.”
Mr. Penrose and Lucy strolled past, her arm twined snug around his. Penrose looked down at her with a slightly dazed smile.
“Do I detect a hint of redness to her lips?” Kate asked. “As if she’s just been kissed?”
“By Penrose?”
“Yes, by Penrose. Are you blind?”
“I’d like to be!”
“Aidan,” she laughed, but her laughter died on a sigh when he whispered a hand down the back of her neck.
“Shall we tell my mother the good news? Or would you like to hold it secret for a time?”
Kate smiled, arching her neck into his hand. Even if someone looked straight at them, they’d never notice the sensual dance of his fingers down her spine. “Let’s hold it secret. Just for tonight.”
“Like old times,” he said, his voice low and deep in her ear.
“Yes.” And it was. That secret love and joy. The happiness of being together. And the knowledge that they’d never be apart.
She’d hold it close for one more day. And then she’d tell the world.
