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“Because listening to you speak made me have a revelation. I have been a complete fool. Eileen, what do you want? For us, I mean.”
Her eyes widened. “That was a revelation.”
“Don’t dodge the question.”
“I’m not dodging. I’m stalling.” She traced scrolling patterns on the gleaming surface of the conference table. “What I feel for you is different from anything I’ve ever felt before. Maybe it’s love. Maybe it’s something else entirely. I want the opportunity to find out.”
“So, you want to date? I can do that. When you return to Ireland, I’ll fly over every weekend I can get away, so we can keep seeing each other.” He hesitated, his new resolve to focus on her wants warring with his need to know. “Royce said you were readjusting your travel arrangements. Are you still going back on Tuesday?”
“Yes. But I won’t be staying long. I called my friend Soibhan. She’s watching my woods while I’m gone. She’ll move into my cottage and take over the position so I can stay in America a while longer.”
“You can live with me. There’s no better way to find out how we really feel about each other.”
“I’d like that.” She favored him with another glowing smile.
“But I’ve got to know. Why? You were furious with me this morning when you left the limo. Why did you go out of your way to make sure you could spend more time with me?”
“An áit a bhfuil do chroí is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú.”
“Sounds lovely. What does it mean?”
“It’s an old saying. ‘Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.’ I knew this morning, when your refusal to acknowledge our relationship hurt so badly, that my heart was here.” She shrugged. “So here was where I needed to be as well.”
He couldn’t believe it. Everything was falling together perfectly. Everything except the tabloid threat, that is. But after watching how she handled herself today and listening to her responses to Sara’s questions, he knew he had nothing to fear from her religion. The only possible scandal was a much more prosaic one, and he had a simple solution for that.
“If you’re going to be living with me,” he warned her, “people will talk. The easiest way to cut short the gossip is if we’re engaged.”
She blinked. “Engaged? But the whole purpose for my staying is to find out if it’s love.”
“So we’ll make it a long engagement. Years, if you like.”
“Somehow, I don’t think it will take that long.”
“However long it is, I’ll be here when you make your decision.” He walked around the table and stopped in front of her, taking her hands in his. “My feet have brought me to where my heart is, too. And I don’t ever plan to leave.”
Looking deep into her eyes, Dermot knew he’d made the right decision. The worst media frenzy would be inconsequential with her by his side, and soon over, compared to the hell he would endure for the rest of his life if he let her get away.
Slowly, reveling in the feel of her trembling body beneath the soft velvet of her shawl, he glided his hands up her arms, to her shoulders, then down her back. He moved forward, at the same time pulling her to him, so that their bodies were pressed together from leg to chest.
Eileen’s hands slid under his suit coat, caressing his chest, then slid down his ribs and around his waist to cup and cradle his ass. His cock sprang to full and instant arousal, pressed into the folds of her skirt, and he considered locking the door and making love to her right there on the conference table. But that would mean he’d have to break away from her in order to reach the door.
Instead, he bent his head and captured her lips in a deep, soul-searing kiss. Everything he’d said, hadn’t said, or wanted to say but had said incorrectly, was all expressed in that one perfect kiss.
Distantly, he heard a click.
“Mr. Stone, if you’re—” Sara began. “Oh. Excuse me.”
Dermot turned. “Sara. There’s one more thing you’ll need to consider for your publicity campaign. Eileen has just consented to become my fiancée.”
Sara’s eyes widened. “But this changes everything! We’ll be able to book you on—”
“No,” Eileen interrupted. “He asked you to consider it, in case the news would affect my believability as an independent authority. But I won’t answer any questions about my personal life.”
Sara shook her head. “You’re wasting a golden publicity opportunity. But fine. I’ll reshape a few things, and otherwise ignore your engagement. Now I’ll let you two alone to finish your, mm, discussion.”
She slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. Dermot stroked Eileen’s cheek, admiring the fire in her eyes. She’d have no trouble handling nosy questions from reporters.
“The tabloids will ask, you know,” Dermot warned softly.
