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“It seemed like the perfect solution for everyone to be happy. There was just one catch.” Her voice was small. “Justin couldn’t go through losing a baby again. So he only agreed to marry me if I...he and I...made sure to never have a baby of our own. Ever.” She looked down at her lap. “So a few weeks before our wedding, I did it. It seemed like the only way to make everyone happy.”
“What about you? Did it make you happy?”
A strangled laugh escaped her lips, and she looked away. “Not exactly.”
The final light of the setting sun streaked across her pale, troubled face. He said grimly, “What happened?”
“He left me. Right before our wedding.” She gave him a small smile. “He’d had a hard time waiting for sex and ran into his ex-wife at a bar. One thing led to another, and she became pregnant. After that, he wanted to give their relationship another try. He told me he’d never stopped loving her.”
He gave a low, heartfelt curse in Spanish.
“It’s all right,” she said quietly. “They’re happy now. They’re married, living in El Paso. Last I heard, they have a big rambling house and five children.”
Santiago fell silent, his jaw tight.
“I know what you’re thinking.” She looked up, her eyes suddenly shining with unshed tears. “Go ahead. Tell me how stupid I was, to sacrifice my own dreams for the sake of love.”
Rising moonlight frosted the dark lake, and he heard the plaintive call of unseen birds. He looked at her beauty, at the way her dark eyelashes trembled against her cheeks.
Rising to his feet, he took her hand. “Dance with me.”
“No, I...”
“Why?” He gave her a wicked smile. “Are you afraid?”
“Of course not. I’m just not a good dancer, I...”
But he didn’t listen to her excuses. Gently, he pulled her from the chair, into his arms. He felt her body tremble against his. The fairy lights twinkled above the terrace, as they looked out at the moon-swept lake. They were alone.
“I’ll lead,” he murmured, and he twirled her slowly around the flagstone terrace. He watched her sway, light as air. Saw the beauty of her. The kindness. The way she’d sacrificed for her younger brothers. The way she’d sacrificed for the man she’d once thought she would marry.
Damn, he thought. What a mother she will make.
What a wife.
He whirled her close, then caught her tight in his arms. Her eyes widened, and she sucked in her breath as she saw his intention.
Slowly, never taking his eyes from hers, he lowered his mouth to hers.
She didn’t fight him, but closed her eyes, letting him hold her close. He closed his eyes and kissed her, really kissed her.
Lightning shattered through his body, through his soul, in the embrace. He felt her tremble, pressing her body against his.
Then she ripped away, her eyes tortured.
“Why are you doing this?” she choked out.
“Doing what?”
“Romancing me,” she said bitterly, “like the night you seduced me. I’m not going to fall for it again, so you can break my heart!” She pressed her palm against his chest, pushing him away. “Just tell me what you want from me.”
The stars above them sparkled in the wide, velvety black sky as he looked down at her. It was too soon. He had barely started to seduce her as he wished. But she wanted him to speak plainly, so he would. He had that much respect for her.
“Very well,” he said quietly. Reaching into his tuxedo jacket pocket, he lowered himself to one knee, holding up the huge diamond ring. It glittered brighter and bigger than the full moon shining across the endless Texas sky. “I want you to marry me, Belle.”
She gaped at him, looking from the ring to his face and back again.
“I know I’ve treated you badly,” he said. “But I’ll never make that mistake again. I’ll never lie to you, Belle. We’ll be more than lovers. We’ll be partners. Parents. I know you want love, and I regret I cannot give you that. But I offer you something better.”
