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Her stomach tightened with fear. She’d been expecting a confrontation with him, but had hoped it could wait. “What about?”
“Us, and the events that have happened.”
“I’m sorry about what my father tried to do,” said Scarlett, dropping her gaze. “I came to warn you, but of course, it was too late.”
“Your father has caused more trouble than he should have been allowed to. I listened to him, and I was a fool. I owe you the apology. I know now that he was lying.”
“Yes,” Scarlett said firmly. “It was all lies, whatever he told you.” She waited for him to recount the conversation, but he remained silent. Sighing, she said, “Fine, don’t tell me then.”
“I won’t tell you because it isn’t important,” Carter dismissed.
“And to protect me,” Scarlett said softly. “Have you heard about the fire?”
He lifted a brow. “Fire?”
“Terini Manor was burned to the ground,” Scarlett informed him matter-of-factly. “My father refused to leave his ancestral home, and there’s been no trace of his body.”
“What was the cause of the fire?” Carter asked suspiciously.
“Arson.”
Scarlett knew was he was thinking, without a body meant that her father may not be truly lost. He may have set the fire to cover his tracks. He could still be out there, waiting for his revenge.
“Well I’m sorry.”
“No you’re not, but that’s okay, because as long as we’re together, we’ll be fine. You and me together.”
“Forever?” He offered.
“What?”
He pulled a small black box from under the sheet. “Will you be with me forever? Will you marry me?”
Scarlett’s eyes widened with shock. She knew now that he really did love her, regardless of her father’s evil nature. He opened the box and inside was a giant diamond. She walked over with tears in her eyes and he slipped it on her finger.
“Yes, a thousand times yes.”
She knew they wouldn’t be planning a wedding until Carter was fully healed, but she could wait. She would always wait for him.
Epilogue
Scarlett lay in the sun, stretched out on a towel, and watched as Carter came toward her, carrying Maura on his shoulders. She giggled and clutched his hair as he swooped down on the towel beside Scarlett. “How’s the construction going?” Scarlett asked lazily, hoping everything was going to schedule. She was anxious to move into their own home and away from the hostile presence of Lydia.
“Lazio assures me that they’ll complete the house within a week.”
“I can’t wait,” Scarlett admitted, keeping a lazy eye on Maura as she ran to the water’s edge. Their three-year-old daughter gave new meaning to precious. “She seems to love living here.”
“Do you?” Carter asked.
“I love this place,” Scarlett assured him. “Only Lydia detracts from the charm of this island. When you first brought me here four years ago, I never wanted to leave. After the wedding, I was willing to stay forever, but...”
“I had to get Roche in order first, and I didn’t want to have to worry about your health.”
“Women have babies everyday,” Scarlett dismissed. “There’s a terrific hospital in Athens, and a medical center on Mykanos.” She scrunched up her face. “You know, since I’ve met you, I’ve gotten over my fear of hospitals, maybe because I’ve been in so many.”
“Maybe I cursed you,” he teased lightly. “First you sprained your ankle and had that concussion—”
“Your coma, Maura’s birth, last year when she broke her arm.” Scarlett completed the list for him. “Maybe you did curse me.” She looked at him, her desire plain to see. “How do I get uncursed?”
