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‘That’s right.’ She nodded slowly and he grasped her arms and stared intently into her dark eyes.
‘When did you tell him that, Brooke?’
Her heart was thumping in her chest. ‘He’s always known. Ever since he was old enough to talk about it.’
Jed’s hands tightened on her arms. ‘You’re telling me that you loved me from the beginning?’
‘I could never love anyone else,’ she said simply, a lump building in her throat as he closed his eyes. Was she too late?
Jed blinked and shook his head as if to clear it. ‘But you had other relationships…’
She looked away. ‘There weren’t any other relationships, Jed.’
‘There weren’t?’ His voice was hoarse. ‘But you let me think— Why?’
Her smile was wry and she scuffed the soft earth with the toe of her boot. ‘You’re a clever man. You work it out.’
There was a brief silence while his eyes searched hers. ‘Because had I known that you hadn’t had another relationship with anyone after that night with me, I would have put two and two together,’ he said gruffly, ?
?and I would have come to the conclusion that that night we spent together meant as much to you as it did to me. Am I right?’
Brooke felt his hands turn her to face him and she closed her eyes.
‘Am I right, Brooke? Dammit, look at me!’
She responded to his rough command and the look in his eyes made her nerves tingle and her insides tumble.
He shook his head in disbelief. ‘You’re saying that you loved me from the beginning, but you didn’t tell me because you were convinced I couldn’t possibly feel the same way about you and that I would marry you out of a sense of responsibility. Is that right?’
Brooke nodded and he gave a low growl and pulled her against him.
‘You crazy, stubborn woman!’ His hands cupped her face and his eyes held hers. ‘I felt the same way as you. I loved you from that first night, impossible though it seemed. I was desperate to find you—you have no idea how desperate. And then when I failed I thought I’d go mad.’
‘Jed…’ His words made her heartbeat quicken and he lifted her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers.
‘And then when I did find you, you fought me all the way. That night we made love, I told you I loved you then—so why did you run?’
‘I didn’t believe you,’ she mumbled, her cheeks pink as she recalled how stupid she’d been.
He looked puzzled. ‘But why would I lie?’
‘Because—’ she broke off, thoroughly embarrassed. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Jed! Men say all sorts of things they don’t mean when they’re in that position.’
‘What, making love, you mean?’ He grinned down at her, his elation evident. ‘Well, you wouldn’t exactly know that, would you, my sweet? Seeing as I’m the only man that’s had that privilege. And I can assure you for the record that I never say anything I don’t mean, even when I’m at my most vulnerable.’
‘And you only said it once,’ Brooke said gruffly, her eyes shy as they met the warmth in his.
‘Because you didn’t say it back and I was afraid I’d scare you off,’ he murmured, pulling her into his arms. ‘And you still haven’t told me why you ran the next morning.’
Brooke bit her lip. ‘I overheard Tom telling you that you had to get married. That you didn’t have any choice.’
Jed stared at her, his blue eyes narrowed as he tried to recall the conversation. His brow cleared and he nodded slowly. ‘You’re right, he did say that, but what he meant was that I’d be crazy to let you go because I loved you so much. Tom is one of the few people who knows how I feel about you. He was afraid that I’d spent so long avoiding marriage that I’d let you slip through my fingers. It wasn’t anything to do with Toby. In fact, Tom doesn’t know about Toby. I only told Mum and Dad and they’re sworn to secrecy until we work out what we’re going to do. Tom was just giving me some brotherly advice.’
Brooke’s eyes widened and a soft smile touched her mouth. ‘And are you going to follow his advice, Jed?’
‘Definitely.’ He grinned. ‘For once my little brother is talking sense. You’re going to marry me, Brooke Daniels. You’re going to put me out of my misery and say yes.’
A bubble of pure happiness rose inside her and she touched his rough cheek with shaking fingers. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’
