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“It depends. What do you want?” Staring at Rowan, Bennett gave her a slow smile. He knew he’d won.
“Each of us wants a house. You have so many.” She listed the one she wanted and made suggestions for the second wife and the three children they had between them. “It’s not too much to ask, Bennett. We were married.”
Releasing a small laugh, Bennett replied, “For four years. I remember. You and Judy came to me with nothing and left multi-millionaires. I wouldn’t quibble over what you’reowed.”
“For the good times then? What do you say?”
“The settlements as outlined and a house each. If I agree, you and the others stop your theatrics. I’ll have signatures from all of you or you can keep spending money I know you don’t have on frivolous lawsuits.”
“Hold on…” She covered the phone and held a muted conversation with another person. A minute later, she said, “Alright. Judy agrees.”
“Interesting. Judy is at your place? Youhateeach other.”
“We, uh, found ourselves on the same side. We were as surprised as you.”
He muffled his laughter. “Gather the rest of your little gang and wait for an attorney from Zach’s firm. He’ll leave with all signatures or the deal is off. Tell me you understand, Brenda.”
“I understand.”
“Excellent. By nightfall, you’ll be a multi-millionaire again. This will be our last conversation.”
“Bennett…”
“Goodbye.” Disconnecting the call, he immediately dialed Zach and gave him the details of the new arrangement. “Move quickly and get those signatures.”
“I don’t know what you said to that woman but well done. I’ll handle this personally.”
“Thank you.”
“Snatch up that brilliant spitfire you found and let her give you an end to be envied, Bennett.”
Tightening his arm around Rowan, he held her gaze as he replied, “I plan on it. Call me when it’s done.”
One could have heard a pin drop when the call ended. Then Rowan wrapped her arms around Bennett and rested her head on his shoulder. He hugged her close.
They sat together in silence for a long time.
“Rowan.” She sat up and stared into the face of a man who’d become the most important person in her life. “I love you.”
Gasping, she whispered through instant tears, “I love you, Bennett. I-I didn’t mean to, I didn’t want to.”
He stroked his fingers through her hair. “Gage was young, foolish. He made a mistake many men do. The scars it left on your heart attest to how deeply you loved him. How much youstilllove him, Rowan.”
“I don’t…”
“Never lie toyourself, darling. Not to yourself. When you talk about that night, the night you lost the man you loved and your best friend...it isn’t with anger. It’s withpain. You can only experience emotional pain if someone has a piece of you.” He pressed his palm over her heart. “This is big enough to love two people, Rowan.”
“I o-only want to love you.”
“You can’t control that.” He gathered her closer. “Despite you loving someone else, I canfeelyour love for me, Rowan. The way you look at me, talk to me, fight for me...I know what romantic love feels like from another person for the first time in my life. I’ll take as much of you as I can while I can...and be grateful for every moment.”
“I don’t…” She swallowed hard and started again. “I don’t want to lose you, Bennett.”
“You’ll teach me what it feels like to love and I’ll teach you what you deserve so you never, ever settle for less after I’m gone.”
Then she broke down sobbing against him and he held her.
At her ear, he whispered, “Every second I can steal from death, I will. We’ll make every moment we have together beautiful.” She nodded at his neck. “Say you’ll marry me.” Pulling her back enough to look at him, he wiped her tears. “Marry me, darling.”
