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But that would only be found in marriage. A marriagehe desperately wanted, and one that Grace seemed so reluctant to agree to.
Qazim knew she had reservations about entering into this marriage. It was obvious she was worried about a lack of passion, an absence of warmth. She was concerned the arrangement would be cold and clinical.
But she was wrong about that, Qazim told himself. If she did marry him, there would be passion in the relationship. Qazim would see to that.
Most definitely.
Qazim glanced at his watch again. Maybe she'd decidedto go to the airport, after all. Perhaps, right now, she would be checking in, preparing herself for the long journey home.
He felt a tight, hard and knot in his gut.
Grace might actually leave him. That thought made his heart pound furiously.
He wasn't going to let that happen.
He threw on his jacket and started toward the elevator doors. Just as he reached them, the intercom rang. Someone was downstairs. Someone wanted to come up.
It could only be one person, Qazim told himself. Qazim hurriedly pressed the button of the intercom, "Yes?"
"I have Miss Collins here, sir," the receptionist said. "She says she'd like to come up."
"Send her up," Qazim barked.
She had come.
At last.
Qazim paced in front of the elevator doors, hardly able to contain himself. What had she come here to tell him? Had she decided to stay?
He felt a mixture of anticipation and dread.
His throat was tight and every muscle in his frame was taught with nerves. The doors opened and Grace looked at him. Her eyes were steady, fixed intently upon Qazim who felt himself rooted to the spot. His pulse was pounding in his ears. He forced himself to smile nervously. She nodded simply but didn't smile back at him.
"Grace, I'm glad you came," he said. He reached out a hand. She ignored his offer of assistance and walked straight into the apartment.
He could tell that she was tense, almost as nervous as him, if that was possible.
He turned and followed her into the room. She still had not said a single word to him.
She turned and gazed at him for a second. "You know why I've come, Qazim," she said evenly.
Qazim nodded. "Have you made your decision?"
Grace nodded. "I have," she said.
Impatience welled up inside Qazim. He was desperate to know. Grace paused. The silence seemed to last forever.
She was teasing him, tormenting him. Didn't she realize how desperately he needed to know?
Grace cleared her throat and glanced down at the floor. Qazim thought she was trying to find just the right words.
She lifted her head. "I agree to marry you, Qazim," she said simply. Her voice quivered with emotion.
The words hung in the air between the two of them. Momentous words. Words that changed everything.
For a moment, he wondered if he should go to her and embrace her. Relief swept through him but he forced himself to hold back a few moments. He needed to know for sure how she felt about all of this.
She had made the statement he so desperately wanted to hear, and it had sounded so bold, so matter-of-fact.
