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‘Are you okay, my love?’
There, he’d said it again and it felt even better this time. He’d never grow tired of admitting it, though it meant opening himself up wide to someone else.
Jack realised that he wanted nothing more than to share everything with Elisabeth. The highs and lows, the love and whatever losses the future held. With her he felt able to cope with anything. Except losing her.
‘Better than okay. Much, much better.’
Her eyes glowed like antique treasure. But Jack had learned that there was no treasure in the world more precious than this woman.
She cleared her throat and his satisfaction dimmed as he saw her serious expression. ‘I have a confession.’
‘Go on.’
Part of him, the methodical, strategic part that scouted out every permutation of a situation and every possible solution, was instantly on alert. But mainly, despite a frisson of trepidation, Jack felt hopeful. She might have reservations about a total reconciliation but she hadn’t pushed him away.
Her expression was rueful and the slight flush on her cheeks intrigued. ‘I feel the same.’
‘Pardon?’ It couldn’t be so simple.
Her gaze held his and his pulse jumped at what he saw.
‘I love you.’
Jack registered the unruly thump of his heart, wondering if it interfered with his hearing. But then Elisabeth wriggled higher up his body, the slide of flesh on flesh deliciously exciting. But not nearly as thrilling as what she said next.
‘I loved you right from the beginning, Jack.’ Amber eyes held his, unwavering. ‘That’s why I married you. Not because you could bail my father out of debt after his failed schemes to keep the estate afloat. But because I loved you from that first meeting.’
Was he breathing? Jack couldn’t tell. Everything seemed to have stopped. Except his body must still be functioning for he heard her go on.
‘I didn’t know about love at first sight. I thought it a myth. But you were so...’ She shook her head. ‘Perfect.’
His voice was guttural. ‘I’m anything but perfect.’ Look at the mistakes he’d made.
‘You’re right, neither of us is perfect. But you’re just right for me. I fell in love with you and hoped one day you’d feel the same.’ Elisabeth paused. ‘But in Paris I realised I was kidding myself and—’
‘That’s why you left, because you thought I didn’t value you.’ Now so much made sense.
She nodded.
‘A good thing you did.’
‘Sorry?’ She looked stunned.
‘If you hadn’t left it might have taken me even longer to get my head around my feelings. That’s when I realised my life revolved around you. How much I needed you, even if I didn’t have a name for it.’
After a lifetime of solitude, the constraints around Jack’s heart tumbled loose. He drew a deep breath, still reeling from the fact that his feelings were returned.
‘You’re sure, Elisabeth?’
Any successful negotiator knew not to question a breakthrough, much less a victory, yet even now he couldn’t bring himself to accept it.
‘Absolutely sure.’ She stroked his cheek and he heard the scratch of bristles against tender flesh. ‘I just didn’t dare admit it.’ Her gaze dipped from his for a second but then she met his stare unflinchingly. ‘I’d come to think of myself as unlovable and was scared to risk admitting it.’
Jack’s eyebrows shot high. ‘Unlovable?’Hewas the one no-one had cared about.
‘My mum loved me, I know that. But after she died...’ Her smile was uneven. ‘When I was young I thought my dad doted on me. But after her death he only saw me as someone to be his hostess and help shoulder his burdens. Then he married Jillian. She didn’t like me and he’d never stand up for me. He gave up on me.’
‘She’s jealous of you.’
