Free Sarah's Child by Linda Howard Page A

will you marry me?
     
    Chapter 4
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    Sarah stared at him. As marriage proposals went, that one was fairly insulting, so much so that for a long moment she couldnt even react. She loved him, but this was a bit much. So he thought shed marry him to ease his guilty conscience? Was she such a desperate case that he thought shed jump at the chance? Worse, was he right? Trembling inside, she didnt know if shed have the strength to turn him down, even knowing that hed asked her for the worst possible reason.
    To give herself time, she turned to get two coffee mugs down from the cabinet, keeping her back turned to him while she concentrated on regulating her breathing, carefully easing her senses back onto an even keel. Turning one smooth ceramic mug in her fingers, she finally managed one normal word. Why?
    Romes skin had an ashen hue beneath the olive tint, and she knew that it hadnt been easy for him to ask her. How could it be, when he still waited, in his heart, for Diane?
    Like any good businessman, he began by outlining the advantages of a merger. I think we could have a good marriage. Were both career people; wed each understand the pressures the other was under, the demands that cut into the time wed normally have together. We get along better now than we ever have, and the trips I have to take would give us breathing space away from each other. I know youre used to being independent, and having time to yourself, he said cautiously, watching her in an effort to guess her reception to his proposal, but it was like searching for expressions on the smooth, cool face of a china doll. Wed know how to stay out of each others way.
    The coffee was finished. Sarah dumped the grounds, then poured the steaming deliciously scented brew into the mugs. Handing one to him, she leaned against the counter and blew gently on the coffee to cool it. If we need so much time apart, why bother to get married? she finally asked. Why not just keep on the way weve been?
    His dark face softened as he looked at the pale tumble of hair that curled itself like living arms around her shoulders. Sarah, if you were a woman who could accept a casual affair, you wouldnt have been a virgin last night.
    Shivering, Sarah reminded herself that he was a good chess player. He knew how to defend and at tack, and how to slide in under a weak argument. No, she wasnt a woman to sleep around, because shed never been able to see any man but him. Couldnt he see the obvious? A woman whod been a virgin for so long, despite the normal opportunities to change that condition, could have had only one reason for going without question into his arms the night before.
    It was good last night, he said softly, his words winding themselves around her heart like a vine, tugging her close to him, bending her to his will. You felt so good that I went a little crazy, but I could still feel the way you softened inside. If I could have waited, would you have gone a little crazy for me? Was it beginning to feel good to you?
    He slid off the stool, coming closer to her, his dark velvet voice seducing her all over again. Standing before her, he drank his coffee, watching her all the while over the rim of the mug.
    Sarah sipped the coffee too, holding it on her tongue so the tart taste of it could delight her taste buds. She could feel the heat climbing in her face, and she cursed her pale complexion that made even the faintest of blushes instantly apparent. Yes, I liked it, she finally admitted jerkily.
    Id be a good husband. Faithful, hardworking, loyal, just like Fido the Wonder Dog, or whatever the mutts name was. She glanced up quickly and saw the amusement sparkling in the depths of his eyes, golden now as his mood lightened. I like being domesticated, he continued, his clipped accent slowing as he thought out his words. I like the stability of it, the companionship, someone to drink coffee with on rainy mornings and cold winter