Читать книгу The Complete Christmas Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Rebecca Winters - Страница 35

“Why are we waiting in here, Erik?” Confusion shadowed Rory’s smile. “We’ve said hi to Phil and Cornelia,” she pointed out, their purpose at the FGI office accomplished. Or so she’d assumed.

“We’ll go in a couple of minutes. This is just some of that year-end stuff I need to take care of.”

He’d been busy with work off and on for the past week. That afternoon, though, he was going to show her and Tyler where he built boats.

As if anxious to get business behind him, he tugged her closer to where he stood by a gold filigree chair. “Do you want to spend tomorrow night on my houseboat? Tyler might get a kick out of the fireworks.”

Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. “He’d love that. I’d love it,” she stressed.

She hadn’t seen his place yet, though he had warned her it was small. By land-standards, anyway.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

Looking more preoccupied than impatient, he glanced to the open door of the room the elegant older woman presently used as her private office. The space off the lovely conference room wasn’t much bigger than a closet, but it apparently served her purpose until the major construction behind the sheets of heavy plastic in the entryway would be completed.

Beyond them, Phil and a petite, honey-gold blonde sat beneath the crystal chandelier at the mahogany table. On its surface, hundreds of letters from the mailbags mounded by the delicate French writing desk teetered in stacks. Others had been sorted into piles as the women carefully read each one.

Cornelia had introduced the pretty woman with Phil as Shea Weatherby. She was the reporter who’d written the article that had resulted in the continuing deluge of mail from prospective Cinderellas, or “Cindies,” as Rory had just learned her fairy godmothers called the ladies they sponsored. She’d also just learned she’d been their second success.

As focused as Shea appeared to be on her reading, she seemed even more intent on ignoring Pax. Erik’s business partner had come over with them after Erik had showed her and Tyler around their client office next door. Pax had used the excuse of needing a decent cup of coffee, something he apparently mooched off the women with some regularity. Yet it was as obvious as the charmingly devilish smile that clearly wasn’t working on Shea that she was the reason he was hanging around with Tyler by the pretty little Christmas tree, checking out the boats beyond the window.

“Do you mind if I ask what we’re waiting for?” Rory ventured.

“Not at all,” came Erik’s easy reply. “I just need to give Cornelia a check and pick up a deed from her. I’m paying off the mortgage on your property so you can stop worrying about it.”

He was paying off her mortgage? “I never said I was worried.”

The look he gave her said she couldn’t possibly be serious. “Honey.” Brushing back her bangs, he planted a kiss on the furrows between her eyes. “You’ve never had to tell me when you were concerned about something. I can see it. This way, the pressure’s off.”

“You’re giving me the place?”

“Consider it a pre-engagement present.”

She opened her mouth, closed it again.

“Pre-engagement?” she finally asked.

“Yeah. You know. It comes before an official engagement. If you want, I can hold off titling it to you until then. Either way, the property is yours to do with as you please.”

He’d figured they could eventually live together there or he could have a bigger house built back by the woods. Whichever she wanted. With the boatworks here, he’d commute by plane most of the time. If she decided to sell or lease the place, that was her call, too. He just wanted them together. But he’d already gotten way ahead of where he figured she mentally was with their relationship.

Seeing that he’d left her a little speechless, he figured it best to change the subject. He’d told her they wouldn’t rush. That they could take their time.

“Hey. Ignore me. I was just in business mode,” he explained. “I hadn’t intended to bring that part up until you got used to me being around.” He hitched his head toward the open door. “I’m going to see what’s holding up Cornelia.”

He gave her a kiss, quick and hard, and turned away.

Catching his arm, she turned him right back. “I’m getting used to you,” she assured him. “How long an engagement are you talking about?”

“However long you need.”

Christmas morning, he’d given back to her a feeling she’d thought she’d never know again. Now he was ready to offer himself, along with the gift of time, to accept what, in her heart, she already knew.

“Then, I have no problem discussing it now.” Some things, simply felt, simply were...right. “All you have to do is ask.”

His eyebrow arched. “Seriously?”

“Seriously,” she echoed.

With now familiar ease, he slipped his arms around her, drew her close. “In that case, I’m ready if you are.”

The teasing in her expression met the smile in his. Narrowing her eyes, she tipped her head as her hands flattened on his chest. “That’s a proposal?”

“It’s due diligence. I don’t want you to shoot me down.”

“Never,” she murmured. “I love you too much.”

“I love you back, Rory.” There’d been a time when he couldn’t imagine ever saying anything like that again. Or, ever feeling what he felt with her. “And just for the record,” he said, glancing toward Tyler before lowering his head to hers, “you made me believe in the magic, too.”