One Reckless Night (25 page)

 
Jake groaned again. 'And I wasn't there.'

 
'And when I did see you everything had changed,' Zanna continued. 'I-I'd had time to think, by then, and I was frightened-scared that you wouldn't want to know, or that you'd try to buy me off.'

 
She took a deep breath. 'Or even that you'd come up with my father's solution and try to make me have an abortion.'

 
Jake was very still. 'Is that what he did?' he asked hoarsely. 'Dear God, was that what you fought him about-why you left the company?'

 
'Yes.' Zanna sighed. 'History repeating itself. Although I didn't know that at the time.'

 
Jake said something softly and violently under his breath.

 
'I'm damned if I'm staying on the other side of this desk a moment longer,' he announced, striding round to her side and pulling her to her feet. 'I'm here to ask you to marry me, not be interviewed for a job.'

 
'You want to marry me?' Her voice was uncertain as he led her to the window-seat. 'But you can't.'

 
'I think I must.' He was holding both her hands in his. 'Dad and Susan have forbidden me to return without you.'

 
She bit her lip. 'I don't think they'll be very happy to find out I'm pregnant.'

 
'I think they'll be ecstatic. Susan will just turn the party she was planning into a wedding reception.'

 
'But there's Cindy.'

 
'Indeed there is,' he agreed. 'She's hoping to be chief bridesmaid.'

 
'Bridesmaid?' She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 'Oh, I don't understand any of this.'

 
'Cindy was camouflage,' he admitted, his mouth twisting wryly. 'She's an old friend, and when I had dinner with her and her fiancé a while back they soon realized I was having problems. They wormed it all out of me, told me I'd been an idiot, then suggested that a dose of old-fashioned jealousy might gauge your real feelings.'

 
Her lips parted helplessly. 'You mean-it was all an act? Oh, I don't believe it.'

 
'No half-measures with Cindy,' Jake retorted. 'She even surprised me. But she told me she was sure you loved me, only you were fighting it, just like your mother before you, and that I must hang in there and be patient.'

 
The strong hands holding hers were trembling. 'Was she right, Susie? Will you be my wife-my love-for the rest of our lives?'

 
She said, 'I will,' and knew that no ceremony would ever make them more husband and wife than at that moment.

 
She went into his arms, responding freely and joyously to the warm tenderness of his mouth on hers.

 
It was a long time before he let her go, his arms reluctant as he released her, his eyes smiling into hers.

 
'Let's go home, Susie,' he said softly. 'AH three of us.'

 
She took his hand and drew it, calmly and trustingly, to the new, gentle rounding of her body.

 
'Yes,' she said. 'Oh, yes, please, my love.'