The land grew smaller, the people indecipherable from the coastline. She had no idea how many minutes passed. Time no longer held merit.
All that mattered was that Colin hadn’t come.
The soft fall of footsteps had Bea stiffening, and even though rationally she knew it was impossible, she couldn’t keep the hope from flaring to life. Could it be? She spun around.
Sam stood there in his Indian garb, his face unreadable. “You are well?”
Bea hid her disappointment and nodded. His eyes were the same blue as Colin’s, but then they were brothers. Still, the realization struck her hard. How would she look at him every day and not think of Colin?
He gave her a curt bow. “I shall see to the luggage.”
Bea nodded and glanced back to the shore, where Leo and Ella had disappeared. Her heart leapt in her throat as her chance to escape faded. Above, the sails flapped in the wind, those birds still following them, but nothing else was the same.
She was stuck. What the hell was she thinking? Traipsing around the world with three people she’d hired and barely knew? Her stomach clenched. Oh God, she was going to be sick. Panic welled, threatening to close off her throat. She couldn’t do this. She closed her eyes. She must do this.
She forced a breath of salty air into her lungs. She’d traveled through India, for God’s sake. She could do this. She couldn’t go back now. She would see Morocco, have a wonderful time, and then … and then …
A tear slipped down her cheek. He hadn’t come. Colin hadn’t come.
Another tear followed, dripping to the churning ocean below.
Colin hadn’t come with her. She pressed her gloved hand to her stomach. She’d told herself, forced herself, to think about the possibility, yet deep down she supposed she’d assumed he wouldn’t let her leave alone. Now, with no other choice, she allowed the reality to finally sink in. She was alone. Completely alone.
Another tear slipped down her cheek.
“Here,” a man said with a thick English accent. A white handkerchief suddenly appeared in front of her face, wavering on the breeze.
Wanting to be alone and not wanting to court conversation, she didn’t dare look at him. Bea focused on the scuffed deck boards and snatched the cloth from his tanned hand. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He didn’t move away and annoyance flared through Bea. Couldn’t he tell she hadn’t the desire to make conversation?
“You know …” He braced his elbows on the railing and leaned forward. From the corner of her eye she could see that his suit was a fine black material that hugged his muscled arms well. “It’s terrible to see a beautiful lady cry.”
Bea almost sighed in exasperation. She turned her back to him, looking everywhere but at the man, wondering when Sam would return. Blast Colin. If he hadn’t left her alone, she wouldn’t feel so exposed. She inched away. She’d see Colin again, yes, most definitely. And when she did …
“In fact, it rips a man’s heart quite open.”
“Listen.” She started to turn toward him when a warm tingling sensation broke through her ire. No. It couldn’t be. Her body began to tremble and the handkerchief fell unheeded to the churning water below. Slowly, she turned.
Colin grinned down at her and winked. For one long moment she merely blinked up at him, wondering if perhaps the sun was playing tricks with her mind. She reached out, letting her fingers skim his warm arm. Realizing he was quite real, she jerked back, her fingertips tingling with the contact. He looked so wonderfully real, the suit fitting his broad shoulders perfectly, the wind playing with his curls. Even those dimples were on full display. Dear God, he was real!
“How’d you like my accent? I’ve been practicing.”
The clouds above began to spin. Bea’s mouth fell open, and just as quickly snapped shut. She would not faint!
Wariness settled in his blue gaze. “You don’t look very thrilled to see me.”
Bea’s anger flared. “You … you led me to believe …” She stomped her foot and Colin’s brow lifted in surprise. “You bastard! How could you make me go through this? How could you?” She hit his chest, and since it felt so bloody good, she hit him again.
Colin started laughing, a deep rumble that warmed her insides, much against her will. “Now, darlin,’ you have to understand, I had things to do …”
She pulled back, trembling. “Don’t you darlin’ me, you … you arrogant arse!” She spun around and started across the deck, anger fueling her forward. She had to get away from him before she did something insane, like kiss him!
“Bea, I promise, I got here as soon as I could. But I had things to do, things to procure …”
Shocked and annoyed by his words, she stopped. Unbelievable. The man was unbelievable if he thought she’d accept his sorry excuse! “Really, Colin, what was so important? I’m most eager to hear what was so important that you didn’t have the time to tell me you were coming?” Bea spun around to face him, but looking at that beautiful face was almost more than she could handle.
“Bea.” The seriousness in his gaze gave her pause. “This.” He held out a little jeweled box.
Confused, Bea couldn’t stop herself and stepped closer. He’d bought her a present? Was he really trying to gain her forgiveness by giving her a measly present? “What is it?” She crossed her arms over her chest, feigning indifference.
A smile lifted the left corner of his mouth. “Open it.”
She paused only a moment, then with trembling fingers she took the box and lifted the lid. Inside a beautiful gold ring with an odd gold and brown stone rested on a velvet pillow.
“It’s called a tiger’s-eye. I thought it matched your eyes, and your mood sometimes.” He was smiling, but in his gaze there was something else … worry? Anxiousness? He was waiting for something … waiting for her response.
Confused, Bea shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
That pulse in his neck flared to life as he stepped closer. The seriousness in her gaze took her under and held her captive. “I love you, Beatrice. Will you marry me?”
Her heart plummeted to her toes and panic mixed with utter happiness. “No, you don’t mean it.” Tears pooled in her eyes and she shook her head once more. “You don’t. You hate me for making you lose that statue.”
Colin’s brows snapped together. “No. Of course I don’t.” He reached for her but she stepped back.
Bea swiped angrily at the tears that slipped down her cheeks. “Then why were you so hateful? Why didn’t you talk to me? Why’d you ignore me?”
Colin sighed and cupped her shoulders, bringing her up against his hard chest. “Bea, I had almost lost you. I’d just realized my father is the ass I worried he was. And the only person I cared about, you, had almost …. God, Bea, I had nothing to offer you. I have nothing to offer you. Nothing.”
The anguish in his voice tore at her heart. She wanted to shake the man. She wanted to bring him close and kiss him until he’d never doubt her love. “I told you, Colin. I only want you.”
His jaw clenched, he focused on the sailors, climbing masts and yelling out orders. “I know, but … Damn it all.” His gaze met hers. “Bea, tell me you still love me.”
She closed her eyes and waited, taking one long moment to savor the feel of his hands on her.
“Bea?” he whispered, his voice catching.
She could let him suffer no longer. Happiness flared through her very being. It no longer mattered. Not the statue. Not their past lives. Nothing but them. “Of course I love you!”
Relief washed visibly over his features. Yet his hands gripped her upper arms, his fingers tight. “Tell me you’ll marry me.”
She paused, letting the moment sink in. He wanted her as his wife. Her gaze took him in, that fine suit he wore, the way the wind touseled his curls, and his eyes, so serious, so loving, and so insecure, pleading with her to have him. But he was a cad, wasn’t he? A woman in every country …
“Colin, are you sure? What i
f you get second thoughts? What if you decide …”
He growled low in his throat. “Will you stop talking and kiss me already?”
A smile quivered on Bea’s lips. She held the jeweled box between them. “Only if you put that ring on my finger and make me a proper woman.”
Colin grinned, a heart-stopping smile that spoke of success, but mostly of love. With hands that visibly trembled, he took the ring from the box and slid it upon her finger. “Well?” he insisted. “Say the words.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, Colin. I will marry you.” She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her body up close to his, heedless of the stares from passengers and crew. His hold felt right, so incredibly right.
She tilted her head back and slid her fingers into his curls, warmed by the sun. “Tell me you love me again,” she whispered.
He scooped her up into his arms. “I love you.” He gave her a quick kiss and started toward the stairs that led to the cabin area, ignoring the hollers and cries of delight from the crew members.
The sky was perfect and blue, the gulls overhead crying out their own cheers of delight. “Tell me again,” she whispered, nuzzling his neck.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“And again,” she demanded as he ducked under the overhang and opened his cabin door.
Colin let her slide down his body as he closed the door behind them. “I love you, Bea, forever and always.” With those words, he pressed his lips to her mouth, and showed her exactly how much he cared.
Table of Contents
This Woman …
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lori Brighton, Wild Desire
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