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what you did for the community, he said in a
distant voice. The residents looked great. I know
you didn t do it for me, but
Yes, I did, she whispered.
He turned to her with renewed hope. What?
She kept her gaze on the elevator doors. The
auction, the fund-raiser, the publicity. I did it all
for you. She looked at him, her eyes filled with
tears. Because I can t help loving you. When he
moved toward her she stopped him. That doesn t
Dara Girard 249
mean we can be together. I can t trust that you ll
stay around, but we can be friends.
Edmund pounded the emergency button and the
elevator halted to a stop. His voice rose above the
flashing red lights and alarm. He grabbed her. I love
you, he said, his words raw with emotion. I don t
know when it happened and sometimes I don t know
why, but I do and I can t stop myself. I m happy
about your successes, but I don t want to be neigh
bors or colleagues or lovers I want you to be mine.
I want to know you ll be with me in the morning
when I wake up and when I go to bed at night. I want
you to carry my name, I want you to carry my child
and I want you to share my life. I don t want
anything less than that. Do you hear me?
Yes.
A voice came through the call box. Are you all
right in there?
Yes, Edmund said, his gaze never leaving
Mary s face. I made a mistake and I m sorry.
Okay. We ll cancel the crew.
The alarm stopped, the elevator started moving
again and suddenly all they could hear was their
breathing. Mary, I wanted to tell you this many
times, but I knew it wasn t what you wanted to
hear. I promise
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She pressed her fingers against his lips. No,
don t promise anything. Promises get broken.
He removed her hand and held it close to his
chest, where she could feel his heart beat. The heat
of his grayish-brown eyes penetrating hers. I
promise that I will never leave your side. That I
will not keep any secrets from you, unless it s a
surprise, and until my last breath you will hold my
heart. I want you to be my wife.
Mary gazed up at him. His eyes still reminded
her of the Arctic, and she knew the color would
never soften or be warm. He would never be very
social and she would likely always have to remind
him to listen, but she didn t want another man
because no other man had ever looked at her like
this. And she knew she could stare forever into the
gaze of those cool grayish-brown eyes, which re
flected a love that always forgave, never judged
and promised forever.
To trust was a risk, but it was a risk she was
willing to take. You want me to be your wife?
Yes.
Don t you care what I want?
Only if you want me, too.
The elevator stopped on the ground floor and
the doors opened. Mary took his hand and stepped
Dara Girard 251
out. I do. She turned and kissed him, no longer
afraid to feel the true longings of her heart. More
than you know.
I knew I wanted you the first time I saw you,
I just didn t realize how much.
She smiled. Do you always get what you want?
Would it sound arrogant if I said yes?
Mary nodded. Definitely, but at least it would
be honest.
Do you always get what you want?
I didn t used to until She thought about the
day she had received a mysterious invitation in
the mail.
Until what?
Until I found the courage to claim it. They
walked out into the summer evening.
Edmund stopped and they both looked up at the
blanket of stars. Then Mary whispered, I did it
Mrs. McQueeth thank you.
His gaze fell to her face, love reflecting in his
eyes. Mary threw her arms around him and, for a
moment, as she looked over his shoulder, she could
have sworn the stars twinkled and formed a pair
of stockings.
»
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1927-8
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Copyright © 2008 by Sade Odubiyi
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