Golden Lies - Barbara Freethy [142]
"Paige," he said more seriously, "I don't know if I have it in me to be the kind of man you want and deserve. I don't want to disappoint you."
"You couldn't do that, Riley. And while I do hope for everything I said before, what I really want is you, on whatever terms you can give me. The truth is I'd rather have a few days with you than a lifetime with someone else. You've set me free, brought out a side of me I didn't know I had. I'll never be the same again."
"You've done the same thing for me." He pulled her hand to his heart. "I thought this had broken a long time ago. But you brought it back to life."
"I'm glad. We ended up on the same side after all," she said.
"Yes. Both our grandfathers were thieves. And Alyssa's, too. So much for protecting our families' names."
"Let's just hope our generation can turn things around."
"We will." He paused. "Are we going to have to wait for our romantic date to ... you know?"
"I think so. You should have to work for it this time."
"Paige," he groaned, "you're going to kill me."
"You better believe it. Starting now," she said with a wicked smile.
"I thought you just said—"
"It's a woman's perogative to change her mind. Besides, we haven't made love in this bed yet." She leaned over to kiss him, but he put a finger against her lips.
"Uh, Paige."
"What now?"
"I just remembered. I don't have my wallet."
"You have to start driving with your driver's license, Riley."
"I don't suppose you have another copy of the Odyssey laying around?" he asked hopefully.
"Unfortunately, no, and I hate to admit it, but this bed has seen about as much action as the one in my parents' house. I haven't brought a guy here in a long time. I don't think I have anything."
"That's all right. We have the rest of our lives to make love to each other."
"I like the sound of that."
"So do I," he admitted.
"Do you trust me, Riley, really trust me?"
"Yes, I do. Let me show you how much." He tossed her back on the pillows, his hands slipping under her sweater.
"This feels more like lust," she teased.
"Now it's your turn to trust me. There are a lot of things we can do without a condom."
"Show me."
"I intend to." He paused, gazing into her eyes. "You're an amazing woman."
"And you're an amazing man. By the way, when we get married—and I know we will," she added with a smile of her own, "I'm taking your name. I think I'm going to be a better McAllister than a Hathaway."
"I just want you, Paige. I don't care what your name is."
"I love you, Riley."
"I love you, too," he whispered, sealing his words with a lingering kiss.
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@Copyright 2011 Barbara Freethy
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Prologue
25 years earlier
She took her bow with the other dancers, tears pressing against her lids, but she couldn't let those tears slip down her cheeks. No one could know that this night was different from any other. Too many people were watching her.
As the curtain came down one last time, she ran off the stage into the arms of her husband, her lover, the man with whom she would take the greatest risk of her life.
He met the question in her eyes with a reassuring smile.
She wanted to ask if it was all arranged, if the plan was in motion, but she knew it would be unwise to speak. She would end this evening as she had ended all those before it. She went into her dressing room and changed out of her costume. When she was dressed, she said good night to some of the other dancers as she walked toward the exit, careful to keep her voice casual, as if she had not a care in the world. When she and her husband got into their automobile, they remained silent, knowing that the car might be bugged.
It was a short drive to their home. She would miss her house, the garden in the back, the bedroom where she'd made love to her husband, and the nursery, where she'd rocked ...
No. She couldn't think of that. It was too painful. She had to concentrate on the future when they could finally