“More pressing?” she asked, worried. But Web was grinning, drawing her snugly against him. “Ahhh. More pressing …”
His lips closed over hers then, and soon he was leading her to the bedroom, where he proceeded to set her priorities straight. It was what she needed, what they both needed—a reaffirmation of all they meant to each other. Passion was a ready spark between them, had always been a ready spark between them, but it was love that dominated the interplay of mouths and hands and bodies, and it was love that transported them to an exquisite corner of paradise.
Marni’s father dropped by her office on Friday morning. She was surprised to see him, because there wasn’t a board meeting scheduled and he rarely came in for anything else. But deep down inside she’d been awaiting some form of contact.
They talked of incidental things relating to the corporation, and Marni indulged him patiently. In his own good time, Jonathan Lange broached the topic that had brought him by. His thick brows were low over his eyes.
“Your mother tells me that you have a special man … this photographer … Brian Webster?”
“Uh-huh.” Her pulse rate had sped up, but she kept her eyes and her voice steady and forcefully relaxed her hands in her lap.
“I know your mother has some reservations,” he went on in his most businesslike tone, “and I hope you take them seriously. People today get married, then divorced, married, then divorced. Your sister is a perfect example.”
“I’m not Tanya,” Marni stated quietly.
“Exactly. You’re the president of this corporation.
I hope you keep that in mind when you go about choosing a husband.”
She had to struggle to contain a surge of irritation. “I know who I am, Dad, and I think I have a pretty good grasp of what’s expected of me.”
“Just so you do. This fellow’s a photographer, and big-name photographers often live in the fast lane. I wouldn’t want you—or him—to do anything to embarrass us.”
Embarrassment had never been among Marni’s many worries. “I think you’re jumping the gun,” she said slowly. “In the first place, you’ve adopted the same stereotype Mom has. There’s nothing fast about Brian. He lives quietly, and his face hasn’t been plastered all over the papers, with or without women.” Web had assured her of that. All she’d needed was for her mother or Tanya to do a little sleuthing and come up with a picture that would identify Web instantly. “Furthermore, I don’t believe I said anything to Mom about marriage.”
Jonathan’s frown was one of reproof. “Then you’d move in with the man, without a thought to your image?”
“Come on, Dad. These are enlightened times. No one cares if two adults choose to live together.”
“Is that whatyouchoose?”
“No! I’ve never even considered it.”
“But you haven’t talked marriage with this photographer?”
That one was harder to fudge. She bought a minute’s time. “His name is Brian. You can call him Brian.”
“All right. Brian. Have you talked marriage with Brian?”
She held his gaze. “I think we’d both be amenable, to the idea.”
“Then itisserious.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll have to meet him. That’s all there is to it.”
Marni bit her lower lip, then let it slide from beneath her teeth. “You know, Dad, I am a big girl. Technically, I don’t need your approval. You may hate him, but that wouldn’t change my feelings for him.”
Jonathan’s gaze sharpened. “If he’s as wonderful as you say, why would we hate him?”
“Different people see things differently. You and Mom aren’t keen on his profession to begin with.”
“That’s true. But we’d still like to meet him, and soon, if you’re as serious as you say about him.”
“Okay, soon. You will meet him soon.”
There was soon, and there was soon. Marni had no intention of running out to Long Island that Sunday as her mother had originally suggested. Not only did she have more subtle PR to do, but she and Web were going back to Vermont for the weekend, and not for the world would she have altered their plans.
