“You do?”
“Yeah.You heard that I haven’t asked Hannah to marry me already, and now you’re phoning to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do.I’m all grown up, damnit!”
“I haven’t spoken to any of your brothers today, but thank you for telling me how stupid you’ve been.You love the woman; what is the problem?Don’t you want to marry her?”
Darryn bit off a swear word.“Yes, I want to marry her, but she doesn’t want to quit her job!”
“Please tell me you didn’t ask her to do that?”
Darryn swore.“It’s much more complicated than that, Mom,” Darryn said, wishing he’d never taken the damn call.“What about her career?She became angry when I suggested she quit her job.She asked if I would quit mine.What would I do?It’s a bloody mess!”
“Life is complicated and messy, Darryn.Surely you know that by now?As a couple, you give and take.You’re spoiled.Just because you and your brothers are owners of hotels and have money doesn’t mean things will always work out as planned.And you definitely won’t always get your way.”
“I know that!”he called out, frustrated.
“Any woman who can use her high heel as a weapon when she has to is someone to fight for, in my book.”
“I know that too.”
“Marriage, my dear boy, is a partnership.You compromise, you talk, you give, and you balance.Your dad knew I loved cooking and, as soon as he could, he helped me to start Rosa’s, even if it meant our whole lives moved to the restaurant.It’s not always easy, but the upside is priceless.”
“Yeah?And what is that?”
“You get to love one another.”And with those words, she ended the call.
Darryn stared at the phone for long minutes, images of Hannah flitting through his mind—Hannah on the beach, her toned body moving to his silent requests.Hannah in his bed, her hair sprayed out over his pillow.Hannah standing up to Stephen White, her shoe high above her head, ready to defend herself.Hannah loving him with abandon, pleasure lighting up her face.
And then those messy pieces in his mind that had fallen into place two years ago when he’d seen Hannah for the first time, moved, shifted and settled again, this time creating a clearer picture—of him and Hannah, together.And somewhere in the background a couple of kids were chasing a Labrador, kids with their mother’s blue eyes and blonde hair.
None of the questions that had been bothering him earlier seemed to be problems any longer.They had to find a way to make it work, because… He grinned.
Like Don had said, it really was that simple.He loved her; he wanted to be with her.Whatever it takes.
Chapter Twenty-One
Hannah stood infront of the big windows of her apartment, looking out over New York.She’d actually slept through the morning and felt more relaxed.She hadn’t heard a word from Darryn since he’d left early that morning.He might have left for South Africa, although she hoped not.
But, ever since she’d woken up, things were clearer, somehow.Darryn loved her.He’d told her in so many words, but more than that, he’d shown her.Yes, in the grand gesture to fly to Paris when he thought she was in trouble, flying to New York to be with her, but also in all the small gestures—the way he put a hand on the small of her back when they crossed a street, the way he opened doors for her, the way he watched her, the way he made love to her.
She didn’t know why he hadn’t asked her to marry him, but she knew he loved her.A piece of paper was not going to change the way she felt.A sigh escaped.But, yes, if he asked her, she would say yes.No wait, she would yell out that yes!
And she knew now that for him she would give up everything—her modeling, her apartments, her life.In a heartbeat.She had to find a way to tell him that.
A loud knock on her front had her turning around.Dazed, she stared at the front door.It had to be Darryn.She moved forward.
He hadn’t left.They had another chance to make this right.She ran the last few steps and flung open the door.
And there he was—tall, gorgeous, and smiling uncertainly.
“Yes,” she said very calmly, while clutching the door frame for support.“Of course, I’ll bloody well marry you!”
*
Darryn was stillthinking how exactly to do what he wanted to do when the door opened.He was probably still suffering from jet lag, because he could have sworn the exquisite creature in front of him had just accepted a marriage proposal he had yet to make.
But before he could say anything, she was in his arms, and talking became unimportant.
Scooping her up, he closed his mouth over hers and walked toward her room with long strides.At times like this, talking was overrated.He could show her more convincingly how he felt by simply loving her.
