She shook her head solemnly. “I won’t,” she promised, a grin tugging at her.
He exhaled. “Good. Let me tell you, though, the bloody train took forever. Christ. That was the worst five days of my life. If I never suffer such ever again, it will be too soon.”
“Me, too.” Wrapping her arms about him, she leant her cheek against his shoulder. Staring at her baggage, she knew another question needed to be asked beforetheycould begin. “Rupert?”
Raising his brows, he grinned. “You’ve decided to use my Christian name, have you?”
Uncertainty and a dash of fear made her unable to return his humour. “I would like to try Paris.”
A grin burst upon his face. “Really? That’s wonderful! You’d be absolutely fantastic there, make no mistake.”
“I know.” She bit her lip. “Do you— That is, would you... Would you come? To Paris.” Her voice quavered. Taking a breath, she steadied herself. “With me?”
His smile faded and changed, becoming a soft, lovely promise. “I’ve chased you half across the country, Alice. Do you think I’m going to let you go now?”
How,how, did she ever get so lucky? How was it she’d found the very best of men in the most unlikely of circumstances? “Are you sure? You would have to give up your employment, wouldn’t you?”
Amazingly, he shrugged. “It’s not my passion. I don’t care where I work. France will be just as good to me as America ever was. I’ve saved most every penny I’ve ever earned, which should be enough to at least get us to Paris and keep us for a while. Are you certain you want to leave Ironwood?”
She would miss Ironwood, her people, even the rabble in the Diamond, but Paris was her dream. “It’s time. I’ve done all I can with the Spectacular, and if Pearl doesn’t come to Paris, she’d do a fine job with the Diamond.” A frown troubled her brow. Paris washerdream. Why would he give up so much for a dream not his own? “You’d just drop all you’ve worked for?”
“What do I have to drop?” Thumb tracing her cheekbone, he smiled down at her. “I’ve moved from place to place the entire time I’ve been in America, so I don’t own a home. My only family is Smith, and he’ll either come with us or he won’t.”
A kind of shadow crossed his features at the mention of Smith, but it quickly cleared. “As for my obligation to Wyoming Coal, I don’t particularly care. It almost tore us apart, and I shall be handing in my notice soon, in any event.” Taking her elbow in his hand, he caressed her through the fabric of her dress. “I can obtain employment in France, and if not France, I will find something in London. Something that allows me to spend most of my time with you.”
Confusion made her frown. How was it he could be so calm and collected when faced with such change? “Why are you doing this?”
His brows drew together. “Because I love you.”
Speech deserted her, and so she could only hear his words over and again in her head.
Because I love you.
He continued, as if she hadn’t been turned to stone with four small words that meant so much. “Why on earth did you think I came here? Why would I chase you halfway across the country if not because you mean everything?”
“I just…I hadn’t thought...” Never before had she heard the phrase. “In all my life, no one has ever said that to me.”
His brows shot up. “No one?”
Unable to speak further, she shook her head.
“Well, I do. I love you.”
Hearing him say those words, feeling the emotion behind them... The skin of her neck prickled, heat creeping over her cheeks as her stomach swirled.
Averting her gaze, she suddenly found the carpet of extreme interest.
“Are youembarrassed?” Incredulity coloured his voice.
“No,” she mumbled. The carpet really was astonishingly clean for the establishment. Maybe she should ask what the hotel used to keep it so pristine.
“You are.” God, he sounded absolutely delighted. “You’re embarrassed! Why, because I love you?”
“Oh, hush.”
“I love you.” Grabbing her, he peppered her with kisses, one for each repetition. “I loooove you. Iloveyou.”
“Stop it!” Fending for herself proved difficult, his playful kisses impossible to avoid. Not that shewantedto avoid them. “Are you certain you want to go to Paris?”
Sobering, he tucked her hair behind her ear and met her gaze. “Wherever you go, that’s where my home is.” He gave a lopsided smile. “Paris. Ironwood. Timbuktu. I don’t care. It’s home because you’ll be there.”
Suddenly, the words didn’t seem all that difficult. It caused her no discomfort or embarrassment to say them. Not to him. “I love you.”
Joy made his features beautiful. “Good.” Holding out his hand, he waggled his brows. “Shall we go?”
He offered more than his hand. A chance at Paris. A life with him. Happiness. Love.
Meshing her fingers with his, everything clicked into place. She grinned. “Yes. Let’s go.”
