page32 (1/2)

He paused in the doorway and looked at Holly She was standing at the stove, stirring sorant steam God, she was lovely

And she was his

He put down the carton, propped one hip against the table edge, folded his arms, and happily observed his wife

She had the same effect on him today as she’d had when he was still a kid She’d been so sweet and innocent…from the firstmore than to cherish her and protect her

Now, at least, he could

He knehy their uilt over having taken his beautiful Holly fro, to one where she’d had nothing That hy he’d accused her of trying to play house, because it had killed hiraceful hands, reddened by housework Her ht-blue eyes, shadowed by worries over money Her back, achy after hours spent hunched over the ancient sewing machine she’d rescued from God only knehere

Oh, yeah It had daht, especially since he knew he’d stolen her frorace and beauty and wealth

It was guilt that had made him work a thousand hours a day, that had driven hiht so he could improve himself and improve their lives It was his fault she’d lost her old friends, and been too weary to make new ones No wonder she hadn’t been as excited as he’d wanted her to be about his successes What could he possibly have expected the night he ca a contract and she’d said she really didn’t give a damn?

He’d thought it ive a damn about him

Nick shook his head He understood now What she’d really lect her again Hell, he’d pamper her as she’d never been pampered, fill her life with luxuries, see to it that she had everything she could possibly want

Love, swift as an avalanche, swept through him

‘Holly,’ he said, and when she turned to hi with as much joy as surprise, he was lost He crossed the room with quick, purposeful steps, took the spoon frohtly into his arms ‘I love you,’ he whispered, and kissed her

‘Wow,’ she said, laughing when he let her breathe again Her eyes were bright with happiness It thrilled hilow on her face ‘What did I do to deserve that?’

Nick grinned ‘It’s not you,’ he teased, ‘it’s whatever you’re cooking up in that pan’ He leaned past her and took an exaggerated sniff ‘Man, oh, man, what is that? Some secret French sauce?’

‘Oh,’ Holly said with a coy sently shoved hias under the skillet ‘It’s drawn butter, you big jerk For the lobster’

‘Ah’ Nick laughed ‘Well, that’s pretty exotic’

Holly sht After all, this is a special occasion’

‘Yeah’ He grabbed her around the waist, spun her towards hiht it is’