“Anything could have happened down there,” Jonas continued. “If I hadn’t arrived when I did...” He left the rest to her imagination.
Stephanie went still, her gaze studying this man she loved. “Isn’t marriage a little drastic?”
“Not in these circumstances.” He looked at her as though she were the one being unreasonable.
“Jonas, do you love me?” she asked the question softly, almost fearing his response.
“I’d hardly be willing to make you my wife if I didn’t.”
“I see.”
He hesitated, looking uneasy. “How do you feel about me?”
“Oh, Jonas, do you really need to ask?” Her gaze softened, and her heart melted at the pride and doubt she read in his hard expression. He was more vulnerable now than at any time since she’d begun working for him. “I’ve been in love with you from the moment we stood in front of the fountain in Paris—only it took a while to realize it.”
His eyes looked deeply into hers, and when he spoke, the burning anger had been replaced by tenderness. “Stephanie, I love you. I didn’t ever expect to fall so hard, and certainly not for a tiny slip of a woman who is so proud and forthright. But it’s happened, and I’ll thank God every day of my life if you’ll agree to marry me and have my children.”
“Oh, Jonas.” She cupped her hand over her mouth and battled back the tidal wave of emotion that threatened to engulf her. Then she sniffled and turned around, desperately seeking a tissue.
Jonas handed her one and paused to cup her face in his hands. He smiled at her gently, lovingly. “We’re going to have a wonderful life together,” he said as he lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss was tender and sweet, and his tongue probed her mouth with slow, easy thrusts that made Stephanie’s knees grow weak.
Her arms curled and locked around his neck as his mouth meandered over her lips to her ear. “You’re a crazy woman.”
“Crazy about you,” she admitted, loving the feel of him rubbing against her, knowing that their lovemaking would be exquisite.
“A man attacks you and you’re a fireball. I ask you to marry me, and you burst into tears.”
“I’m happy.”
“You will, won’t you?”
“Marry you? Oh, Jonas, I’d consider it the greatest honor of my life to be your wife.”
“You won’t mind children?”
“A dozen at least,” she said with a happy laugh. Fresh tears misted her eyes at the thought of bearing Jonas’s child.
“A dozen?” He cocked his brows and grinned sheepishly. “I’m willing, but you may want to change your mind after three or four.” Still holding her, Jonas flipped the switch to the intercom. “Miss Westheimer?”
“Yes,” came the tinny-sounding reply.
“Contact Mr. Potter and tell him that Miss Coulter won’t be in for the remainder of the day.”
“Jonas,” Stephanie whispered. “I told you Black didn’t hurt me. I’m fine, really.”
He ignored her, but his grip on her shoulder tightened. “And cancel my appointments for today as well.”
“Yes, of course,” the secretary said, but the reluctance in her voice was evident even to Stephanie.
“Is that a problem, Miss Westheimer?”
“Adam Holmes is scheduled for four-thirty, and he’ll be leaving town this evening,” Bertha informed her employer in the same dry tone.
Jonas closed his eyes and sighed with frustration. “All right, I’ll make a point of being back before four-thirty, then.”
When he’d finished speaking, he released the switch and turned Stephanie into his arms. “We have some shopping to do.”
“Shopping?” For some reason her mind flashed to the grocery store. She hadn’t eaten breakfast, and had hoped to pick up something easy on her coffee break, but she’d been so involved typing the report that she’d forgotten.
“Shopping for a ring. A diamond, preferably, and so large anyone looking at it will know how special you are and how much I love you.”
“Jonas,” she said slowly, measuring her words carefully, “a plain gold band would do as long as I’m marrying you.”
“I can afford a whole lot more, and I have every intention of indulging you from this minute to the end of our lives.”
Stephanie swallowed her objections; she loved Jonas, and not for the material wealth he could give her. She remembered Elizabeth Lockwood’s words. Jonas’s mother had told her that when Jonas admitted that he loved her, he would make her the happiest woman alive. For now he equated bringing her joy with adorning her with riches. Diamonds were wonderful, but Stephanie’s happiness came from being loved by Jonas and nothing more. It wouldn’t matter to her if he sold matchsticks on street corners; she loved the man. In time, he’d learn that her happiness was linked to his. He was all she’d ever need to be content and whole.
His look grew sober and thoughtful. “What do you think about making Potter a first vice president?”
Stephanie was both stunned and thrilled. She was surprised that Jonas was considering such a move, and complimented that he would ask her opinion. “George Potter is a wonderful choice.”
“Then consider it done,” Jonas said with a curt nod. “Now that I’m going to be a married man, I don’t want to spend so much time at the office. Not when I have more important matters to concern myself with.”
“Right,” she said with a wide grin, thinking of all the years they’d have to build a life together. She could see them thirty-five years from now, teaching their grandchildren to sail. “Jonas,” she said suddenly, remembering her own happy childhood. “I want you to meet my parents and my sisters.”
“We can fly out next week,” he answered matter-of-factly.
“When do you want to have the wedding?” she asked. Jonas was moving so fast he was making her head spin.
“Is next month too soon?”
“Oh, Jonas,” she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him fiercely. “I wonder if it will be near soon enough.”
From that point, the afternoon took on the feel of a circus ride. Their first stop was the jeweler’s, where Jonas bought a lovely diamond solitaire. When he slipped it on her finger, Stephanie felt the tears gather in her eyes. She bit into her lower lip to keep them at bay, not wanting to embarrass either of them with her emotional display. From the jeweler’s, Jonas drove to an exclusive French restaurant in memory of their trip to Paris. They dined on veal, sipped champagne, and shared secret glances with eyes full of love.
At four, Jonas glanced irritably at his watch. “I may be tied up with Holmes for several hours, and then I’ve got a dinner engagement.”
“Not with another woman, I hope,” Stephanie teased.
He looked startled for a moment. “There’ll never be another woman for me, Stephanie. Never.”
“Jonas, I was only joking.”
“You need never doubt me on this, Stephanie. All my life I’ve been intensely loyal. I’m sure my mother can give you several examples from my boyhood if you want to hear them.”
“Jonas, please, I didn’t mean to imply...”
“I know, love.” He paused to caress the side of her face tenderly. “I knew I was falling in love with you, perhaps even as early as Paris, but I fought it. I thought I was in love once before, and I was thoroughly disgusted with the emotion. But this morning, when I saw Black pawing at you—I’ve never experienced such overwhelming rage. I knew in that moment that the feelings I hold for you could be nothing less than love.”
Her hand found his and squeezed it gently. “Having you love me is the greatest honor I’ve ever known.”
Jonas’s blue eyes darkened by several shades, and Stephanie realized that had they been anywhere other than a restaurant, he would have taken her in his arms and kissed her until she begged him to stop.
From the restaurant, Jonas drove her back to the office building with him. Stephanie was about to burst with happiness, and if she didn’t share it with Jan and the others soon, she was convinced she’d start screaming that Jonas Lockwood loved her from the top floor for all Minneapolis to hear.
Her first stop after she and Jonas parted at the elevator was the personnel office. Jan looked up from her desk and blinked.
“Hey, where were you at lunchtime? I have a feeling you were trying to avoid questions. You can’t do this to us, Steph, we’re all dying to find out what’s happening.”
“I wasn’t avoiding anyone.”
Jan looked at her more intently. “You’ve got that saucy grin again. Would you care to tell me the reason you look like a contented cat with feathers in his mouth?”
In response, Stephanie held out her left hand. The large diamond solitaire sparkled merrily in the artificial light.
Jan gasped, and her eyes shot to Stephanie’s. “Mr. Lockwood?”
“Who else would it be?”
Jan’s palm flew to her breast. “I think I’m going into cardiac arrest. You did it! You actually did it!” Even as she spoke, she was reaching for the phone.
“Tell the others to meet us at that cocktail lounge you took me to that night. The drinks are on me this time,” Stephanie said happily. “I owe all of you at least that.”
An hour later, the five were gathered around a table, sipping wine coolers and munching on an assortment of chips, deep-fried zucchini sticks, and mushrooms stuffed with cheese and onions.
“How did you get him to propose?” Barbara wanted to know first.
“I didn’t do anything. I was more surprised than any of you.”
Jan refilled Stephanie’s glass, and they all raised their drinks in a silent salute to their illustrious boss.
“To years and years of happiness,” Maureen said, offering the toast.
“And romance,” Stephanie added, a believer now. She recalled the first time she’d met with her co-workers and how they’d claimed then to have recognized her as the perfect match for Jonas Lockwood. At the time, Stephanie had been shocked, even appalled. She wouldn’t have given the man a free bus ticket. Now, at the very mention of his name, her knees turned to butter, she was so much in love with him. Truly head over heels in love, for the first time in her life.
“Who guessed today?” Toni questioned.
“No one,” Jan answered. “Remember, it was as much a surprise to Steph as it is to us.”
“Today? What today?” Stephanie glanced around the table at her friends. True, they’d all had their share of wine, Stephanie a bit more than her share since she’d also had champagne at lunch with Jonas. But until this moment, everything her friends had said made perfect sense.
“I guess we’ll have to award the three hundred dollars to the one who guesses the correct wedding day.”
“Would you stop talking in riddles,” Stephanie demanded.
“Have you decided on a date for the wedding yet?”
Stephanie noticed how intense the four faces became as they awaited her reply. “I’m not answering your question until you answer mine,” she said, crossing her arms stubbornly. “What’s all this about guessing the day?”
“The marriage pool.”
“The what?” Stephanie cried.
“You know, like a football pool, only we had bets going on when Lockwood was going to pop the question.”
Stephanie took another swallow of her wine cooler. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”
“A lot of people bet that you wouldn’t be able to carry this off. They lost this big.” Jan and Maureen slapped hands high above the table.
“Money?”
“Three hundred dollars is riding on your wedding date.”
Stephanie placed her elbows on the table and cradled her head in her hands. “So that’s where Black heard about me and Jonas,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Say, do you know what happened to him today?”
“How would I know?” Stephanie didn’t look her friend in the eye, her gaze fixed on the ice floating in her drink. She hoped that by asking, she could avoid lying.
“I got a call from Old Stone Face shortly after I returned from coffee break this morning. She told me that Donald Black had been terminated, and to arrange for his check to be mailed to him at his home.”
“How unusual,” Stephanie commented, struggling not to reveal any of her involvement with the decision.
“I don’t know anyone who’s sorry to see him go,” Maureen added. “He was a real—”
“We know what he was,” Toni inserted quickly.
“Did anything else of importance occur today?” Stephanie hoped to steer the conversation away from any more unpleasant subjects.
“You mean other than you and Mr. Lockwood getting engaged, and Donald Black biting the dust? I’d say that was enough to make it one hell of a Monday.”
“Can you imagine what Tuesday’s going to be like?” Maureen asked. They all giggled, knowing nothing could outdo the events of this day.
From the cocktail lounge, the five went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and by the time Stephanie got home it was close to ten. She hoped Jonas hadn’t tried to get in touch with her, and felt a little guilty for staying out so late. As it was, her head was swimming, and she took a quick shower and hurried to bed.
The following morning she was at her desk bright and early, hoping Jonas would stop in on his way up to his floor. She didn’t know how she was going to be able to work when all she could think about was how much she loved Jonas and how eager she was to share his life.
Before George Potter arrived, Stephanie received a call from Jan. “Can you come to personnel?”
“Sure, what’s up? You don’t sound right.”
“Just get here.”
Stephanie couldn’t understand why her friend should sound so upset, and she hurried to the personnel office. She took one look at Jan’s red eyes and grew worried. Her friend reached for a tissue and loudly blew her nose.
“What’s wrong?” Stephanie asked, taking a chair. She’d never seen Jan cry. Her friend must be terribly upset.
“Mr. Lockwood contacted me first thing this morning.”
“Jonas?”
“You’ve been terminated.”
Alarm filled Stephanie for an instant, but then she sighed and offered Jan a reassuring grin. “Of course, I have. Jonas and I are getting married. I can’t very well continue to work here.” They hadn’t talked about it specifically, but Stephanie was sure that was it.
“I don’t think so,” Jan said. She reached for another tissue, blinking back fresh tears.
“You’re not making any sense. What else did Jonas say?”
He said...” She paused to wipe her eyes. “He said to mail you your check just the way I was instructed to do with Mr. Black, and... and he asked that you give me the engagement ring. He doesn’t want you on Lockwood property again. He was clear as glass on that subject.”