Professor and the Nanny (Silhouette Romance) (15 page)

“Please, Brittany,” he pleaded. “This is important to me.”

She took a deep breath to say no, but heard herself saying “All right” instead. Damn, she’d never been able to resist him!

She led the way up the stairs, then unlocked her door and stepped into the dark room to turn on the light. The room wasn’t exactly in pristine condition. She was still getting settled and she hadn’t expected company. Certainly not Ethan!
She’d met him at the door when he came to get her, and he’d pinned the orchid on her in the car.

He followed her inside and she wished she’d never agreed to this. It could cause nothing but pain for both of them.

“Would you like to sit down?” she asked, and waved toward the only upholstered chair. She didn’t sound very welcoming, but then she hadn’t intended to.

“Thank you,” he said, but instead of taking the chair he walked across the room, sat on the edge of the bed and motioned her to take the chair.

“I…I had a wonderful time tonight,” she started to say again.

“So did I,” he murmured, “but that’s not what I want to talk about.

Her eyes widened as he continued. “Brittany, did you mean it when you said you were in love with me?”

She gasped and felt the crimson tide of embarrassment color her creamy complexion. Was he mocking her? She’d never known him to be deliberately cruel.

“My feelings are no longer any of your business,” she snapped, and stood up. “Now, if you’ll just leave…”

She turned away from him, but he stayed sitting on the edge of the bed. For a moment there was silence. Then he spoke softly. “I love you, Brittany.”

It was as if a bubble had exploded in her head. She couldn’t believe what she’d heard. Why was he telling her he loved her when they both knew he didn’t? Had he decided to seduce her, after all? Well, he was too late. She was no longer interested in an affair.

“No, you don’t, Ethan,” she said, her back still turned from him. “You want me, but that’s no longer enough for me. I’m going to get married and have some babies.”

She heard him get off the bed and come up behind her. He put his hands on her upper arms and pulled her back against
him. “Good,” he murmured, and rubbed his cheek against hers, “because I have something for you.”

Her heart leaped at his touch, and she scolded herself for being so weak. This time she had to be strong.

She pulled away from his grasp and turned to face him. He looked as uncertain as she felt. “I don’t want gifts from you, Ethan.” She tried to sound decisive but it came out wistful instead.

“This isn’t a gift,” he told her as he took a black-and-silver gift-wrapped box from the pocket of his suit coat and handed it to her. “Please, unwrap it. You don’t have to keep it if you don’t want to.”

Brittany knew that under no circumstances should she accept that package, but she also knew she was going to. Ethan had never given her a gift before and she couldn’t resist opening it.

She took it from him and untied the silver bow, then removed the black wrapping paper. Underneath was a deep blue velvet music box.

“Oh, how beautiful,” she exclaimed, and partially opened the lid that started the pure strains of “I Love You Truly” to fill the air.

She blinked back tears and wished he hadn’t chosen that song, but it didn’t matter. She couldn’t keep it. “Thank you, Ethan, but I really can’t—”

“You haven’t looked inside yet,” he told her. “Open the lid.”

“Oh, yes, of course. I’m afraid I wasn’t thinking.” She opened the lid, and there inside the satin-lined box was nestled another, smaller velvet-covered one.

It looked like a jeweler’s box, but surely Ethan wouldn’t be giving her jewelry. A music box she might be able to accept, but jewelry—Never!

She withdrew her hand as though it had been burned.
“No!” It was a startled cry. “I can’t accept expensive gifts from you. Do you really think so little of me—”

Suddenly, without warning, Ethan snatched the smaller box from where it lay inside the bigger one and held it out to her. “Open it, dammit,” he growled, and put it in her hand.

Too startled to think, she put the music box on the lamp table and raised the lid on the small one. For a moment she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. When her eyes finally adjusted she gasped with astonishment.

There inside was a pair of star-studded wedding rings. The most beautiful diamonds she’d ever seen. But why was he handing these to her?

She raised her eyes to find him hovering over her, a look of uncertainty in his expression. “They’re magnificent, but why—”

His gaze fastened on hers. “I’m trying to ask you to marry me, sweetheart, but I’m not doing a very good job of it.”

She blinked. Marry him! Why had he changed his mind about marriage? “But…but you don’t love me.”

He put his arms around her and held her tenderly. “I adore you. How could you possibly not know that?”

She was beginning to wonder if he’d lost his mind. “Well, for starters, because you keep sending me away. That sends a pretty strong message to the contrary.”

He chuckled. “I can see where it might, but didn’t you notice that I also kept bringing you back again?”

She shook her head. “That was only because you needed me—”

“I need you now,” he interrupted.

“I don’t mean that kind of need,” she said, and tried to push away from him, but he held on to her.

“Sweetheart, I love you and need you in every way there is. I want you to marry me, live with me, have children with me. I want us to grow old together, although I’ll be old long before you are….”

Quickly she put her hand across his mouth. “Don’t say that,” she said sternly. “We’ll have many years together before we have to worry about that.”

She saw the wide smile on his face and realized what she’d said. “Does that mean you accept my rather botched proposal?” he asked hopefully.

“Was there ever any doubt in your mind?” she whispered. He drew her closer and lowered his head to her upraised face. “I love you, my darling,” he murmured, and their lips met and clung.

ISBN: 978-1-4603-5228-1

PROFESSOR AND THE NANNY

Copyright © 2000 by Phyllis Halldorson

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.

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