Sentimental Journey (20 page)

"I thought you only wanted me because of her," she offered lamely.

"You mean because I was infatuated with her a long time ago?" he demanded.

"You did say I reminded you of her," Jessica defended. "When you…That evening she was here, you hardly took your eyes off of her," she accused.

"That night I was so painfully conscious that you didn't want me there, I don't know where I was looking. If it was at Jordanna, I was probably trying to discover what I ever saw in her," Brodie retorted angrily before a frown of confusion flickered across his forehead. "Were you jealous that night?"

"Insanely jealous," she admitted with a faint laugh.

"My God!" he breathed. "And I thought…you believed I wasn't good enough to associate with your family."

"Brodie, no!" Jessica denied it vehemently, her fingers curving tightly over his wrists. "How could you possibly think that?"

His mouth twisted in a self-deprecating smile. "A lingering inferiority complex of the boy from the wrong side of town. As for Jordanna, initially I was interested in dating you because of her. The prospect of going to bed with you satisfied a longing to avenge that previous rejection by a Thorne. But after the third or fourth time I saw you, the sensations you were arousing in me had nothing to do with vengeance."

Of its own volition, her body molded itself to the hard length of his, her heart thrilling to his declaration. "I love you, Brodie," she responded, trembling with the depth of her emotion.

His arms encircled her in an iron band of love that crushed her to him, as if he was intent on defying the physical restrictions of their bodies to bring her closer to him still. His mouth moved roughly over her hair, kissing and caressing.

"If you love me, why did you put us through this hell?" Brodie demanded, his voice echoing the shudder that racked through him. "Why did you refuse to come to me?"

"Because…I think I hoped if I wouldn't let you make love to me, you'd marry me," Jessica admitted. "I wanted to be your wife, Brodie. I wanted to share your life, not just your bed."

"You'll get your wish," he told her grudgingly. "If that's the only way I can have you, then I'll marry you."

"Why, Brodie?" She drew her head away from his to gaze in confusion at his face. "Why don't you want to marry me?"

"Because—just look around you. You have everything. You've always had everything—clothes, the finest schools, a beautiful home. Everything you've ever wanted." Impatience darkened his eyes.

"Money? That's your reason?" Jessica frowned. "What difference should that make to you? You're wealthy and successful. As a matter of fact, you were intent on keeping me in a style I wasn't accustomed to."

"Yes, I have money today," he snapped. "But I'm not a blind fool. I can't expect to come up a winner every time I roll the dice. I could lose everything I have tomorrow."

"Money doesn't mean anything to me. I don't care whether you have any or not. I love you," she argued.

"Noble words," Brodie jeered with contempt. "But you don't know what it can be like to have nothing. When that day of cold reality comes, you'll find that love isn't enough."

"It is!" Jessica searched for a way to prove to him that it was true. "It isn't everything, but it's enough. These past few months we've been apart, I've had all those expensive gifts you gave me, but they didn't mean anything because I didn't have you. You said it yourself, Brodie—what value is money if you can't share it with the one you care about? Without money, you can still share your love with that person."

She would have continued, but Brodie was convinced. He silenced her in a most satisfying way.