What Dreams May Come (20 page)

After all her protests that what they'd had together was in the past, and Mitch's insistence that the future was theirs, it was perhaps ironic that he now seemed content with the present. He told her often that he loved her, and she certainly had no doubts that he desired her physically; she felt so loved, in fact, that it occurred to her only gradually that Mitch was avoiding any mention of their future.

After thinking it over carefully, Kelly thought she understood the reason for his silence. And rather than let the situation go on, she chose to confront it obliquely.

"I'm not pregnant, you know."

It was late morning, and they'd gone out into the garden for a walk after breakfast. At her abrupt but conversational statement, Mitch stopped and stared at her. She wasn't at all surprised to see a flash of disappointment that was quickly veiled by lowered lashes.

"You aren't?" he said.

"No. I found out this morning. That was why I
was already fixing breakfast when you woke up. Cramps woke me, and since I had to get up anyway, I just stayed up. So, since we've been lucky this far, we'd better do something about birth control."

Mitch cleared his throat. "Do you want to take care of it, or should I?"

"I think I'd better. I have a feeling you'd forget." She stared up at him solemnly.

"Well, you do drive rational thoughts out of my head," he admitted.

"The first couple of days, maybe."
Her tone was very gentle. "But after that, you were trying to get your own way."

"Kelly—"

"Of course, I should have realized sooner. And I should have brought up the subject before now."

"Why didn't you?" he asked, suddenly curious.

"Because I wanted a baby," she said baldly, and then, before he could say a word, added, "But I realized that I certainly didn't want to trap a man into marrying me, even if that
was
what he had in mind."

Mitch had the grace to look sheepish, but said, "I was trying not to push, dammit."

"And had your fingers crossed that I'd get pregnant?"

"Well ..." He stared down at her with restless eyes.

She smiled suddenly. "Mitch, I do want a baby. But I think we deserve a little time alone together first, don't you?"

He sighed. "Yes."

"And," she said thoughtfully, "we should probably get married before we start a family."

Mitch went very still. Finally his voice emerged.
but
it was flat with restraint. "I suppose I could move control of the company to the West Coast. Executive control,
anyway.
Leave the nuts and bolts back in Baltimore, at least for the time being."

She nodded. "That sounds feasible. And since I can work practically anywhere, I think here's a good place."

He cleared his throat, but his voice showed signs of strain when he said, "You haven't been wearing that ring, even on a chain. I was beginning to get worried."

Kelly slid her arms around his lean waist and gazed up at him seriously. "The man who gave me that ring never really asked me to wear it. That didn't matter then, but I think it does now. I think that
now
he wants a partner. Not a possession. "

"A partner," Mitch agreed huskily as his arms lifted to encircle her.
"And so much more.
A lover.
A friend.
The little girl I read stories to and taught to hit a curve ball.
The teenager who wobbled in high heels and put too much spray in her beautiful hair.
The woman who's taught me so much about love, and about myself."
He drew a deep breath. "I love you, Kelly. I love you so much. Will you marry me?"

"Yes." She lifted her face for his kiss, her violet eyes glowing with happiness. "I love you, Mitch. And I've been waiting all my life to marry you."

The old man with wise dark eyes in his benign face chuckled softly as he closed the file and laid it aside on his big desk. His elegant hands drew forward another unmarked folder, and he began studying the contents.

In the yellow glow of the lamp his white-bearded face was serious, but lurking in the depths of his discerning eyes was a gleam of undiminished delight.

"You're plotting," she said in the tone of one who knew him well.

"Naturally, my love."
His voice was deep and rich, the glance he sent toward her chair a playful one.

"Should I pack?"

He studied the file a moment longer. "Yes. Yes, I believe you should."