She smiled. “I know I’m talking in circles, but I need to do this my way.”
And their ways were never quite the same, which was what had given her pause to begin with, Riley knew. So he shut up and let her continue. Otherwise he might lose this one last chance-at what, he hadn’t a clue.
He could only hope.
“So I looked around the room and realized that I had half-a-dozen examples in front of me of people who had conquered their fears, and I could either do the same or end up alone.” She grinned at him, her smile too bright, too forced, her fear of rejection palpable.
He hated to do this to her, but he had no choice. “Sophie?”
“Yes?”
“I have no freaking clue what you’re trying to tell me. Okay, I take that back. I have an idea, but if I’m wrong, I don’t think I could handle it.” It being having his heart squashed by her again. He didn’t see a reason to define it graphically for her.
He stopped in his tracks in the middle of the dance floor. He already held her hands in his and he brought them up to his chest, near his heart. “I get all the why’s about how you’re feeling. Now you have to tell me what you’re feeling. You have to say it and mean it.”
Her eyes opened wide and she nodded.
He took a risk and continued. “Fear’s okay. I’m afraid before every game I play. Just don’t tell anyone,” he said, forcing a laugh when he felt anything but lighthearted. “So fear’s okay, but giving in to it isn’t.” He squeezed her hands tighter, hoping to instill her with the courage he already sensed she possessed.
“My family isn’t enough for me anymore. They’re married and happy and settled…and I’m not.” She bit down on her glossed lips. “My sisters faced their fear of losing someone they loved and took the ultimate risk. What I’m saying is, I’m ready to take that risk, too.”
He gave her an encouraging nod. Meanwhile his heart pounded hard in his chest and a pain gnawed at his gut while he waited. For her.
Slowly, she pulled her hands out of his and cupped her palms around his face. “I know I’ve put you through hell and that you’ve been a major grump, to use Lizzie’s words.” A smile tugged at her lips. “And I’m sorry for that. But I can’t fit you into any mold and that scares me.”
“You can’t control me by reading a book. You can’t guarantee that I won’t get sick or injured or worse one day. Life is a risk.”
She nodded. “I realize that now. And I want to take that risk with you because I love you.”
“Say that again,” he said, the pain in his chest and stomach slowly easing.
“I love you,” she said on a hoarse whisper. “And I want to spend my life with you.”
He knew the courage she’d needed to take this step and he planned to make sure she never regretted it. He reacted on instinct, picking her up and twirling her around.
“Now I’m going to make you a promise you can count on, because it’s within my control,” he said, letting her down onto her feet.
“What’s that?” she asked, grinning from ear to ear. Obviously she approved of his reaction.
“I will never leave you and I will never consciously do anything to hurt you.”
Sophie nodded, her throat full, unable to believe this rebel man was hers and hers alone. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come around.”
“Who am I to criticize someone doing something their own way?” he asked, laughing.
“Hey, I found this girlie hangin’ around outside.” Uncle Yank strode up to them, Lizzie in tow. “I know she belongs to you,” he said, poking Riley in the chest. “What kind of parent leaves his kid alone while he hits on a woman in the other room?”
Lizzie’s eyes grew wider. “Is that what you were doing?” she asked.
Sophie rolled her eyes. “Uncle Yank-” Not in front of the child, she almost said before catching herself and shutting up.
Riley grasped Sophie’s hand in his. “Let me handle him.”
“By all means.” Smiling, Sophie stepped back so the two men could tangle.
Riley looked at Lizzie and winked before turning to the older man. “Yank, you’ve been my agent for my entire career and we’ve always gotten along well,” Riley began.
Uncle Yank raised one bushy eyebrow. “Your point?” he asked gruffly, still in protective guardian mode.
“I’m hoping we can get along equally well if you’re my uncle-in-law,” Riley said.
The older man’s mouth opened then shut again. Apparently he’d rendered Yank Morgan speechless-not an easy feat. Considering Sophie was stunned at the comment herself, she could understand her uncle’s reaction.
“In-law?” Sophie asked, wanting to make sure she understood exactly what Riley was saying.
“That’s what I want to know,” Yank said. “Are you askin’ for-”
“Your niece’s hand in marriage.”
“You want to marry me?” Sophie asked, stunned. It was one thing to talk in generalities, another to know he wanted the entire commitment.
“You want to marry her?” Lizzie parroted, sounding equally surprised.
“What the hell is wrong with everyone?” Riley asked. “I love her. Of course I want to marry her,” he shouted, silencing the entire room.
“Yes!” Lizzie said, recovering first.
“Well, I guess I can’t argue with that,” Yank said gruffly, beaming with happiness and obvious approval.
Without warning, the crowd reacted next. Her sisters, and then Uncle Yank and Lola, who now stood beside him, broke into a round of applause.
“You aren’t upset?” Sophie asked Lizzie quietly when the clapping had died down.
She noticed that Riley leaned in closer, waiting for his daughter’s answer.
“Hell, no. Now Dad’ll be in a good mood all the time and he’ll start saying yes to things again,” Lizzie said, grinning.
“Miss Mouth,” Riley said, warning her.
But even Sophie noticed the twitch in his lips. His happiness shone through his disapproval and warmed Sophie straight through to her toes. “You’re quite the little schemer,” Sophie said, laughing.
“What can I say? It’s part of my charm.”
“She inherited it from me,” Riley said. “And now I’d like a word alone with my future bride.” Instead of telling everyone else to scram as Sophie expected him to do, he turned to Yank. “As your first official duty, you can keep an eye on your soon-to-be…whatever you want to call her,” he said, laughing.
Lizzie narrowed her gaze in a way that said, I’m gonna get you for that. But her eyes were dancing with happiness. Apparently she wasn’t kidding; Lizzie did approve of Riley and Sophie at last.
Riley grabbed Sophie’s hand and pulled her through the ballroom, out the large doors and into the unoccupied coatroom closet, slamming the door behind them. A dim light glowed from overhead.
Riley bracketed his hands against the wall over her head. “I cannot believe I finally have you alone,” he said, his eyes glittering with desire.
She was way ahead of him. Every pore in her body craved his touch.
“Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?”
She shook her head. “No, but something tells me you’re going to.”
A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips as he settled his mouth on hers. It was a long, sensual while before he lifted his head and met her gaze. “You look spectacular,” he said in a husky voice.
“Tell me again,” she said.
“You’re brave, beautiful and mine.” Then he dipped his head and he told her in other ways. Over and over and over again.
EPILOGUE