A Man Apart (11 page)

“I love you. I love you. I love you.” Tears poured down her face. “Oh, Justin, I love you so much I could die from it.”

“Don't you dare. We've got a lot of living and loving before us. And there's no better time than now to get started.”

Holding her tightly to him—as if he'd never let her go—he kissed her, deeply, lovingly, reverently.

Pure joy bursting inside her, Hannah flung her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the love and longing she had tried so hard to reject. She moaned in soft protest when Justin lifted his mouth from hers.

“We'll get back to that in a minute,” he murmured, gliding his tongue over her lower lip in silent promise. “But I have to ask you something.”

Hannah reluctantly opened her eyes. “What?”

“Will…you…marry…me?” Justin asked.

“Oh.” Hannah felt a tingle do a tango down her spine. “Well, yes, of course. Was there any doubt?”

“Oh, boy,” he groaned, in feigned dismay. “I have a feeling I'm in for trouble with you.”

“Yes, you are,” Hannah replied happily. “And I with you, but…won't it be fun?” She pulled slightly away before saying, “I said I'd marry you, Justin, and I will. But there is one possible problem.”

He arched a brow. “Like…what?”

“Like…you run a ranch in Montana,” she said. “And I run a business in Philadelphia.”

He shook his head. “No problem.”

“But…” she began in protest, afraid he'd ask her to give up the business she had worked so hard to get up and running, and even more afraid she'd agree to do so.

“Honey, let me explain,” he interjected. “When I was here a few weeks ago, I didn't just stop in to visit you for a quick bout of sex at the end of my business trip.”

“You didn't? Tell me more. Spill your guts, Grainger.”

He laughed. “You're something else, sweetheart, you know that?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Hannah flicked a hand at him. “Get on with the explanation.”

“The idea of our company buying a horse farm in the East wasn't Adam's, it was mine.”

“Really?” She frowned. “Is that important?”

“I think so.” Justin smiled, pulling her over to the sofa where they both sat. “At my suggestion, the company bought the farm in the Oley Valley. We made settlement yesterday.” He paused.

“Go on.” Having an inkling of what was coming, she held her breath.

“I'm going to manage it.”

“Oh…oh,” she cried, almost afraid to believe it. “You're relocating?”

“Yes.”

“I can keep my business? Commute?”

“Yes, sweet Hannah.” His smile grew a bit shaky. “You can keep me, too, if you want.”

“If? If?” Hannah exclaimed, moving into his waiting arms. “Try to get out of being kept.”

Holding her tight, as if afraid to set her free, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Oh, sweet Hannah, I love you so much, so very much.”

“Oh, Justin. I…I have something I must tell you, something I think is wonderful. I'm pregnant.”

“You're pregnant?” Justin asked, his gray eyes starting to gleam. “You're pregnant!” He whooped, laughing. “I'm going to be a father!”

“You're not angry?” Hannah asked.

“Of course I'm not angry. I'm thrilled.” He frowned. “Did you know about this when I was here before?”

She nodded. “I knew how you felt about marriage,” Hannah defended herself. “I was afraid to tell you, afraid you wouldn't care or that you would think I was trying to trap you.”

“Wouldn't care?” Justin appeared stunned, as though he'd taken a blow to the head.

“I…I did finally call you,” she said softly, trying to placate him. “You weren't there.”

“No one said I had missed a call,” Justin said. “When did you call?”

Hannah wet her lips and lowered her eyes. “A couple of minutes before you rang the bell.”

“A couple of—” Justin broke off, shaking his head. “You know, sweetheart, I don't know whether to kiss you senseless or shake you senseless.”

“You'd better kiss me,” she advised demurely. “You can't shake me in my delicate condition.”

“Okay.” Lowering his head, he took possession of her lips…and her heart.