Falling for the Boss (20 page)

Maggie slowly nodded her head. “
Yes, because I went through something similar. I tried hard not to fall in love with you.”

H
e plucked the ring from his pocket and slipped it onto the hand he still held. “When did you know, Maggie?”

She knew what he was asking.
“At the historical society conference.”

“So soon.”
He laughed softly. “You hid it well. I was sure you despised me.”

Maggie
wasn’t given the opportunity to say anything more for some time afterwards. The only sounds were the echoes of whispers and the swish of water against the boat. With a sigh of regret, Marcus drew back, watching her efforts to fix her hair with amusement.

“
It’s time I took you home. We must see how quickly we can arrange a wedding.”

C
hapter Fourteen

Marcus proved to be very
efficient in planning a wedding and it wasn’t quite three weeks later that Maggie found herself standing beside him at the front of Charleston’s oldest church surrounded by family and close friends. As they walked through a shower of rice, Maggie felt him squeeze her hand. She brought his hand to her lips and saw his eyes flicker with a familiar expression. If they’d been alone, she knew he would have kissed her.

Once they were in the car
that was to transport them from the church to the reception at Bradford House, he did kiss her. “How does it feel to be married, darling?” he asked softly.

“Wonderful. I keep pinching myself to make sure it’s happening.”

“I could kiss you again, if that would help,” he suggested with a wicked smile.

“
Please do,” she quipped lightly.

He laughed softly and took her lips once more.

Collin had transformed the ballroom into a sea of lavender. He surprised them with a wedding cake in the shape of a miniature Bradford House, complete with a bride and groom standing on its portico. Maggie hated to cut it, but Collin promised another one for their first anniversary.

T
heir wedding duties complete, Maggie made her way to a lace covered table bearing a crystal punch bowl. Taking care not to spill any of the frothy liquid on her dress, she sank down carefully onto a nearby chair, exhaling a sigh of relief as she did so. An amused voice behind her brought the color surging into her face.

“
Not tired already, are you Maggie? Marcus, you may have to postpone the honeymoon.”

As always, Felicia had the
ability to make Maggie feel like a gauche teenager. Turning around, she found herself being regarded with varying degrees of interest by not only Felicia and Marcus, but Luke as well.

“
I don’t think that will be necessary,” Marcus drawled softly. “She’ll have ample opportunity to rest on the boat.” Maggie gave him an appealing look and he smiled his understanding, his green eyes dwelling on the happiness he saw reflected in her face. “Were you aware that while we were spending every waking moment planning this special day, these two have been getting together behind our backs?”

Maggie looked instinctively at Felicia’s
left hand where a diamond ring now rested. “Oh, that’s wonderful!” So Marcus’ plan had worked after all.

“
Yes,” Luke answered laughingly, “we’ve decided to follow your example. I’ve made it a condition that we marry within the month – no more long engagements!”

After the last guest departed,
Maggie leaned against the front door of what was now her home. Her fatigue from a day filled with activity from start to finish was mixed with anticipation and excitement. She was grateful for the wisdom of Marcus who insisted they delay their departure on the honeymoon trip until the following day. Getting married was an exhausting yet exhilarating experience.

The house
she’d loved from the beginning soothed her with its quietness. She wondered where Marcus was; he disappeared while she was talking to Brenda. She would find him later; right now she wanted nothing more than to get into something less formal. Slipping off high-heeled sandals, she made her way upstairs.

It was strange to be in
his room instead of the Rose Room. The smell of aftershave teased her as she removed the diamond watch given to her by her new in-laws. She touched the shiny gold band on her hand.

“
You made a beautiful bride, Maggie.”

She
hadn’t heard Marcus come in. Their eyes met in the mirror and the intensity of his gaze brought a becoming pink to her cheeks. “Thank you. You weren’t so bad yourself. I’ve always liked you in black.”

He
came to stand behind her, his hands encircling her waist. “I like you in anything, but today you outdid yourself.” He fingered the silky material of her dress. “It’s unfortunate that you only get to wear it once.”

“The fate of every wedding dress.”

“How does it feel to never have to leave Bradford House again?”

“I can hardly take it in. It’s like a dream come true.”

Marcus ran a finger down her bare arm. “Marrying me or living in the house?”

M
aggie’s smile grew and her eyes twinkled. “Both, naturally, though I did fall in love with the house first.”

“Should I be jealous?”

She turned around in the circle of his arms. “No, you’ll always come first. You’re more important than anything and anyone.”

The green eyes darkened
, and she felt him draw her closer. “I never thought it could be like this,” he whispered as his lips sought the creamy skin of her neck. After a few delightful moments, his hands left her waist and came to frame her face. “I want you to be happy here, Maggie. As happy as you’ve made me.”

The following
afternoon she stood on the deck of the Angelica feeding a pair of seagulls while Marcus took down the sails. They were on their way, and it would be ten sun-filled days and moonlit nights before they would return. After a relaxing meal spent watching a breathtaking sunset, he dropped a long, white jeweler’s box onto her lap.

“A belated wedding gift for my wife.”

“You’ve already given me more than I ever dreamed of.”

“I’ve barely begun. Open
it - I know you’re dying to see what’s in it.”

Maggie removed the lid and gasped. “Marcus
! It’s the cameo pin from that shop on the Battery. How in the world did you remember?”

He
grinned widely at her tone. “I went back the next day and bought it. You were so excited about it and then the lady on the cameo looked so much like you, it seemed to me that you should be the one to own it. I had it hung on a chain for convenience.”

“You’re too good to me, Marcus.” She put on the necklace
, fingering the cameo lovingly.   

He pulled her to her feet, drawing her close enough to feel the steady beat of his heart.
“So no regrets? You’re content to sail away with me?”

“I’ve been waiting to do so for
some time.”

“
Ah, but you’ve only been waiting a few months. I’ve had this dream for years.”

“
You were never tempted to take anyone else?”

Marcus released her, a slow smile forming on his lips. “That’s a leading question for a man only married twenty-four hours. Are you certain you want to know the answer?”

“No, I’m more interested in knowing the identity of Angelica.”

“Are you really?” Looking more amused than Maggie felt the situation warranted, he moved to
lean against the railing, beckoning her to join him. Once she was beside him, he picked up her hand and began to play with her fingers. “Who does your fertile imagination have her being?”

“I suppose sh
e must be someone special for you to name your boat after her.”

Marcus appeared to consider this. “That sounds logical.
”

“Well, you certainly would
n’t pick the name of a total stranger.”

“True,” he added softly. “That would be illogical.”

“Are you going to tell me or not?” she asked mildly. “I could stand here guessing scenarios all night.”

“We can’t have you doing that. Before I unburden my
self, let’s go below where we can be comfortable.”

Marcus led her through the galley and into the living area where he dropped onto
a built-in seat, pulling her onto his lap.

“I
knew Angelica many, many years ago. She was older than me.” While Maggie digested this, he brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them one by one. By this time, her heart was pounding like a wild thing, and she’d lost all interest in Angelica.

“Let’s see, where was I?” Marcus murmured
against her fingers. “Oh, yes, we were discussing Angelica. She was my nanny. Eventually, she left us to get married, and I never saw her again.” He released her fingers and ran his hand slowly up her arm to her neck.

“You named your boat after your nanny?”
Maggie managed to ask in a husky whisper.

“You know my unusual sense of humor. I had to name the boat something and I always liked her name.”
His fingers began to caress the side of her face. “Oh, Maggie, you have the softest skin,” he murmured in a low voice. “Do you realize that I’m completely under your spell?”

“
I hope you always will be,” she whispered. For a moment her happiness threatened to overwhelm her. Tears glistened in her eyes making them sparkle like jewels in the low light.

“Only married one day
, and I’ve already got you in tears,” he teased gently.

H
er eyes dropped and her fingers began to play with the buttons on his shirt. “It’s just that I love you so.”

She heard his quick indrawn breath
; the look in the vivid green eyes was eloquent. Marcus was past the point where he felt words to be necessary. With a soft sigh, she lifted her lips to his, feeling again the wonder of being where she had never thought to be - in the arms of the man she loved.

The End

Other Kindle Books by this Author:

The Lo
ve Letter