The Billionaire's Housekeeper Mistress (16 page)

They all raised their glasses again to toast him.

Ethan frowned, shifting uncomfortably, then lifted a hand in protest at the toast. ‘No, I can’t accept that, Keith. What I did…I wasn’t thinking of your parents or this family. I didn’t know you.’ He shot a wry smile at Daisy. ‘It was to hold onto this woman, to win more time with her, because I wanted her in my life and she was walking out of it.’

‘Well, we did think there was a bit of self-interest involved,’ Keith said dryly. ‘But that doesn’t alter the fact that you changed everything around for Mum and Dad and you deserve some acknowledgement for it.’

‘Then let me acknowledge something, too,’ Ethan swiftly put in. ‘Now that I’ve been amongst you, I see more clearly why Daisy is the very special person she is. Being an only child myself, I haven’t had your experience of family, but today I’ve learnt why it means so much to her. You all share something very special. It’s what I’d love to have in my own life, and I’m hoping
Daisy…’ he turned to her, his green eyes glittering with

determination ‘…will want to make it happen with me.’

Daisy was totally stunned.

Was he saying what she thought he was saying?

Making a family of their own?

Marriage…children?

Her heart broke out of its suspended state of shock and started to gallop.

‘’Right!’ she heard Keith say. ‘Got to agree our little sister is special and we’re glad you recognise it, Ethan. Makes you special, too. Seems like a good idea if you two wander off to the front porch or behind a bush along the side fence and talk about what you want together while we clear this table for some serious poker.’

Seize the day
…the thought had instantly leapt into Ethan’s mind.

Keith had just given him the family’s stamp of approval. That barrier in Daisy’s mind had to be down. If he acted now, before she could get herself in a twist about something else, he should be able to clinch the real deal.

‘Yes. Good idea!’ he shot at Keith with a huge man-to-man grin.

He grabbed Daisy’s hand, pulled her up from her chair, and swept her out to the front porch, his heart drumming him into the battle he was intent on winning. The moment the door was closed behind them, ensuring privacy, he scooped her hard against him, one arm curling possessively around her waist, his free hand cupping her chin so she couldn’t look away from the intensity of purpose shooting from his eyes to hers.

‘There’s no more to prove, is there?’ he fiercely challenged. Without waiting for a reply he plunged on with
vehement conviction. ‘We’re fine together, Daisy. Doesn’t matter who we’re with or where we are. The world is our oyster if you’ll just open up to me and admit that I’m the right man for you. The right man in every respect. Because I am. I know it. And you’re the right woman for me. No question. We could build a great future together. Have a family like yours. Nothing should stop us. Nothing!’

The right woman for him…

He meant it.

It was in his voice, in his eyes, and at last Daisy could let herself believe it. All the doubts that had plagued her disintegrated under the forcefulness of Ethan’s insistent claims. A huge welling of emotion brought tears to her eyes. She couldn’t speak. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him, pouring into passion the hopes and dreams he had just turned into incredibly ecstatic reality.

He
was
the right man for her. In every respect. Her heart and soul told her so, and her body exulted in the passion he returned with its promise of always being there for her—no time limit—for the rest of their lives, not the rest of this year.

‘Now that
meant
something,’ he muttered with certainty as his mouth broke from hers.

A sublime joy bubbled into laughter. Her eyes danced total agreement with him as she sobered up enough to say, ‘I love you, Ethan Cartwright. I just didn’t know if
you’d
ever think we’d be fine together.’

‘Thought it from the first day we met,’ he answered, his eyes sparkling with delight in her open admission.

‘You didn’t even know me,’ she protested.

‘Knew it instinctively. Convincing
you
of it was the problem.’

She shook her head at him. ‘You only wanted me.’

‘Very badly. And once I had you, Daisy Donahue, I very quickly knew I never wanted to let you go. I love everything about you. Absolutely everything.’

It was what she had secretly yearned to hear and it was happening.

It truly was.

Ethan cocked an eyebrow enquiringly. ‘Does your father expect me to ask him for your hand in marriage?’

‘You haven’t asked
me
yet,’ she reminded him.

He laughed. ‘Shall I go down on bended knee?’

‘No, I like you better up here,’ she said, swaying her body provocatively against his, revelling in the freedom of being able to express her love for him without any inhibitions at all.

‘Will you…’ he kissed her forehead ‘…be…’ he kissed the tip of her nose ‘…my wife?’ He brushed his lips over hers.

‘Yes,’ she breathed against his mouth and they kissed again, celebrating the soul-deep satisfaction of knowing they were, indeed, right for each other.

They stayed out on the front porch for quite a while, not wanting to break the marvellous sense of solid togetherness. It seemed to Daisy they had come on a long, long journey to this point, and there was much to talk about—the inner turmoil that had constantly infiltrated her part in their relationship, the moves Ethan had made to give himself the best chance of winning her over to what he wanted, the reasons why he’d decided she was the right woman for him, his realisation that her integrity was rock-solid, that there was no intention of
taking
him for anything beyond what had been agreed—so many feelings to be expressed, explained, understood.

And a future to be planned.

Ethan wanted to fill the house at Hunters Hill with children, to play games with them, to sit down to family meals, which matched Daisy’s dreams perfectly. They would make it happen together. They were one in mind, one in heart—soul mates for ever.

It was the most blissful day in Daisy’s life and, wonderfully imbued with the absolute confidence he gave her, she knew with Ethan there would be many more to come.

He did ask her father for her hand in marriage.

In front of the whole family.

And their response made the day even better—nothing but genuine, heart-warming pleasure for both of them all around.

Easter Sunday…

Not a nightmare.

A dream come true.

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

First published in Great Britain 2010
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

© Emma Darcy 2010

ISBN: 978-1-408-91878-4