The Expectant Secretary (20 page)

“So—” she gave a shoulder-shrugging sigh “—I'm here to tell you that he definitely loves you. Not me. I sensed I was about to lose back at Winslow. That's why I told you…that tiny white lie.”

“Gail,” Brody interrupted.

“Okay.” She gave a huff of indignation or maybe annoyance as she tapped a silver-plated pen against the table. “It was a bald-faced lie. And that's why I flew over here to the States. To stop him from marrying you. But it's obvious even to me that he could never be interested in anything with me. Not since you entered his life.”

With each person's confession and testimony, Jillian's heartbeat crescendoed to a deafening roar. Her limbs began to quake. And her gaze remained locked with Brody's. The love and warmth she saw in his eyes began to melt the icy edges of her heart.

Around the table they went, one after the other, placing more roses on the growing bouquet in the center. Each testified to Brody's love for Jillian and his miserable state since she broke up with him.

Finally, Brody moved toward her, his steps slow and decisive. He pulled a black velvet ring box out of his coat pocket and propped open the lid. A diamond that would have definitely been Marilyn Monroe's best friend winked and twinkled in the light. But Jillian had never wanted Brody's riches. She'd never wanted a fancy house, expensive cars, or jewels fit for a princess.

She only wanted a home. With a man to love. And a man to love her.

When he stood directly in front of her, he spoke. “I love you, Jillie.” His voice was thick with emotion. His taut skin stretched as his Adam's apple plunged and bobbed with a hard swallow. “I know it's hard for you to believe. That's why I had to bring my family here today. To try to convince you that I can't go on without you.”

He cleared his throat again, shifted from foot to foot. “I understand your fears, your hesitations. I know I haven't given you a lot of reasons to love me in return. But I ask you for one more chance.”

Then he dropped to one knee in front of her.

She felt her own throat contract with the surge of tears. He took her hand in his, smoothing his thumb over her ring finger, sending sparks of awareness down her spine and tenderness welling in her heart.

“I want to marry you, Jillie. I think I've wanted you since the day we met. Do you remember that day? I do,” he said without waiting for her to respond. “It was September twenty-fourth. I remember how warm it was that day. How brilliant the sky looked. How beautiful you were. Still are.” He gave
her a smile that could have melted an iceberg. “I came to Texas to find you.”

“That's true,” Griff interjected. “He told me about you six months ago. He wanted me to try and locate—”

“But you were already here. Waiting for me. Seeing you again was like a miracle. I want to spend every day of my life trying to make you as happy as you made me that first day we met. I want to help you bring this baby into the world, love him or her, cherish you both and help the baby grow up to be someone as kind and wonderful as you, Jillie.”

She wasn't sure how she could be standing. She felt her whole body trembling. She clung to his hand for balance. Was this real, she wondered, or a dream?

“But you were right,” Brody continued, “when you said I had doubts and questions about raising this baby.”

Her heart dipped low into her belly and she felt the sick feeling she'd felt the morning after they'd made love.

“I don't deny that. But you have to know that the idea of raising this child with you scares the hell out of me. The responsibility is awesome. But you know I don't run away from anything. Especially not you. I can't imagine a better way to spend my life, than loving you…and this child.

“But to prove to you that I'm not just making an empty promise… In this merger, there is a clause that not only ensures all of Ryan's and Teddy's grandchildren will have their own places on the board some day and their own shares of Fortune stock, but you and the baby have been included, as well.”

The chill she'd felt all morning began to ease and her shuddering grew faint. “That's not what I wanted. I don't care about the money. I only wanted you.”

“I know that. But I need you to know that I'm not like James. I want to make sure you are taken care of, that you have all you ever need. You don't ever have to worry about our baby.”

Our
baby. Her heart skipped a full beat. Was she hearing him correctly? Had his heart changed?

“This baby will be ours. We'll raise it together. And he or she will have the family you never had. A home. Our baby will be a Fortune.”

With unshed tears glittering in his eyes, he said, “Jillie,” his tongue rolling over her name and erasing her doubts and questions, “will you marry me?”

She bent and kissed him, her hand cupping his strong, fierce jaw, her mouth locking with his, fusing with his in a solemn vow.

“I'd say that was a yes.” Teddy Fortune gave a hearty laugh.

The rest of the family clapped and cheered. Jillian didn't bother to see Gail's reaction. She no longer cared about that woman. Gail no longer held any power over Jillian. She no longer felt unworthy, but cherished. By Brody. And his family. She only cared for this man…and the life they'd make together.

Brody stood and pulled her into his solid embrace. “I need to hear you say it.”

She ran her thumb along the sexy curve of his bottom lip. “Brody, I've loved you for a long, long time. And I'm going to keep right on loving you. Forever. Yes, I'll marry you.”

He slanted his mouth over hers, bending her back
over his arm, and kissed her until she couldn't think, but could only feel the incredible love binding them together. Between them, nestled inside her, was their baby. And the beginning of their new life…together.

“Looks like there's gonna be another wedding in the family,” Ryan Fortune said.