The Welcoming

surprise both of them. She shoved at his chest. “
I’m
responsible for me. I was and I am and I always will be. And I took care of myself.”
    “Yeah.” He ran his palm over her cheek. The bruise had faded, even if the memory hadn’t. “It was a hell of a way to serve coffee.”
    “Let’s forget it.” She shrugged out of his grip and walked toward the water. “I’m not particularly proud of letting myself be duped, so I’d rather not dwell on it.”
    “They were pros, Charity. You’re not the first person they’ve used.”
    She pressed her lips together. “And you?”
    “When you’re undercover you lie, and you use, and you take advantage of anything that’s offered.” Her eyes were closed when he turned her around to face him. “I came here to do a job. It had been a long time since I’d let myself think beyond anything but the next day. Look at me. Please.”
    Taking a steadying breath, she opened her eyes. “We’ve been through this already, Roman.”
    “No. I’d hurt you. I’d disappointed you. You weren’t ready to listen.” Gently he brushed a tear from her lashes. “I hope you are now, because I can’t make it much longer without you.”
    “I was too hard on you before.” It took almost everything she had, but she managed a smile. “I was hurt, and I was a lot shakier than I knew from being locked up with Roger. After I gave my statement, Inspector Conby explained everything to me, more clearly. About how the operation had been working, what my responsibilities were, what you had to do.”
    “What responsibilities?”
    “About the money. It’s put us in somewhat of a hole, but at least we only have to pay back a percentage.”
    “I see.” Roman laughed and shook his head. “He always was a prince.”
    “The merchant’s responsible for the loss.” She tilted her head. “You didn’t know about the arrangements I’ve made with him?”
    “No.”
    “But you work for him.”
    “Not anymore. I turned in my resignation when I got back to D.C.”
    “Oh, Roman, that’s ridiculous. It’s like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.”
    He smiled appreciatively at her innate practicality. “I decided I like carpentry better. Got any openings?”
    Running the leash through her hands, she looked over the water. “I haven’t given much thought to remodeling lately.”
    “I work cheap.” He tilted her face to his. “All you have to do is marry me.”
    “Don’t.”
    “Charity.” Calling on patience he hadn’t been aware he possessed, he held her still. “One of the things I most admire about you is your mind. You’re real sharp. Look at me, really look. I figure you’ve got to know that I’m not beating my head against this same wall for entertainment. I love you. You’ve got to believe that.”
    “I’m afraid to,” she whispered.
    He felt the first true spark of hope. “Believe this. You changed my life. Literally changed it. I can’t go back to the way it was before. I can’t go forward unless you’re with me. How long do you want me to stand here, waiting to start living again?”
    With her arms wrapped around her chest, she walked a short distance away. The high grass at the water’s edge was still misted with dew. She could smell it, and the fragile fragrances of wildflowers. It occurred to her then that she had blocked such small things out of her life ever since she’d sent him away.
    If it was honesty she was demanding from him, how could she give him anything less?
    “I’ve missed you terribly.” She shook her head quickly before he could touch her again. “I tried not to wonder if you’d come back. I told myself I didn’t want you to. When I saw you standing in the road, all I wanted to do was run to you. No questions, no explanations. But it’s not that simple.”
    “No.”
    “I do love you, Roman. I can’t stop. I have tried,” she said, looking back at him. “Not very hard, but I have tried. I think I knew under all the anger and the hurt that you weren’t lying about loving me back. I haven’t wanted to forgive you for lying about the rest, but— That’s just pride really.” Perhaps it was simple after all, she thought. “If I have to make a choice, I’d rather take love.” She smiled and opened her arms to him. “I guess you’re hired.”
    She laughed when he caught her up in his arms and swung her around. “We’ll make it work,” he promised her, raining kisses all over her face. “Starting today.”
    “We