Page 50 of Landry
The statement had him jolting in guilty surprise. That was exactly what he had been thinking and wondering for the past few weeks. They were not exactly a loving couple, and after the children came, she had expressed the need to have her own suite. He had obliged her and found that slipping into her bed whenever the mood hit was something of an adventure.
"I saw it on your face," she added, a smile touching her lips.
He stared at her for a few seconds before looking away, but even so, he could still keep the image of her in his mind. She had blossomed with age. He knew her and knew that unlike women of her station and position in society, she had not fallen prey to the knife in order to maintain her beauty. Her skin was still unlined, and her beauty still shone. She possessed excellent genes and had passed them on to their children.
It was her beauty that had dazzled him, but over the years, he had come to understand that behind the cool and unflappable façade lay a strength that was often underestimated. He had been fiercely attracted to the outer shell and had fallen in love with the inner person.
"I did, at first." Her soft, cultured voice drew his gaze back to her. "I was a struggling actress and there was no way I was going back to modeling. I wanted the comfort of knowing that I would be set for life." She lifted elegant hands and let them drop. "When I first met you, I was intimidated. You were authoritative and aloof. It dazzled me and scared me at the same time." She met his eyes. "Then I got to know you." She crossed to him, her robe billowing behind her.
Blue suited her, he decided, giving her alabaster skin a rich, healthy glow. He reached for the hands she had outstretched.
"Joel might believe that I'm greedy and materialistic, and I might have been, when I was much younger." Her hands tightened on his. "But I'm no longer that person," she ended quietly.
"I know. And I didn't care if you married me for my money." He smiled slightly. "At least, not that much."
"He hates us."
"I took him from you."
"I wasn't his to begin with." She drew nearer to him.
He loved the feel of her slender body against his. "We're stronger together."
Tilting her head, she gazed into his dear face. She might not have been a very good wife, certainly not mother of the year, but she had never had a good example. But that was no excuse. If given another chance, she intended to make things right with her children. "He's not going to win," she vowed.
"No. He won't." Tilting her chin up, he kissed her gently.
***
"We could go away. There's this cozy little pied-a-terre in France. It's tucked away in the beautiful countryside of Carennac. We would get lost in the anonymity." He nuzzled at her neck, arms wrapped securely around her waist.
"We're not running away."
"Just escaping the drama for a little bit." He sighed softly and turned her to face him. He had made love to her like a man on a mission, a mission to forge himself to her. The lovemaking had been desperate and frenzied. The second time he had gone much slower, lingering over her body with the skills of an artist, determined to turn out a masterpiece.
"I want to suggest you stay away from work for a week."
Her tapered brows arched. "In the busiest season? Unlikely."
"At least, move in with me."
"Landry- "
"It would set my mind at ease."
"I'm not shacking up with you."
"Then marry me." The impatience in his deep voice had her staring at him.
"That's not the most romantic of proposals."
"I'll give you tons of romance once this is over." His hands cradled her face. "This has been on my mind since I came back to town. I want a life with you, darling. We've... I've wasted so much time already. I don't want to waste another bit of it. Marry me." His voice was urgent.
"Your parents, my mother- "
"We will set a meeting with them and tell them of our plans." He shook his head as she opened her mouth. "I refuse to take no for an answer."
"All right."
