He took a step toward her and slipped his arms around her waist. “I meant us. I love you.”
Yet something held her back, kept her from trusting him. An inner fear that she would still be second best, runner-up to Julia. He may think he loved her in a moment of madness, but for how long? Today?
Tomorrow? For how many tomorrows would he love her? Would he secretly long for Julia, long to have her in his arms, even as he held her?
She just didn’t know. She drew in a ragged breath, trying to think rationally, to get some clear focus. The only way she would get any kind of perspective was to have space to think about what had happened.
She had to think about Brant’s words of love. So much depended on her making the right decision.
“I need to think, Brant.” She started to turn away, pain choking her words at the shock on that handsome face she so loved.
He stopped her, his gaze intense on her face. “You’ve got to believe, Kia. Trust in my love for you.”
Something in his words got through to her this time. She didn’t move, but suddenly she listened. Really listened.
A smile turned lovingly at the corners of his mouth. “Hear my heart, darling. Hear and learn.” He put her hand against his chest. She could feel his heart thudding hard beneath it. And she could actually hear it as she looked deep into his eyes.
“You really love me, Brant?” she murmured, one inch from believing.
“You and no other,” he said, his voice thick and unsteady. “I began to get an inkling when you were sick.
You were going on about looking a mess, and I realized then I’d never tire of looking at you. That I would always find you beautiful, inside and out. No matter what.”
Her knees wobbled. She felt weak and giddy all over. Finally she did believe.
Relief flooded her that she no longer had to fight her love for him. “Dear God, I’ve been wanting you so much. I…” She hesitated, still half-afraid to say the words out loud, as if all this would just disappear if she did.
His gaze filled with so much love she wondered how she ever doubted it. “I’m waiting.”
She looked up at his strong, vital countenance, that firm mouth, those compelling blue eyes, that dark hair. “Oh, Brant, I love you, too.”
He let out a slow, shaky breath that warmed her insides. “I know.”
A soft gasp escaped her. “What?”
“Once I let go of the notion you were a gold digger…” His eyes apologized for ever thinking that. “I finally realized you weren’t the sort of woman to get involved with a man unless your heart was involved, too. You see, I didn’t listen to my heart either.”
She moved closer, loving the feel of his hard body against her own. She’d never get enough of him. “Kiss me, darling.”
His eyes darkened and he obliged her by doing exactly what she asked. And then some. Their kiss was so slow and deep it spoke more than words ever could.
When they pulled back from each other, she wanted to wallow in her joy. “Oh, Brant, I didn’t know I loved you. Not at first. I thought it was just sexual attraction. It wasn’t until we made love that it hit me.”
His mouth curved into a smile. “You should have said something.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. You would’ve disappeared off the face of the earth if you’d known I was serious.”
He grinned and his love for her shone through. “Loving you isn’t that bad.”
“May I remind you of that in fifty years’ time?” she teased, smoothing her fingers along his jaw.
“Definitely.” He kissed her with a brief, hard kiss that still managed to touch her soul. “I have some other news. Phil’s decided to stay in Queensland with Lynette and become a ‘gentleman farmer’. I’m going to buy him out.”
She nodded, knowing it was a good idea for all concerned. “It’s best this way. As much as I like Phillip, he isn’t a good businessman.”
“You’re right.” His gaze held hers. “Now there’s something else. About Julia…”
“You don’t have to tell me. I trust you completely.”
“Thank you, sweetheart, but I can tell you now anyway. I couldn’t before because it was Julia’s secret, not mine.” He brushed a strand of hair off Kia’s cheek. “She has a child. With a previous boyfriend. She had him when she was sixteen, and her parents forced her into adopting him out.”
Her heart squeezed. To never see one’s child…the pain of it. “Oh, poor Julia.”
“I never knew and neither did Royce. It was only recently when the adoptive parents died in a boating accident that Julia found out where her son was. She came to me because Royce had started drinking and she didn’t know what to do.”
“Has she told Royce?”
“Yes, and he wants the boy. He’s vowed to stop drinking. I know he’ll do it, too. The first step is admitting he’s got a problem. That was something my uncle would never do.”
His brother’s willingness to get his drinking under control was one good thing, at least. “How does Royce feel about you and Julia now? You’ll always have a past together.”
“Let’s just say I convinced him I have other interests,” he said, pulling her h*ps closer so she could feel his arousal.
Her breath hitched in her throat. “Uh…other interests?”
His gaze dropped to her mauve knit top. In one swift motion he stepped back, took hold of the hem and lifted it over her head, leaving her in her black bra and white jeans.
“Are you seducing me, Mr. Matthews?” she said huskily.
He ran a finger along the tops of her br**sts. “Do you want to be seduced, Ms. Benton?”
“Hmm…no, I don’t think so.” Quickly she moved away and hurried to lock the door. Then she pocketed the key and turned to face him with a wicked smile. “This time I want to be the seducer.”
His eyes filled with a slow, sexy gleam that would always stir her senses. And her heart. “You realize this is an office, young lady.”
“Oh, so that’s what that big wooden desk is for. And that leather chair.” She strolled toward him and slipped her hand in his. “Come and sit down, Mr. Matthews, and let me take note.”