Different…Lucy almost wept at the stand James was making for her—it touched her so deeply. Could she dare to believe it would truly be different? Blissfully different? She let herself luxuriate in the warm security of his hug…the warm loving security. It felt so good. So right. Surely it had to be right. She looked at her mother, silently pleading for verification, for support.
This isn’t a fool’s paradise, is it?
But her mother wasn’t looking at her. Her gaze was fixed on James, still assessing him, weighing his words, his actions. A smile started to tug at her mouth. ‘Make it Ruth,’ she invited.
‘Fine!’ James said, seizing the advantage it seemed to give. ‘I hope you like what you see, but if you don’t, I’m going to have Lucy as my wife anyway. As soon as I can persuade her to marry me.’
Her mother’s expression softened further as she looked at Lucy, then back to him. ‘I don’t think you’re going to have to do much persuasion. My daughter was afraid of losing you, and that’s not a good basis for marriage, James.’
‘She’d have to run a long, long way to lose me, Ruth, and even then I’d chase her,’ he retorted vehemently.
She nodded and gave Lucy a smile that seemed to brim with inner joy for her. ‘I don’t think it’s a risk, darling. He does love you.’
‘You’re…you’re okay with this, Mum?’ Lucy barely got out over the lump in her throat.
‘You weren’t a fool…anywhere along the line,’ came the soft acknowledgement. ‘Your instincts were right, and you were right to follow them. Sometimes…not to risk…defeats what you really want. And true love is worth any risk.’
Lucy couldn’t speak. Never before had her mother shown such intimate understanding. Tears misted her eyes as she realised that maybe she’d never given her mother the chance to…until now.
‘I think I’m going to like you, Ruth,’ James declared with a decisive infusion of warmth.
She raised an eyebrow at him but her eyes were actually twinkling. ‘I’ve got some work to do in the garden. It may take an hour or so. Let me know when you’ve made Lucy feel confident of a happy future with you, and we will plan a wedding.’
James grinned back at her. ‘Now I know where Lucy got that cut-you-off-at-the-knees sensible streak from. Thanks, Ruth.’
‘I’ll look forward to seeing you work some more miracles, James,’ she retorted good-humouredly, sailing off to leave them alone together.
Lucy took a deep breath to relieve the tightness in her chest, turned to James, flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in the comforting flesh-warmth at the base of his throat. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you,’ she whispered.
He gathered her body closer, his hands caressing her in possessive yearning as he tenderly rubbed his cheek against her hair. ‘You can share everything with me, Lucy. Don’t ever be afraid to say what’s on your mind…in your heart.”
Released from all inhibitions, she gratefully gave him her heart. ‘I love you, too, James. I just didn’t know…how deep it went with you.’
‘How about soulmate? Will that do?’ he softly teased.
‘Yes.’
His chest rose and fell, emitting a long sigh. ‘It’s going to be good…having a baby…the two of us becoming three of us. You’re okay about that now, aren’t you, Lucy?’
‘Yes. Now that you’re here with me.’
‘I’ll always be with you.’
She believed it. She could feel it in her mind, in her heart, in her soul…James, her mate in all things. Lifting back her head, seeing the love in his eyes, the joy of it was so intense, the desire for him so overwhelming, she went up on tip-toes and his mouth met hers…both of them so hungry for each other, there was no stopping the passionate need that seized them.
Ruth Worthington couldn’t stop smiling as she moved around her garden with her secateurs and a basket, choosing and snipping off the geranium cuttings her next door neighbour wanted. She felt happier for her daughter than she had ever felt for herself.
Lucy had fallen in love with the right kind of man.
There was no risk to this marriage.
No risk at all.
She wondered what kind of wedding Lucy would want. She remembered her own shame, having to select a wedding dress that would cover up her pregnancy. It was different these days. Young women were now proud of showing off their pregnancy, married or unmarried. Lucy could wear any kind of dress she liked. Maybe she would ask Sally Rogan to find something lovely and romantic through her boutique contacts. That would be nice.
A baby…Ruth’s smile grew broader…a grandchild. It had been a worry that Lucy would never find someone, never have children. Twenty-eight…good thing she was pregnant, starting a family straight away. It just wasn’t sensible leaving it too late, especially if Lucy and James ended up deciding to have a bigger family…two or three children. That would be so nice.
But…first things first. Whatever Lucy chose for the wedding, it was going to be absolutely perfect with the bride and groom loving each other so much. Which was the most important thing of all. It was what she’d dearly wished for her daughter—what she’d never found herself.
True love.
And that was far, far more than nice.
It was wonderful.