Part 31 (1/2)

”I'm fine. She-she confirmed what we'd already guessed. Somehow, she found out about what Darryl did. She was making plans to leave.” Her voice faded. Emotion tightened her throat and burned behind her eyes.

Riley's arms came around her, dragging her against him. Burying her face in his s.h.i.+rt, she cried big quiet tears.

”I-I thought I'd cried myself out, but look at me, sobbing all over you again.”

His arm tightened around her. ”You can cry on my s.h.i.+rt any day. Or night,” he added.

A tiny smile tugged at her lips. She was grateful for his attempt at levity. The contents of her mother's letter clarified what they already knew, but to see it written in plain black and white made it somehow more real and more final.

She could only imagine what her mother had gone through after making the horrendous discovery. The shock, the anger, the pain, the self-reproach.

Kate didn't blame her in the slightest for what had happened. Her mother had lived downstairs. She'd never been off the ground floor the entire time she'd lived there. She couldn't possibly have known what had gone on above her head under the cover of darkness.

Kate shuddered. Riley bent his head and kissed her hair and she breathed a sigh of grat.i.tude. She'd left that dark place behind her over a decade ago and would never let it define her again. With Riley by her side, she would continue to keep the blackness at bay.

Lifting her head, she offered him a shaky smile and swiped at the tears that lingered in her eyes. He pulled out a clean handkerchief and offered it to her.

”Thank you.” She dabbed at her eyes and swiped at her nose. ”I'm all right.”

”I know you are. I've told you this before and I'll tell you whenever I think you've stopped believing it. You're the bravest, strongest woman I know. You've walked away from the h.e.l.l you were dealt and turned your life into something anyone would be proud of.” He stared into her eyes, his gaze bright with emotion. ”I'm proud of you and you should be, too.”

She tilted her head and waited with antic.i.p.ation for his mouth to descend upon hers.

EPILOGUE.

Six weeks later Kate spied her husband across the other side of her crowded art gallery and her heart leaped with joy. Looking deliciously gorgeous in his black-on-black Armani suit, he moved with confidence and ease among the rich and famous clients who had come to pay homage to her exhibition. She'd delayed the opening by nearly two months, but the wait seemed to have only whetted the appet.i.te of her buyers. Even the English weather had favored her.

She'd sold all but one piece-an exquisite sculpture in bronze and alloy. The figure of a woman cradling a baby in her arms. The curve of her body was both strong and feminine as she protected the child from the world. Kate had fallen in love with it the moment she'd seen it.

Making her way through the throng of people, she smiled when Riley looked up and saw her coming toward him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mary glide over to the sculpture. Her a.s.sistant placed a ”sold” sticker on its base. A pang of regret went through her and she brushed it away. She was an art dealer-she bought art and sold it. It was as simple as that.

She reached Riley and threaded her arm through his, her heart taking flight at the look of love and devotion that glistened in his eyes.

”Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” he murmured, his lips close to her ear.

She s.h.i.+vered from the contact and laid her hand on his chest. She stroked the fabric of his expensive s.h.i.+rt, basking in the warmth and strength of him.

”I'm sure you have, but I never get tired of hearing it,” she smiled.

He bent his head and kissed her. It was soft and lingering and sent fire through her veins.

”How long before we can get out of here?” he murmured against her lips.

”Um...I've finished with all the formalities and I think we just sold the last piece, so...anytime you like. The show's over.”

His eyes flared with emotion. His arm drew her close. His erection pressed through the thin silk of her evening gown, hard and insistent, fueling the heat inside her. Desire surged low in her belly and centered in her core.

She gently disentangled herself and clapped her hands to draw the crowd's attention.

”Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to thank you all for coming and supporting this event. I am truly grateful. The bad news is this is the last gallery show; I'm relocating with my husband back to Australia.”

A murmur of disappointment went around the room. Kate smiled. ”The good news is, I'll be leaving the gallery in the very capable hands of my senior a.s.sistant, Mary Costas and within the next few months, I hope to have opened a sister gallery in Australia.”

A polite applause followed her announcement. ”Before you get too carried away,” she continued, ”I have another announcement: Thanks to all of you, we've sold every last item on exhibition this evening. I'm delighted to say we've raised over one million dollars for Rosemary's Foundation for Women and Children.”

The crowd erupted into loud, spontaneous applause. Riley grinned and kissed her again.

”Congratulations, sweetheart. That's truly wonderful.”

”Thank you. I couldn't have done it without your support and encouragement.” Her voice hitched. ”I-I hope Mom's proud.”

”She's as proud as I am. I know she is.”

Relief and happiness and overwhelming love surged through her. Mindless of the people around them, Kate threw her arms around him and kissed him thoroughly. They were both short of breath when she finally pulled away.

”Let's get out of here,” Riley muttered, his voice husky with need.

”Mm... You read my mind.”

Less than an hour later, with the clock just shy of midnight, Kate kicked off her four-inch heels in the bedroom of her tenth-floor apartment and sighed. Riley came up behind her and ma.s.saged the tired muscles in her shoulders.

”You worked hard tonight. And to think you raised a million dollars? You're amazing.”

He bent his head and nuzzled her neck. She groaned and tilted her head to the side, to give him better access.

”Mm, that feels so good,” she murmured. ”It's been a hectic couple of weeks. I'm so grateful for Mary and Genevieve,” she added, referring to her a.s.sistants. ”They were the ones who were amazing. What with Mom and everything else that happened in Australia, I'd have never have managed to pull something like this together without their help.”

Riley nibbled at the soft skin behind her ear. ”You're right,” he said. ”Mary especially deserves the healthy pay packet you offered her.”

Kate frowned a little, wondering why he'd singled the girl out. Mary was a G.o.dsend, but Genevieve had worked equally hard to make the night happen.

Without a word, he set Kate away from him and strode to his side of her super king bed. Bending low, he collected a package off the floor. ”I had Mary wrap a little gift for you and arranged to have it delivered.”

Kate stared curiously at the parcel in Riley's hands. The embossed forest-green and gold paper carried the logo of her gallery. He closed the distance between them and offered it to her.

”For you,” he said simply. ”With all my love.”

Kate's heart thumped. Her fingers were less than steady when she untied the green ribbon that secured the wrapping paper. Smoothing it back, she revealed the bronze and alloy statue she'd admired earlier.

She gasped in surprise. Her gaze flew to his. ”Oh, Riley, it's-it's beautiful. I-I don't know what to say.” She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Riley smiled softly, his eyes full of love. ”You've already said everything I need to hear. I love you, Mrs Munro, with all that I am.”

Kate carefully set the package aside and threw her arms around him. With renewed hunger, she pressed her lips to his. Riley kissed her back, cradling her head and angling his lips to consume her with a pa.s.sion that matched hers. His s.h.i.+rt and pants and Kate's Valentino dress were discarded in quick succession. Their underwear quickly followed.