She wondered if he knew how perfect he was.
'It isn't easy to get a divorce here. You've read too many dime novels, Harrison. And no, I didn't divorce you. It's forever, remember?'
His chin dropped to the top of her head. Lord, he was content. He felt whole again, complete, and all because of her magical love.
'Are we going back to England? I will go anywhere in the world with you. As long as we're together, I shall be content.'
He was overwhelmed. She would give up paradise for him and do so willingly because she loved him.
'No, we aren't going back. We're going to live here. I'll buy some land close by and build a house.'
She started crying again. She assured him they were tears of joy, of course. And then she pushed herself away from him and insisted she couldn't speak another coherent word until she'd taken her clothes off.
He was happy to accommodate her. He thought he set a record of some kind for stripping out of his clothes and getting her out of hers without tearing anything. One of them pulled the covers back, and then they fell into bed together.
He covered her completely and kissed her softly until he felt her mouth open under his. The tip of his tongue rubbed against hers and then gradually slipped inside. He was determined to go slow and not give in to his hunger now, but she was making it impossible for him. Her hands caressed him everywhere, and when
He twisted her long curls around his hands and shifted his position. His tongue thrust deep inside her mouth. With one motion, he penetrated her. The pleasure of feeling her walls squeezing him inside made him close his eyes in ecstasy.
She drew her knees up to bring him deeper inside her and let out a little whimper as the wave of pleasure washed over her. The intensity took her control away from her. She was mindless now to everything but finding fulfillment.
He had more stamina than she did. She reached Utopia first, and when he felt the tremors of her release, he quickened his pace and gave in to his own.
And it was as perfect as he had remembered.
He didn't have the strength to move away from her for a long, long while. He hoped to God he wasn't crushing her, and just as soon as his mind could get his body to cooperate, he'd find out.
She didn't cry this time. She laughed. The sound proved contagious, and he found himself smiling in reaction.
He finally lifted himself up so he could look into her beautiful eyes.
'Felt good, didn't it?'
She slowly nodded. 'Better than good.'
'I behaved like an animal in heat.'
She laughed again. 'So did I. The memory of what happened is already fading. Do you think you could remind me again?'
'You're killing me, Mary Rose.'
She almost did too. Harrison fell asleep an hour later believing he had died a happy man.
Chapter 22
Mary Rose awakened Harrison around one in the morning when she tried to ease out of the bed.
'Where are you going?' he asked in a sleepy whisper.
'Downstairs. I'm starving. I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.'
Harrison decided he was hungry too. He put on his pants, stubbed his toe in the process, and hopped around the room muttering expletives.
'Hush,' she whispered in a laugh. 'I don't want to disturb my brothers.'
It was already too late. Harrison had made so much racket complaining about his foot, he got everyone up.
Cole was the first to join them at the kitchen table. Mary Rose was cutting slices of cheese while sitting on Harrison 's lap.
She scooted onto her own chair as soon as her brother walked in.
'I couldn't sleep,' he explained. He straddled the chair across from Harrison and gave him a hard look. 'You going to be able to fix this?'
'If you want a guarantee, I can't give it to you, Cole.'
'Then you've got to help me convince Adam to run.'
'I can't do that. The decision has to be his, and his alone. Back him up on this, Cole. He'd do the same for you.'
The brother shook his head. 'He wouldn't stand by and watch me die. I'm telling you here and now. If he's condemned, I'm getting him out.'
Mary Rose was quickly losing her appetite. Fear tightened her stomach into a knot. 'I think we need to have faith in Harrison, Cole. Trust him to do everything he can to save Adam.'
Harrison reached over and clasped her hand in his. 'I'm not a miracle worker, but thank you for having faith.'
'The hell with faith,' Cole muttered.
Douglas joined them in time to hear his brother's remark. He'd put on pants and a long-sleeved flannel shirt. He had it buttoned up all wrong. Mary Rose smiled when she noticed.
'Have you figured out a plan yet?' he asked Harrison.
'I'm going to send a telegram tomorrow to the attorney I used in St. Louis. He's with a large firm. He might know the name of an attorney in South Carolina. I'll find one, even if I have to go there myself.'
'For what purpose?'
'To get a sworn statement from Livonia and Rose. Time is critical now. It will work out though. I'll make it work.'
'What good will their statements do?' Douglas asked.
'They'll confirm what Adam told me. Right now it's two men against one. I'm evening the odds. I hope to God Livonia cooperates. She may be too frightened.'
The brothers nodded. 'Adam will balk at this. He knows what will happen to the woman when the sons get back home. I don't think he'll let you go after her for a sworn statement.'
Harrison didn't argue with the men. He would do what he had to do to make certain Adam was given a fair trial.
'Let's talk about something else. Mary Rose is becoming upset.'
'No, I'm not.'
'You aren't eating.'
She shrugged. 'What would you like to talk about?'
Travis came in and answered for Harrison. 'What happened after she left London? Did all hell break loose?
