Red Roses Mean Love

Joy filled her to overflowing. But there was one last thing standing in her way. 'There's something I must tell you, Stephen.'

'Just tell me yes.'

Hayley shook her head. 'I mean there's something you need to know. Something about me.'

'I'm listening.'

Hayley stepped away from him and pressed her hand to her stomach. 'I'm not quite certain how to say this, so I'll simply say it.' She drew a deep breath and hoped for the best. 'I want to continue writing and selling my stories to the Gentleman's Weekly.'

He cocked a brow. 'As my wife, you certainly won't lack for funds.'

'It has nothing to do with money. I enjoy writing the stories. They keep Papa alive for me.' When he remained silent, she added, 'This is important to me, Stephen.'

'I see.'

Hayley's heart sank at his flat tone. Of course he would disapprove. 'I realize a scandal could erupt should anyone discover I'm H. Tripp. You must think I'm-'

'Brilliant. I think you're absolutely brilliant. And wonderful.' A slow smile curved his lips. 'It seems I just proposed to one of the most popular 'men' in England. By damn, we really are going to set Society on its ear!' Pulling her against him, he kissed her until her head swam.

'You mean you don't mind?' Hayley gasped when he lifted his head.

He cocked a single brow. 'Mind? That the woman I love is talented, beautiful, and utterly marvelous? Why would I mind?'

'And you'll allow me to continue writing?'

'Allow you? I insist upon it. I'm as anxious as everyone else to find out what will happen in the next installment of A Sea Captain's Adventures.' His eyes turned serious. 'Now, will you answer my question? Will you marry me?'

Hayley gazed at him, her heart so filled with love, she could barely speak. She managed to squeak out only one word, but apparently that was fine with Stephen as it was clearly the word he wanted to hear.

'Yes,' she croaked.

'Thank God,' he uttered fervently. He lowered his head and captured her lips in an endless kiss, a kiss filled with aching tenderness and unmistakable love. After several minutes he raised his head. 'There is one request I need to make,' he said in a not too steady voice.

'What's that?'

'At the risk of sounding overbearing and demanding, if that bastard Popplefart isn't out of this house in exactly three minutes, I'm going to fling him out by the seat of his pants.'

Hayley's eyes widened. 'Oh, dear. I forgot all about poor dear Jeremy-'

'Poor dearJeremy?'

'Yes. I must tell him I can't accept his proposal-'

'His what?'

'Jeremy asked me to marry him.'

'He's a dead man,' Stephen ground out. 'I'm going to break every bloody bone in his damn body-' He broke off his diatribe and glared at her. 'When did he propose?'

'Yesterday,' she said, trying very hard not to show her pleasure at Stephen's display of jealousy.

'And you didn't refuse him immediately?'

'Well, no. I-'

'Were you considering his proposal?' he asked in a suddenly quiet voice.

She reached up and framed his scowling face between her palms. 'I'd be less than truthful if I said I didn't think about it, but I had every intention of telling him today after the party that I couldn't accept him. I'll tell him as soon as we go downstairs.'

'I still feel like smashing his face,' Stephen muttered. 'I saw the way he kissed your temple when he escorted you from the forest. If Popplepuss ever so much as touches you again, he's going to find himself in a great deal of pain.'

The corners of Hayley's lips twitched. 'Popplemore.'

'Indeed.'

Hayley brushed her lips against Stephen's grim mouth. 'Why don't we go downstairs right now? We'll tell the family our news and I'll escort Jeremy to the door.' She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran the tip of her tongue over his lower lip.

'An excellent suggestion,' he agreed, drawing her tightly against him. He threaded his fingers through her curls and kissed her, a kiss that began softly but soon grew into a passionate exchange.

'Stephen,' Hayley breathed, clinging to his shoulders while his warm lips marauded down the side of her neck.

He flicked his tongue over the rapidly beating pulse at the base of her throat. 'Hmmm?'

'Everyone will wonder what we're doing up here. We really should go downstairs,' she said without much conviction.

Stephen gave her one last, lingering kiss. 'You're right. We can't stay in here any longer. If we do, we'll end up in your bed.' He tucked her hand in his arm and started toward the door.

'Wait,' Hayley said, freeing herself. She bent down and picked up the bouquet of flowers Stephen had given her. It had slipped from her fingers during their kiss, and now looked a bit crushed. 'I mustn't leave my flowers here.' She stood and brought the bouquet to her face, inhaling deeply. 'They're the most wonderful gift I've ever received.'

Stephen gently touched her cheek. 'Do you know what the most wonderful gift I've ever received is?' he asked softly.

Hayley looked up into his face-the most compelling, handsome face she'd ever seen. She loved him so much, she ached with it. She shook her head.

He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a fervent kiss to her palm. 'You. You, my love, are most wonderful gift I've ever received.'

SHAPE * MERGEFORMAT

Chapter 32

Three months later, the night before the wedding finally arrived.

Thank God, Stephen thought, sipping a brandy in the library at his father's town house.

Waiting those three interminably long months to make Hayley his wife had nearly killed him. He'd wanted to marry her immediately by special license, but he realized it would be incredibly selfish to deny Hayley the sort of wedding she deserved just because he couldn't wait to begin their life together, to say nothing of the fact that he could barely keep his hands off her. And Hayley insisted that as anxious as she was to marry him, she wanted to wait until after Pamela's wedding.

So Stephen waited three bloody long months, during which time it was necessary for him to call upon every ounce of his self-control to keep from making love to Hayley. He'd thrown himself into his work with a vengeance, keeping his mind and hands occupied. Immediately after Pamela and Marshall's wedding last month, he'd moved Hayley and the rest of the Albrights to London. While Albright Cottage was empty, Stephen arranged for the house to be remodeled and repaired, and Hayley had given the house to Pamela and Marshall as a wedding gift.

Once Hayley arrived in London, it seemed she was busy every moment with his mother and Victoria making wedding plans. Stephen grumbled about not being able to spend any time with his fiancee, but just having Hayley close to him, knowing that in a few short weeks they would be together, filled him with a contentment he'd never known. He arranged for tutors for Nathan and Andrew and spent a great deal of time showing the boys and Callie around London while the women planned the nuptials.

Pierre was ensconced in Stephen's kitchen, and Grimsley, resplendent in maroon and gold livery, answered the