She glanced up.
“A Mr. Lindley is-”
Before the introduction was even complete, Alex was striding through the door.
“Alex.” She popped up from her seat, unable to keep a smile from bursting out. Alex was here. He was in London.
“It’s fine, Reginald,” Brittany put in. “Please close the door.”
To his credit, Alex waited until the door was shut before speaking.
“
“What are you talking about?” She was still grinning.
Alex advanced on her. “Harrison just told me you’re in love with an American.”
“I am,” she admitted, a rush of excitement and anticipation hitting her system.
Alex halted directly in front of her. “And he says you’re not marrying him.”
“I’m not,” she agreed.
“Then, I’m here to ask if you’re open to offers.”
“I am. You’ve got an offer to make?”
“Marry me. Thumb your nose at your family. And you’ll spend every night of your life in ecstasy.”
Her grin widened even farther. “That’s a bold offer.”
He grinned right back at her. “I’m a bold man.”
“My father may challenge you to a duel.”
“Tell him I used to kill people professionally and blow things up recreationally. Maybe he’ll change his mind.”
“I doubt it.”
“Then how do you feel about eloping?”
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to stay here and face the music.”
“Well, I’m not killing your father, and I’m sure not letting him kill me.”
“Then we should probably talk to my mother. She’s more reasonable, and she’s used to calming him down.”
Alex was silent for a moment. “Is that a yes, Brittany?”
She slowly nodded.
Alex was the brass ring of happiness. She was marrying him, and nothing was going to stop her. She’d finally found something in her life worth defying her father for.
Alex sobered. He cupped her face and kissed her gently on the mouth. “I don’t even have a ring.”
“You don’t need a ring.”
“We’re buying one tomorrow. Something huge and ostentatious so your father doesn’t think I’m destitute. I’m not destitute, Brittany. I’m not Harrison, but I’m quite wealthy.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does. A little. I want you to know you’ll have everything you need.”
She kissed him again, wrapping her arms around him to hold him close. “I already have everything I need.”
Buying a Dalmatian puppy was just the shot in the arm Julia needed. As she watched Herman scamper across the floor of her condo, slipping to a stop, then valiantly trying to get his little puppy jaws around a blue-and-red- striped ball, she smiled for the first time in two days.
She was still feeling lonely and maudlin whenever she let herself think about Harrison, but Herman was showing her there was light at the end of the tunnel. The puppy books, the gear, the house training and the walks by the river gave her a focus for her life.
She wouldn’t be able to travel as much now that she had him, but she’d decided to scale back on her work for
A knock came on her door.
With a quick check to make sure Herman was occupied and wouldn’t dart out, she pulled it open.
She gave her head a shake and blinked to clear her eyes, certain she must be hallucinating Harrison with a Dalmatian puppy in his arms.
“Meet Herman,” came the voice that had haunted her dreams.
Behind her, Herman barked and jumped at her calves.
“Uh-oh,” said Harrison.
Julia scooped up the puppy, and she couldn’t help but smile. “
The two puppies barked at one another, desperately trying to get down to play on the floor.
“Come on in,” Julia said to Harrison, standing aside, then closing the door behind him before they released the puppies.
They barked and wrestled and chased their way across the living-room floor. Julia kept her back to Harrison as she watched the puppies play, using the distraction to try to come to terms with his arrival. What was he doing here? What did he want?
After a couple of minutes, his big hands closed over her shoulders. “Hello, Julia.”
She struggled to keep the emotion out of her voice. “Hello, Harrison.”
“How have you been?”
She shrugged. Fine didn’t quite describe it, but she was surviving. “Did you have business in Lexington?”
“No business.”
She turned then. “Why are you here?”
“I came to see you.”
She forced a light note into her voice, pretending they were mere acquaintances who might see each other from time to time. “You came all the way to Kentucky to bring me a puppy?”
He shook his head.
Then another thought occurred to her. “Did you find out something about Millions to Spare?”
He shook his head again. “I realized,” he began. Then his gaze softened, focusing on a spot behind her. “You may have misunderstood. And I need to explain.”
She waited for him to elaborate.
“That last night at the Prestons,” he said. “When I told you that being my wife was a terrible job…I don’t think I put it quite correctly.” He took a breath and looked directly into her eyes. “What I meant to say was, it’s a terrible job. But will you take it on anyway?”
Julia struggled to make sense of his words. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m asking you to stay married to me.”
“What about Brittany? What about the perfect children?” Julia’s mind still couldn’t wrap itself around his about- face.
“Brittany’s marrying Alex.”
“She’s
Harrison had been jilted? Wow. She’d bet he hadn’t seen that one coming.
“Apparently their police chase around UAE was more fun than they expected.”
So Julia was second choice? Did Harrison want to marry her because Brittany was unavailable?
She loved him, but could she live with that?
The puppies barked and growled behind her, and she turned to see what they’d gotten into.
“Julia?”
They were pouncing on the rubber ball, and she watched their carefree frolicking for a few minutes.
“Julia?” Harrison tried again.
She sighed and turned back to him. “I can’t take Brittany’s place.”
His brow creased. “Is that what you-”
“I’m sorry.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “You’re not taking
