“But not enough to want me as your wife,” she said accusingly, feeling more wretched than the day he’d fired her. “Don’t worry about Jan and the others; I’ll explain everything. You needn’t worry about them quitting. That’s the reason you’re here, isn’t it?”
“No,” he said huskily; he paused, and seemed to regain control of his emotions. “I don’t want you to leave. I thought about what you said, and you’re right. If you go, everything I’ve ever dreamed about will disappear with you. I have my pride, Stephanie, but it’s been cold comfort the last few days.”
“Oh, Jonas, don’t tease me, I don’t think I could bear it—are you saying you want me for your wife?”
“Lord, yes.” He raised his eyes toward heaven as if to plead for patience. “What did you think I was asking?”
“I don’t know.”
He reached for her, drawing her soft body to his and inhaling the fresh sunshine scent of her hair. “I’ve been half out of my mind the last few days. To be honest, I was glad Ms. Westheimer and the others came. It gave me the excuse I needed to contact you. Right after you left it dawned on me that I’d been an idiot. I’d overreacted to that stupid marriage pool. Why should any of that silliness matter to me when I’ve got you?” He pressed his mouth hungrily down on hers. Swiftly her lips parted, and their tongues met.
Stephanie melted against him. Tears of happiness flooded her lashes, and she sniffled loudly. “I love you so much.”
“I know.” His chin rubbed against the top of her head. “I think we fooled the odds makers this time.”
“How’s that?”
“Odds were three to one that we’d get back together again.”
“Three to one?”
“You know what else?”
“No,” she said with a watery smile.
“There are other odds floating around the office. They say you’ll be pregnant by the end of the year.”
“That soon?” She wound her arms around Jonas’s neck and moved her body against his, telling him without words her eagerness to experience all that marriage had to offer them.
“I say they’re way off,” he growled in her ear. “It shouldn’t take nearly that long.