Harlequin Romance March 2021 Box Set by Cara Colter (best novel books to read .TXT) 📕

judge the programmes you propose, as well as your abilities to implement them. You deserve to earn a wage that reflects that.’

She opened her mouth, but he held up a finger to forestall her.

‘Also, I will never lie to you. If I think one of your programmes is too ambitious, or won’t fly, or has issues that need to be ironed out before it can proceed, I’m going to say as much.’ He smiled briefly. ‘I don’t doubt there’ll be days when you feel you’re working very hard for your wage.’

She couldn’t speak as she allowed his words to sink in. Hope tightened her chest. ‘Does that mean you’re on board?’

He nodded. ‘I’m honoured to be asked.’

She smiled then too. ‘I can’t tell you how glad I am.’

She did what she could not to get lost in his answering smile, tried to force her mind back to matters of business.

‘I’m sure you must have a lot of questions, and I’m not actually sure I’m qualified to answer them, so we should probably get Gerry back in here to—’

‘You’re the only person who can answer the questions I want to ask at the moment.’

Her breathing went erratic. ‘Oh…?’

He stood, but her legs had gone to jelly at the expression in his eyes and she doubted they’d support her if her life depended on it. She remained seated, staring up at him.

‘Can I take you out to dinner soon?’ he asked.

‘I’m free tonight.’

The words were out of her mouth before she could think better of them, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t interested in hiding how she felt.

‘Perfect.’

He leaned down, his hands going to the arms of her chair, bracketing her in.

‘Can I kiss you?’

‘I think I’ll die if you don’t.’

His lips descended with a speed that made her head reel, but those lips—sure and tantalising, full of hunger and tenderness in equal measure—had her finding the balance she’d been lacking ever since she’d slammed her apartment door in his face twenty-five days ago, and she kissed him back with every ounce of yearning and need in her soul.

A short while later she found herself in Owen’s lap on Mr Dunkley’s Chesterfield sofa. She lifted her head and sucked in a breath, tried to cool the heat rampaging through her veins.

‘Owen, we can’t make out on Gerry’s sofa.’

He sucked in a breath too, staring up at the ceiling for a moment as if trying to gather himself. He glanced at her, started to speak, but broke off whatever it was he’d started to say.

He grinned at her instead. ‘Marry me.’

A laugh pressed against the back of her throat. ‘Careful, Owen, you almost sound serious.’

‘Because I almost am.’

She glanced back at him to find he’d sobered. Those intense grey eyes stared at her as if she were a miracle.

‘I love you, Callie. These last twenty-five days without you have been hell.’

He’d been counting the days too?

‘I never want to lose you again. I’m sorry about our fight. I’m sorry I overstepped the mark like I did. I panicked, and I know it’s no excuse, but—’

She pressed her fingers to his mouth to stem the flow of his words. ‘I’m sorry about our fight too. But you were right in what you said to me. I’d become too focussed on how people had done me wrong and on getting my own back. You held up a mirror and I didn’t like what I saw. I didn’t want to be that vengeful person.’

‘Both Frances and Dominic injured you and—’

‘And both of them are more than that single act. And in Frances’s case she paid so heavily for her mistake and regretted it so much.’ She pulled in a breath. ‘I finally read her letters. She didn’t reveal the identity of my father in them—she respected my mother’s wishes on that—but through those letters I’ve come to know the woman you loved. And I’ve discovered that I like her.’

His hands cradled her face. ‘I’m glad.’

‘And in helping me sort through my own emotions, my mother has been on a similar journey. It’s been good for the both of us.’

‘I hardly know what to say.’

She smiled at him, love welling inside her. ‘You’ve said enough for the moment. You need to listen to me for a little while instead.’

She straightened in his lap until they were eye to eye.

‘I’m sorry it took me so long to work things out. Every night I wanted to race downstairs and climb into your bed—I missed you every waking second.’ She grimaced. ‘Every sleeping second too.’

His arms tightened about her, and it gave her the courage to continue.

‘But I knew it wasn’t fair to come to you without a plan. I needed to sort my life out before I did that, and I couldn’t ask anybody else to do it for me. I had to do it on my own.’

‘I understand, Callie.’

‘I have my work—my vocation—all sorted out now. I’m so excited about the Frances Foundation. And I know where I want to live—and that’s here in the Village. You’re right. I’ve built a community here, even in such a short time. It probably sounds crazy, but this place feels like home.’

‘It’s where you belong.’

‘And I know who I want to spend my life with—and that’s you, Owen. I love you.’ Her smile widened at the awe and amazement that spread through his eyes. ‘I love you and I want to build a life with you.’

His lips slammed to hers and he kissed her with a possessive thoroughness that left her giddy and breathless.

He lifted his head, breathing hard, his eyes dark, but a hint of humour lightened the corners of his mouth. ‘I can’t promise that I’ll never be a jerk again.’

‘That’s okay. I’ll love you even when you’re being a jerk.’ She sobered. ‘I know that what you saw when you were a little boy—your father’s violence—has affected you. I know that as a result you try to protect every woman in your circle. It’s an admirable trait.’

‘But I