The Texan's Contract Marriage - By Sara Orwig Page 0,63
was thinking.
“I don’t know about our future. I do know about now,” he said gruffly, reaching for her to pull her into his embrace.
She wrapped her arms around him and let her love for him pour into her lovemaking.
They loved far into the night again and early the next morning he left for the ranch to get out of her way and return to his own work. As she showered and dressed, she thought about his impossible request, his declaration of love that obviously had a stipulation. She didn’t know if that would cause him to end this marriage of convenience or give it less time and attention. Whatever happened, she couldn’t turn her back on her career now.
*
Saturday Marek had to stay at the ranch because of a crisis on a neighboring ranch where the barn caught on fire and two trucks burned. Marek loaned a truck to the neighbor and tried to help any way he could, but by the time he returned to his ranch and had cleaned up, Camille said she was exhausted and going to bed early, so he decided to fly to Dallas on Sunday.
She had a rehearsal on Sunday and a costume fitting that had been unexpected. Once again, it was late when she was finally free and they ate a cold dinner at ten.
The weekend was too short. The next week Marek mulled over the prospects of their married life. He hated being away from her. He loved her, and, as time went by, he knew that love would grow until it was as strong as the oaks that grew at his ranch.
What could he do to keep them together?
The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts, and he answered to hear his sister. “I was calling to tell you we are all excited about Camille’s performance. The girls are deliriously happy to be going and this will definitely be their first opera. It’s my first and Frank’s and I suspect it’s yours.”
“I’ve seen bits and pieces, at an event years ago.”
“No doubt some beautiful woman talked you into it. We’re thrilled to get to keep Noah opening night so Ashley can attend with her family.”
“It’s good for him to spend time with your family and Ashley is happy to be going with her family.”
“You don’t sound happy. Is everything all right?” Before he could answer, she continued, “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
“Ginny, stop being big sis for a few minutes.”
“Impossible,” she replied. “I’m sorry. Take care of yourself.”
“At least you didn’t say, ‘I told you so.’ I thank you for that.”
“I won’t say any more on the subject, but I’m here if you want to talk.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll call Camille about Noah.”
He heard the click and she was gone. He felt torn between the heartache of loving Camille and living this way or ending this paper marriage or trying to get her to give up her career. Of all his choices, ending the marriage was not tolerable. He loved her even if he was going to get hurt again as much as he had been hurt over losing Jillian. Why was love such a risk?
He would go to opening night and then for two weeks, he would see almost nothing of her. What kind of incentive could he offer to get her to cut back a little?
For her opening night performance, he had no intention of doing anything to take away the glory of that moment from her.
Ten
The following night Marek sat in the box Camille had arranged. He was with the Avanoles. Her parents, her brother and both sisters were present. Marek thought he should have gone sooner to hear her sing. He had heard her sing scales and practice exercises, but nothing else.
When the conductor appeared and the orchestra commenced playing, Marek’s mind was on Camille and when he would be alone with her, something he didn’t expect to happen until this opera ended its last performance. And then Camille came onstage and his attention went to her. She had told him the story, which sounded sad and gloomy with death for her character at the end.
As she sang, Marek was mesmerized. He had heard her practice, but he had never been in the room with her. Now the full richness of her voice filled the opera house.
Chills ran down his spine. He knew nothing about opera. He had seen singers on television performing bits, but never a whole opera, never in person. Camille’s voice soared, filling the opera house with