Web of Deception - By Nina Blake Page 0,51
down. For once, just let yourself go, listen to your gut, your instincts. Look inside. What about trusting your feelings and your heart?”
Kate’s mouth fell open. They were the same words her mother had used but he couldn’t possibly have known that.
“My heart can’t tell me what’s best for me,” she said.
“Do you remember the first time I saw you? I looked at you and knew you were the one for me. I said I was going to marry you. The words just slipped out and I didn’t know what was going on. I kept fooling myself, telling myself marriage wasn’t for me, but when I said those first words to you, they were the truth. Straight from the gut. From deep inside. And I twisted it, told myself it was only lust. But I was right the first time. It was the real thing.”
She wanted to believe him, wanted it all to be true but she wasn’t sure if wanting it would make it all real.
Daniel looked into her eyes. “There’s more. For years, I’d had so much in my life. I was successful in so many ways. There were plenty of women around me. Business was good. But there was one thing I didn’t have. My father’s approval. It held me back. Now, I don’t want that any more. I can see what’s important and it’s got nothing to do with making a lot of money on my own. It’s got everything to do with you.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
All this time, Kate had been trying to look at what was right and wrong and what would fit into her plans and it had got her nowhere. She didn’t want a life based solely on security, a life without passion, though that’s where she’d been headed.
She loved Daniel, pure and simple. She didn’t need to think about it to know what her feelings were. They were inside her, part of her, and she’d done way too much thinking already.
Still on one knee, Daniel reached across, rummaged through the bag of croissants and pulled out a small burgundy felt box. Flipping it open, he revealled a brushed gold band with a perfectly cut solitaire diamond, understated and elegant.
“I wanted you to find it in the bag of croissants,” he said. “Then I was going to act all nonchalant and ask you to marry me, but it didn’t go quite to plan.”
Kate held his gaze. “Yes.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Are you agreeing that, yes, it didn’t go to plan?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
His lips curled to a smile as he placed the gold ring on her finger. “It’s a perfect fit.”
They’d always been made for each other, no matter how hard she’d tried to deny it. And now that she’d finally let go of her old prejudices, she felt more free than she’d ever felt before.
Like a new woman with a new life.
Daniel wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his head against her chest, and she knew – instinctively – that nothing had ever felt so right before.
Epilogue
“You look nervous, mate!” Ray Price, Daniel’s best man, whacked him on the shoulder as they stood at the front of the church.
Daniel’s eyes were riveted to the man walking into the back of the room. “You’ve got it all wrong.”
Ray looked puzzled. “Isn’t that your…? I thought you said he wasn’t coming.”
Daniel watched his father stride up the aisle towards him. This was the last thing he’d expected. His father had made his views on marriage – on Daniel’s marriage, in particular – very clear.
Marriage was not for the likes of them.
A horrible thought crossed Daniel’s mind. Surely he wasn’t here to try to change his mind. Damn it, the last thing he wanted was a scene. Not on his wedding day. That would be far too upsetting for Kate.
Then, as Roger Webb stretched out his hand to him, Daniel noticed his father was smiling. A sincere smile. Stretched out to a full grin, in fact. What was going on?
“I couldn’t miss out on your big day,” his father said. “I hope you don’t mind but I saw Kate outside and wished her luck. She seemed surprised to see me.”
“Not as surprised as me. So you decided to come for the wedding?”
Daniel wondered if pigs might fly after all. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
“You’re becoming a man today,” Roger said. “I couldn’t miss that. The biggest day of your life.”
So that was it. His father was finally acknowledging him.
Daniel looked him in the eye. “I’m glad you could make it. Really glad.”
“So am I. Look, I’d better take a seat.” He nodded to the front of the church. “The bride’s on her way.”
Then Roger Webb stepped back and sat down on the bench behind the groomsmen, the same bench as Daniel’s mother and sisters. His mum and dad wouldn’t look at each other and they were seated at opposite ends but it was still the damnedest thing Daniel had ever seen.
At the first tones of the organ, everyone in the room took to their feet. As the church soprano began singing Ave Maria, Daniel saw movement at the rear of the church. The bridesmaids were coming down the aisle towards him but they were nothing more than a blur of crimson to him.
All he could see was Kate, walking down the aisle, looking more beautiful than ever before. Her hair was swept up, exposing her pretty neck and shoulders. Her dress was simple and elegant, fitted through the bodice, sweeping out into a full skirt. There was no veil to hide the sparkle of her eyes and her nervous smile.
For a few moments, as she neared him, it felt like there was no one else in the room.
Only Kate.
Walking towards him.
Daniel glanced over at Ray and grinned. “That’s the woman I’m going to marry.”
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue