The Texan's Contract Marriage

Nine

The ranch house and other structures spread in all directions with wings built on the mansion. The ranch revealed Marek’s power and wealth far more than the Dallas home, which had been lavish, comfortable and well-appointed. This was a town with an enormous home at the center.

When she glanced at Marek, he looked back at her with his eyebrows arching. “What?” he asked.

“More than ever, your ranch is an indication of your immense wealth,” she said. She didn’t add power, but she shuddered slightly, reminded again how easily he could take her to court now to get custody of Noah. By marrying Marek, she had given him far more control over her baby.

Smiling at her, he reached over to take her hand. “Stop looking at me as if I’d just grown fangs. I’m the same person and, basically, a cowboy. All the buildings serve ranch purposes or are homes for my staff and the cowboys who work for me.”

“It’s an enormous compound.”

“It seems large because you’re unaccustomed to it. The first thing I’d like to show you is our bedroom,” he said, desire plain in the depths of his dark eyes.

“That may have to wait until later,” she answered, a breathlessness coming into her voice along with eager anticipation. His innuendo was plain. He was beginning to flirt more, making more innuendos. Subtle changes in him were surfacing and she wondered about their significance. Were his feelings shifting, too?

He held her hand and she glanced down, looking at their entwined fingers. More and more he casually hugged her, held her hand, touched her. He spent time with her when he was home. How important was she in his life? And there was also the persistent worry: if he ever fell in love, could she cope with a commitment that would complicate her career? It was a small problem next to how much she wanted his love. She was confident if there was mutual love, she could work through the complications.

They went through another tall iron gate, this one closed with a code to punch to open the gate. In minutes the limo rolled through and shortly they approached the main house, a sprawling stucco structure with north and south wings.

The yard had a tall, ornate iron fence surrounding well-kept grounds with tall shade trees and beds of colorful spring flowers. Red, pink and purple crepe myrtle bushes flanked the front porch that ran the length of the house. In front of the house was a pond with three fountains.

They circled the house, driving around and passing a corral with a large barn. Beyond it were rows of stables and another corral. Buildings and houses could be seen farther to the north. Beyond the well-kept yard the land returned to the wild mesquite and cacti she had seen on the drive from the airport.

When she had told Ashley she would move into his bedroom, her sister had arched her eyebrows. “Is that what you want?”

“Yes, it is,” Camille answered.

“You’re in love with him,” Ashley said.

“How’d you know?” Camille asked her, surprised. “Does it show?”

“I know because I’m your sister. I don’t think it’s obvious otherwise. I don’t think Stephanie ever noticed.”

“Stephanie hasn’t been around as much as you have.”

“No, but I’ve known for a while. Since you came back from your honeymoon.”

“I think before that,” Camille admitted.

“I don’t blame you. He’s a great guy, Camille, and I hope he doesn’t break your heart because he was so deeply in love with his late fiancée.”

“I know. You can’t control the feelings in your heart for someone.”

“Try to take care of yourself.”

“I have Noah to love—that keeps me from hurting too badly over anything else. I have my career. That will always take my thoughts off my private life,” Camille answered, doubting if her career would be enough.

“I just pray you aren’t hurt. He seems to have his heart completely locked away.”

“I can’t undo what I feel at this point.”

“Well, as I said, just take care of yourself.”

Camille gazed out the limo window. Would Marek cause her heartbreak?

When they parked to go inside, Ashley carried Noah. At the door, Marek picked up Camille. “Welcome home, Camille,” he said in a husky voice. Her heart thudded. If only he meant what he said! She held him and gazed into dark eyes as he smiled at her and then carried her over the threshold into an entryway. It was filled with hooks holding rain slickers, two tall hat racks holding broad-brimmed Western hats, boots lined neatly on the floor. He set her down.

“Come meet the staff, namely, my great cook and the man who manages this place. I doubt if the others are around at this hour.”

Marek took Noah from Ashley, and they entered a large kitchen that held stainless steel appliances and had an adjoining sitting room and an informal dining area with a brick fireplace filling one corner.

A black-haired man in a white apron smiled at them. “Ladies, I want you to meet Hector Galban,” Marek said. “Hector, meet my wife, Mrs. Rangel, her sister, Miss Avanole. This is Noah,” Marek said, turning the baby to show him to the cook.

Camille smiled and said hello to a compact man who looked more like he should be working with cattle on the ranch than in the kitchen cooking for a living. Barrel-chested with thick black curls, Hector greeted each one of them. They chatted a moment and then entered a wide hallway with a polished plank floor. Another man in black trousers and white shirt appeared.

“This is Cletus Byrne, who is my house manager and butler when I need one,” Marek said, making introductions.

Camille greeted another man who looked as if he should work out on the ranch instead of in Marek’s house. He was broad-shouldered and tall with sandy hair and a quiet manner.

“Cletus will get your things. We have a temporary nursery set up in a large bedroom where Ashley can stay with Noah. Let’s get settled and then I’ll give you a tour of the house,” Marek said, carrying Noah as they walked toward the front and down the wide hallway filled with oil paintings of Western art. In the wide entrance, a brass candelabra caught the afternoon sunlight streaming through tall windows that flanked the front door.

“Marek, this is a beautiful home,” Camille said. “Not exactly what I expected.”

“I can imagine,” he replied with amusement in his voice.

He took them to the temporary rooms for Ashley and Noah. “The master bedroom is at the end of the hallway, so you won’t be far away. When we take the complete tour of the house, both of you can look at bedrooms and select where you want Noah’s room. There will be a nursery with an adjoining playroom and a suite for Ashley.”

They walked into a bedroom and sitting room filled with afternoon sunshine. Camille wandered through it, looking at the white furniture and the adjoining bathroom, which was enormous.

“This is beautiful,” Camille said. “You’ve already got it ready for Noah. Maybe I should cancel the decorator.”

“Not at all. I want a place fixed with Noah in mind. This already existed and it’s not a nursery, not even a bedroom for a young boy. You’ve been planning and you and Ashley have talked about what you want with the decorator. We’ll have him out here this week and get this moving.”

“This is a wonderful place for Noah,” Ashley said, circling the room that had been turned into a temporary playroom.

“Good. It’ll have to do for the time being. I’ll show you where we’ll be,” he said, taking Camille’s arm.

Ashley turned. “You two go ahead. I’m going to change Noah and then I’ll join you,” she said.

Camille turned to go with Marek. When they were alone in his suite, she turned to him. “I think Ashley wanted to give us a moment to ourselves.”

“That’s fine with me,” Marek replied. “I’d prefer the rest of the day and tonight,” he said, placing his hands on her waist.

She smiled. “You’ll have to wait.”

“You can’t imagine how reluctantly,” he said, giving her another hot look that made her sizzle.

“If you wait, you’ll appreciate me more,” she added in a sultry voice, stepping away from him.

He inhaled deeply. “If I ‘appreciate’ you more, I’ll go up in flames. You keep that up and I’m going to lose my self-control.”

“Maybe I’m trying to keep ‘that’ up.”

“Camille,” he said in a husky voice, reaching for her again.

She smiled and walked away. “Ashley will join us soon. Now show me your bedroom.”

He stared at her a moment in silence, desire burning in his gaze. “Our room,” he said as if reminding himself. “You can also get the decorator and change our rooms however you like,” he said. “All I ask on that is let me see the changes. I have an office of sorts in one corner and some things I still want to keep in there.”

“Of course. I’m not changing anything in your room at this point. I won’t without telling you, either.”

When she stepped into the large sitting room, he pulled her to one side of the door. “Ashley hasn’t come and you started this. We have a minute and we’re married anyway,” he said, embracing her and leaning down to kiss her. While her heartbeat jumped, she held him to kiss him in return.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Rangel,” Marek whispered, framing her face with his hands. “Camille, you and Noah are the best possible things that could have happened. This marriage is great. Far more than I expected.”

“I agree,” she whispered, her heart racing over his declaration. How easy it would be to tell him she loved him, but she wouldn’t, not until he made a declaration, if that ever happened. He was far from falling in love yet, but she had hope as long as they were happy together and he wanted to be with her and make love with her.

“Marek, Ashley really will join us in a minute,” Camille said, stepping away from him but wanting to close the door and stay in the bedroom with him the rest of the night, which was impossible.

She looked around the rooms where she would now live. Like everything else, Marek’s suite was appealing. The floors gleamed with polish and thick area rugs were centered in the sitting room and adjoining bedroom. The furniture was covered in navy leather with fruitwood and she saw his corner office held a rolltop desk that looked antique. One wall was filled with shelves of books, pictures, trophies, a collection of memorabilia. She crossed the room to pick up a picture of Marek and Kern. Both had Western hats pushed to the backs of their heads. Both were in boots, jeans and Western shirts. They casually had arms around each other’s shoulders. A horse stood behind them, its head by Kern’s shoulder.

“This is a good picture,” she said.

Marek crossed the room and smiled. “Kern had just won that horse from me in a bet and he was delighted. It was worth losing to see him so ridiculously happy. He loved that roan and wanted it from the day I got it.” Marek laughed and shook his head. “That was a fun time. One of the good memories.”

He glanced at the shelf as she replaced the picture next to one of Jillian.

He picked up the picture to fold the back and lay it flat on the shelf. “I’ll put away Jillian’s pictures.”

“You don’t need to,” Camille said, turning to him. “I truly don’t mind. You loved her and you were going to marry her. I’ll feel better because I imagine you like to see them.”

“That’s past and gone. I don’t need the pictures to remember her and I can look at them if I want. I’ll put them away. It’ll probably help me to move on.”

She didn’t think he would have done any such thing before their wedding and honeymoon. He was changing, coming out of the shell, but how much would he open his heart in the future?

She walked around the room and roamed into the masculine bedroom, with a bed that had an old-fashioned high headboard and navy-and-white pillows and comforter.

“This room looks like you.”

“You can change this however you want as long it isn’t pink or purple. I can’t do purple or pink.”

She grinned. “Aw, shucks, imagine that,” she said, teasing him, unable to imagine Marek sprawled in a pink bed.

They heard Ashley and went out to find her in the sitting room. She held out Noah and Camille took him.

“Give him to me and we’ll have a quick tour,” Marek said.

Marek showed them the gym, with an indoor pool of pale blue tiles with white Corinthian columns on each side. Next they went to the entertainment room. “Both of you—this is your home, too, now. Ashley, you and Camille both feel free to use these rooms, the gym, the entertainment center, the kitchen, the pool, anything you want whenever you want, middle of the night or whatever. This is your home now,” he repeated, gazing at Camille.

“Thank you,” Camille said.

“Come on, we’ll continue this tour,” he said. By the time they stepped outside on a patio that was as big as the central part of the house, Camille wondered if she would ever find her way around. She stopped and looked around at the outdoor living area stocked with what looked like indoor furniture with a well-equipped kitchen. Beyond the chairs and furniture and outdoor rooms was a fenced area with a cabana, a dazzling pool that had slides and fountains and beds of flowers and palm trees.

To one side of the yard was another waterfall, as well as a fish and lily pond that was equally gorgeous.

There was a play area with a portable fence already set up for Noah. It was large enough for adults so Ashley took Noah from Marek. Holding the baby she stepped into it with him and set him down, giving him his toys. She sat near him, playing with him.

Marek declared happy hour and served everyone the drink of her choice. When they all had drinks, Ashley lifted her daiquiri. She sat in the fenced area on a blanket with Noah beside her and toys spread in front of him. Rising to her feet, she said, “Here’s to the best brother-in-law ever, besides being the only one I have,” she added, smiling at Marek. “Thank you for coming into our lives. Noah will thank you a few years from now.”

Marek stood and crossed to her, leaning over the plastic fence to touch his glass to hers. “I’ll drink to that,” he said, turning back to Camille to toast her glass as well. She sipped, looking over the rim of her glass at him and wanting to be alone with him. His dark eyes held her gaze, conveying a sensual promise for later that night.

Marek’s cell phone rang, and he excused himself to answer it.

When he was out of earshot, Camille smiled at her sister. “That was a nice toast, Ashley.”

“I meant it, Camille. He’s been incredible.”

“I think so,” Camille answered.

“Don’t let him break your heart,” Ashley whispered, looking at Marek, whose back was turned.

“I just hope for the best, but he’s being very good to us.”

“Amen to that.”

Marek returned with phone in hand. “Ginny’s on the phone. The girls want to have Noah back. Any chance of them keeping him again anytime soon? And feel free to say no.”

“It’s fine with me.” Camille looked at Ashley, who glanced at Noah.

“If you two don’t mind, I’ll fly home to Saint Louis again this weekend. I could leave on Friday and get back Sunday night if that would be all right.”

“My plane will take you. Actually, we can go to Dallas and spend the weekend there. Ashley will fly home and Ginny and the girls can take Noah. How’s that?”

Camille laughed. “All of us flying to Dallas so two little girls—”

“And one big one,” Marek interrupted.

“So they can play with Noah for a couple of days. I don’t care. I’d like to spend the weekend in Dallas.”

Marek raised his phone. “Ginny, we’re not doing this every weekend, but we’ll come back to Dallas. Ashley is going home to Saint Louis. We’ll come early Friday and you can have him from Friday around noon until Sunday afternoon. How’s that?” He held the phone away as squeals erupted.

Shaking his head, he said, “Tell the girls to calm down. They’ll see a lot of him. Okay. See you Friday. I’ll tell them.”

He put away his cell phone and looked at Camille and Ashley. “Profuse thanks, ladies, for sharing Noah. I’m sure you could hear the girls’ screams of joy that he’s coming for the weekend.” Marek glanced at Noah. “He’s oblivious to all this hoopla. I may have to have a talk with my sister and tell her to get those girls new dolls or, better yet, get another baby in the family. Maybe you can pick out new dolls for them,” he said to Camille.

Camille laughed. “The girls seemed totally fascinated with him and he likes them, but then, Noah likes everyone.”

“He’s Kern’s son,” Marek remarked. “Thanks again, hon,” he said to Camille.

“He’ll be happy,” she replied, thinking of Marek’s casual endearment. The hon was so lightly stated, yet the term was a warm, fuzzy blanket wrapping around her heart, making her feel that he cared about her.

*

Friday, Camille saw the Rangel jet take off with Ashley on board, headed to Saint Louis. In the next hour, she watched Ginny and the girls come by Marek’s Dallas house to pick up Noah. Finally, Camille turned to look at Marek as he closed and locked the door behind his sister and her brood.

“We’re alone,” he said when he faced her. “Come here, Camille.”

*

Monday when they returned to the ranch, Marek held Camille’s hand on the plane. The weekend had been fabulous. The more he made love to her, the more he wanted her. That amazed him. In so many ways, from that first day he had met her, she had constantly surprised him.

June approached, when she would be locked into performing for two weeks, and he knew he would see almost nothing of her in that time. He didn’t like the thought. When had she become important to him? It was as if he couldn’t get through a day without her in his life.

He shifted to look at her. Camille was dressed in red slacks and a matching red silk blouse. A red scarf encircled her hair at the back of her neck. He wondered whether she was wearing red or black underwear, vowing to buy her something sexy soon. Very personal, very sexy. His blood heated at the thought. He glanced out the window without seeing anything. Was he falling in love with his wife? The question startled him. He had constantly credited his feelings for Camille to pure lust, but did it go beyond that? Had she replaced the void left in his heart? He would always love Jillian, but there was only a memory and a heartache over her loss. Camille was here, filled with zest and life.

Could he have already fallen in love with his wife without realizing it? He turned again to look at her. How he wished they were alone. He would like to take that red scarf off her hair and let the mass of midnight hair fall freely over her shoulders. He wanted to bury himself in her heat and softness. Am I in love? The question nagged at him as he stared at her. She turned to look at him. “You look deep in thought.”

“I’m thinking about the changes we need to make at the ranch. We’ll need a nursery that can easily be transformed into a suite for a little boy. You’ll need a music room. We can do that.”

“That I do want,” she said, a somber note in her voice.

“Anything worrying you?”

She smiled. “Not at all. Just curiosity, and maybe I’m a little overwhelmed. My life is changing swiftly. You came into it like a bolt of lightning and absolutely fried my old life instantly.”

He leaned closer to her. “I believe I can say the same thing. Mine is better now, Camille.”

“That’s the nicest possible thing you could say,” she whispered.

“I mean it.” He wished he could be alone with her because he wanted to say more, but this wasn’t the time. He glanced away. Across the aisle, Ashley was buried in her brochures and books and Noah slept, unaware his life changed by the day now.

Marek ran his thumb lightly across Camille’s knuckles, placing her hand on his thigh and putting his hand over hers as he sat back and gazed out the window. “We’ll be there soon.”

She had brought about the impossible in his life, something he thought he would never again experience. He wanted to scoop her up now and kiss her and it took all his control to sit and try to think clearly about when he could possibly first be alone with her.

*

That night Camille and Marek got Noah bathed and in his pajamas and Camille took him back to the family room to rock him to sleep.

Still marveling how much his life had changed, Marek sat watching them while the women talked softly. Camille’s hair spread over one shoulder with the sleeping baby on the other. She was beautiful, and she had filled a void in his heart.

He studied her solemnly. Already, his relationship with her had gone where he never thought it would. He had never even considered the possibility that he would care for her to the extent his heart would be touched. She wasn’t the woman to get involved with. Her heart was taken by her career. Would it be possible to get her to give up her career for a full, family-centered life? Already, he was deeply involved with her, and he wanted to be.

She stood and cradled the sleeping baby in her arms. Ashley jumped up. “I’ll take him to bed. I’m turning in, anyway,” she said, taking Noah as Marek stood. Camille brushed a kiss on the top of his head.

“’Night, Marek, ’night, Camille,” Ashley said, leaving with Noah sleeping against her shoulder.

“So you’ve seen the ranch and spent a few days here now,” Marek said, sitting close to Camille as she sat again on the sofa. “What would you like to remodel? Redecorate? Change?”

“I’m checking into the names of decorators you gave me about the nursery. I definitely want to change that whole suite so it looks as if it belongs to a little boy. I also need a music room. Other than that, I’m fine for now. I don’t want to come in and change everything.”

“The way you’ve changed me,” he said, moving closer to her where he could wind his fingers in her hair. “I’m not the same person I was when I met you. I’m happy, Camille. So happy with you.”

She leaned forward to brush his lips lightly with hers. His hand tangled in her hair, and he kissed her hard.

When she leaned away, she gasped for breath. “Maybe we should go back to discussing redecorating.”

“Do what you want. End of discussion. This is much more interesting,” he said, moving closer to slip his arm around her waist and kiss her.

She leaned forward to kiss him in return.

He released her. “Ashley’s gone to bed. We can talk in our room. Let’s go,” he said, standing and holding out his hand. She took his hand to stroll through the house with him while he switched off indoor lights.

“I told you my schedule involved going to Saint Louis in September to see my family after I finish performing in August in Santa Fe. I’ll amend that slightly. I’ll come back here for two weeks and then go to Saint Louis for one.”

“I can’t argue with that,” Marek replied.

When they stepped into his bedroom suite and he closed the door, he reached out to draw her against his chest. “I’ve wanted you in my arms all evening,” he said in a husky voice, leaning closer to kiss her, thoughts of the future gone.

*

The following week they returned to Dallas and she threw herself into practice and lessons the majority of her waking hours to get ready for her upcoming performance of La Traviata.

Marek stayed in Dallas, dismayed by the amount of work she put into her practice. He heard her sing scales and exercises, but he left early to go to his office and returned in the evening to stay out of the way. He wouldn’t have realized the full extent of her efforts except he phoned her during the day, avoiding the hours he knew she spent in rehearsal. Sometimes he would only to talk to her briefly, and then she would return to practice her voice lesson, or go over her lesson in getting her Italian correct for the performance. She also worked out each day and they began to work out at 6:00 a.m. together, just so he could see her during her waking hours. After seven in the evening was the only time she let go and played with Noah. Finally after everyone else had gone to bed, she would go with Marek to their bedroom. They made love for hours into the night the first two nights, but by the third, after making love, she fell into an exhausted sleep and he knew he should not wake her again, but let her have the rest she needed. By Thursday, he went back to the ranch to stay out of her way and not be a distraction because each day she poured herself more into her work.

As he twisted wire, working on mending a fence, he realized he was standing, staring into the distance, his thoughts totally focused on Camille. His heart thudded and he found it difficult to breathe. He was in love with Camille when he had been certain such a thing could never happen. He had lusted after her, admired her, seduced her, laughed with her, shared Noah with her, but he hadn’t expected to fall in love with her.

From what she had told him, she was getting back to a normal routine, which meant she would not have as much time for him as she had been giving him through the wedding and right after. Had he gotten himself into a situation where he would only experience more hurt? He couldn’t ask her to give up her career and be a rancher’s wife. He couldn’t give up the ranch and go back to city life and work in an office on a daily routine. They had agreed that sometimes he would travel with her, which would be good, but he couldn’t do that all the time. He couldn’t imagine spending his life following her from town to town. And he hated the separations. He missed her anytime that he was away from her now. How had she so ingrained herself in his heart?

Thinking about being with her, he had to admit it was love he felt. He didn’t even know how long he had been in love with his wife. Maybe since their honeymoon. That’s when she had broken through the barriers around his heart. He just hadn’t realized how thoroughly she had. He hadn’t recognized or stopped to think about his own feelings. Maybe it had even been before their honeymoon, a gradual thing that he hadn’t recognized as it had been happening. A miracle for him.

He loved her. Totally, completely. And if he loved her, he wanted her in his life, not this piecemeal seeing each other between her voice lessons and, soon, her performances and trips home to her family. He wanted her in his life just as he had wanted Noah in his life. Each night he had missed her more than ever. Now, he sat thinking about how he could ask her to give up her career. He hated the absences, but he hated hurting her more. How could he ask her to give up what she’d worked so hard to achieve?

He had lost one love. Had he set himself up for another devastating heartbreak?

On the weekend he returned to Dallas. Ashley had flown home again, and Camille had agreed to let Ginny keep Noah Friday and Saturday nights and have him home with Marek Sunday night before Marek returned to the ranch.

Between Camille’s full schedule in Dallas and their separation when he was at the ranch, he wondered about their future. As she succeeded in her career, she would probably be busier than she was now. Could he deal with that?

Monday, the last week of May, he stayed in Dallas and told Camille he was going to his office. As soon as the stores opened, he called his jeweler and talked briefly before leaving for the jewelry store.

It was after six when Camille finished her daily routine and showered, dressing for dinner in black silk slacks and a matching sleeveless top.

Marek played with Noah in the room that had become a temporary nursery until the redecorating was finished. Seated cross-legged on the floor, Marek talked to Noah while playing patty-cake with him. Noah laughed and clapped his hands in imitation.

“Having fun?” she asked and Marek rose to his feet, scooping up Noah to hold him. When the baby held his arms out to Camille, she took him.

“Ashley left for the evening. Told us to not wait up. I told her we wouldn’t,” Marek said in a husky tone. “I have plans for you.”

“I can’t wait. But I do have to feed this fellow or no one will do anything else and he’ll still be awake when we go to bed.”

“When we go to bed,” Marek repeated. “I can’t wait. Let’s feed the hungry boy.”

“I agree.”

*

It was nine o’clock when they were in their room and finally alone. Marek drew Camille into his embrace. One look in his dark eyes and her heart began to race. “I’ve waited all day for this moment,” he whispered and kissed away her answer.

Her heart thudded. Each time they made love, he became more important to her. In the throes of passion, she had whispered her declaration of love, but he had never heard her and she intended to keep it that way until she heard words of love cross his lips.

She poured out her passion as they made love far into the night. Holding him tightly, she ran one hand down his bare back as he lowered himself between her legs and slowly filled her, taking time to heighten tension, making her want him desperately as she arched beneath him and then rocked with him. “I love you,” she cried, unable to hold back, certain he hadn’t heard her as it had always been.

She held him as his control vanished and he thrust swiftly, taking her over an edge. “Marek,” she cried, grasping his solid body as if he were the only anchor in her life.

“Camille,” he ground out her name while he shuddered in his climax. “I love you.”

Her eyes flew open. Moving with him, she held him. Had she imagined his declaration? She had dreamed of it too many times to count. Passion drove away her questions and she rocked with him, united physically, her heart belonging to him totally.

When he finally held her in his arms as legs were entwined and her black hair spilled over his shoulder, he showered her with light kisses. “I love you, Camille.”

She gazed into his dark eyes while her heart missed beats. “You really mean that?” she whispered.

“Yes,” he said gruffly, gazing at her solemnly. He brushed long strands of her hair away from her face. “Love may complicate our life.”

“Never. This is better. I love you and I’ve loved you since before we said wedding vows.”

He stared at her intently. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shook her head. “You weren’t ready.”

He stared at her again in silence, and she wondered what he was thinking. “I’m ready now,” he whispered and kissed her hard, holding her against his heart while joy filled her.

“Wait,” he said, turning to open a drawer in the bedside table. “This is for you.”

Surprised, she glanced from the package to him, and then she took it to untie a blue ribbon and tear away the wrapper. She opened the box to take out a black velvet box. When she opened it, she gasped as the sapphire and diamond necklace caught the light.

“This is magnificent. It’s stunning,” she said, sitting up and pulling the sheet beneath her arms.

“Here’s what is stunning,” he said, sitting up to fasten it around her neck.

“Marek, thank you. This is the most beautiful jewelry I’ve ever owned except my wedding ring, which is gorgeous.”

“I love you, Camille,” he said again and kissed her.

Her heart pounded wildly, more from his declaration of love than the necklace which had taken her breath at first sight.

He paused. “We can make this a complete, real marriage. If we both love each other. Have you thought about the possibility of scaling back your career?”

Startled, she frowned. “No, I haven’t. My career doesn’t diminish my love for you or Noah. I don’t want to scale back or give it up. I can’t do that. I feel I can achieve so much more, and I love opera. I live and breathe opera. But it doesn’t take away from the love I feel for you.”

They stared at each other and she hurt, with a knot tightening inside. A muscle worked in his jaw as he stared intently at her. She had no idea what he 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.