ughtily, ‘she has no right to look at you in any way. I shall talk to her—’
‘Oh no, darling!’ She clasped his hand as Mrs Brown served their dessert to them, a delicious orange concoction made with meringue. ‘Please don’t say anything to Mrs Brown, Logan,’ she pleaded once they were alone. ‘After all, I have to live here after we’re married. I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot with your housekeeper.’
‘We don’t have to keep her—’
‘Logan, don’t be so cold-hearted!’ she complained. ‘Mrs Brown is quite understandably a little surprised at your behaviour.’
‘Oh?’
‘Yes.’ She held back a smile. ‘I’m much too young for you,’ she said mischievously.
‘You—!’
‘Yes?’ She raised innocent eyebrows.
‘Nothing—for now. I’ll deal with you later,’ he warned softly ‘And I have no intention of telling Mrs Brown you’ve agreed to become my wife. My mother will be the first to know—if she ever gets back from Switzerland,’ he frowned.
Her eyes glowed with happiness. ‘Oh, Logan, it’s going to be such fun being married to you!’ She gave a lighthearted laugh of sheer pleasure.
‘Fun?’ he questioned the description.
‘Oh yes,’ she smiled. ‘I love it when you forget to be all staid and respectable, forget you’re thirty-five—’
‘And you’re twenty-two,’ he groaned. ‘I must be mad!’
‘But you’re going to continue being mad?’ she asked anxiously.
‘I don’t think I can prevent it.’
‘I do hope not.’
It was very late when Logan suggested driving her home, the two of them having talked into the early hours of the morning. One thing had been made passionately clear to Callie—Logan wanted her for his wife soon, he had no intention of waiting longer than the New Year.
‘Would you like to come in?’ she offered when they reached her home.
‘I’d better not,’ he shook his head. ‘I’m too vulnerable.’
‘You are?’
‘I am,’ he nodded. ‘Now run along indoors before I change my mind.’
‘I wish you would,’ she pouted her disappointment.
‘I intend introducing you to my mother without guilt,’ he told her sternly. ‘She isn’t stupid, she knows the life I’ve led. I want her to know that with you it’s been different from the start.’
Callie couldn’t help but feel warmed by his desire to protect her, and she returned his goodnight kiss with a fervour that left them both gasping.
‘Tomorrow night?’ Logan murmured against her lips.
‘Oh yes,’ she agreed without hesitation.
‘Christmas Eve,’ he mused. ‘I wonder what Father Christmas is going to bring you?’
‘You?’
‘Oh, you’ve already got me,’ he chuckled. ‘I’ve been trussed up and ready for the kill from the beginning.’
‘Well, you’re all I want, so Father Christmas can give me a miss this year.’