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  Darrell drew back her head. “Do—do you believe me?”

  He nodded, his eyes heavy with emotion. “What else can I do?” he muttered thickly. “I want you too much to let you go.”

  “Want, Matthew?”

  “What do you want me to say?” He held her head between his hands. “That I need you, that I want you, that I can’t live without you?”

  She nodded unsteadily, and a faint smile touched his lips.

  “But there’s something more, isn’t there?” he asked, huskily. “You don’t have to prompt me, my darling. I’ve learned a lot about myself these past few months. I thought I was incapable of love, but if it’s not love I feel for you, then God help me, I don’t know what it is that’s been tearing me to pieces!”

  Darrell reached up and his mouth parted hers, straining her to him, making her weakly aware of his strength and what it would mean.

  When he lifted his head, she said: “Why did you come here? Are you going to stay?”

  “Are you?”

  “I’ll stay anywhere you want me to, you know that.”

  Matthew shook his head half mockingly. “I bet old Galbraith didn’t ask you to say that. He wants me back in London.”

  “I know.”

  “Where do you want us to live?”

  “Together.”

  “That goes without saying.” He smiled. “With or without marriage, you’re not leaving me now. But I’m hoping you will marry me.”

  Darrell pressed her face against the hair on his chest, loving the feel and the smell of him. “I don’t care where we live,” she told him honestly.

  Matthew sighed. “In the circumstances, I could stand going back.”

  “That’s what you really want, isn’t it?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “What I really want is you. And many miles between me and Galbraiths.”

  “The lecture tour of the States?”

  “As a honeymoon? I think not.” Matthew was disturbingly sensual. “That can come later.”

  “So you will go back to Galbraiths?”

  “That can come later, too.”

  “And this place?”

  Matthew glanced round. “It’s served its purpose. Actually, though, I’d like to keep it on. Between us, we could make it quite habitable. I’m afraid I haven’t bothered much for myself. Just a table and a chair, and a bed. Which reminds me…” His eyes caressed her. “Just how did you intend getting back to Sedgeley tonight?”

  “I didn’t,” she replied honestly.

  ISBN-13: 9781460347621

  COME RUNNING

  © 1976 Anne Mather

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