He gave her an arrogant smile. "Because I wanted you in my bed. I"m a Steele."
She just stood there and stared at him for a long moment and then a smile trembled on her lips. "Your conceit is showing again," she pointed out.
"Sorry."
"I"m not. I love you just the way you are. And I do love you, Galen. I was so afraid you couldn"t love me."
Another smile touched his lips, this one filled with care, concern and sincerity. "You are an easy person to love, Brittany. If there is any way I could redo your childhood, I would. But I think you"re the person that you are because of it and the challenges you had to face," he said, reaching out and caressing her cheek with his thumb.
"But for the rest of your days, I will make up for all the love you didn"t get. I will love you and honor you."
"Oh, Galen." Tears she couldn"t hold back streamed down her face.
It was then that Galen swept her off her feet and into his arms to carry her up the stairs. "I told my brothers how I felt about you that day they met you and advised my parents yesterday. Tonight they treated you just as they should have-as a person who will soon become an official member of our family."
He looked down at her and paused on the stair. "Will you marry me?"
Brittany smiled up at him. "Yes! Yes, I will marry you."
Galen grinned as he continued walking up the stairs to his bedroom. "Just so you"ll know, I"m having your ring specially designed by Zion."
Brittany"s mouth dropped open. "I"m getting a ring by Zion?"
Galen threw his head back and laughed when he placed her on the bed. "Yes." He knew any jewelry by Zion was the rave because Zion was the First Lady"s personal jeweler.
She beamed. "I feel special."
"Always keep that thought, because you are."
Galen glanced down at the woman he had placed on his bed. His soul mate. The woman he would love forever. The thought nearly overwhelmed him. "And just so you"ll know, I"ve cleared my work schedule. I"m going with you back to Tampa."
Surprise lit her face. "You are?"
"Yes. I don"t intend to let you out of my sight." He dipped his knee on the bed. "Now come here." When she lifted a brow, he added, "Please."
Brittany chuckled as she moved toward Galen and when he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her, she felt completely loved by the one man who had discovered all her hidden pleasures. "How could things be this way for us this soon?"
He understood her question and had a good reason for what probably seemed like madness. "My mother has always warned her sons that we"re like our father in a lot of ways," he said. "We"re known to be skirt chasers until we meet the one woman who will claim our hearts. You are that woman for me, Brittany. I realized just how empty my life has been until this week while you were here with me. I love you."
She fought back tears in her eyes when she said, "And I love you, too."
And then Galen kissed her and she knew a lot of people would think their affair had been rather short, but she knew it had been just like it was meant to be. Now they would embark upon a life together filled with romance and pa.s.sion.
Epilogue.
Four months later.
Galen glanced around the room at all the Steeles in attendance. The last time they"d all gotten together had been at Donovan"s wedding in New York. Now they"d all a.s.sembled here in Phoenix to watch the first of Drew"s boys take the plunge. And very happily, he might add.
Nikki had been Brittany"s bridesmaid and his father had been his best man. They"d wanted it simple and decided to have a wedding on the grounds of the home Brittany"s mother had left her. Brittany felt her mother"s presence there and wanted to start their life off surrounded by love.
"So, what were the nasty things you said to me when I told you I was getting married?" his cousin Donovan said, pulling him out of his reverie.
Galen smiled. "Okay, that was before I knew better. Before I understood the power of love." He glanced over to where Brittany stood with his mother and his heart expanded twice the size.
"You have a beautiful bride and I wish the two of you happiness always."
"Thanks, Donovan."
Deciding his mother had taken up enough of his wife"s time, Galen crossed the room and when Brittany glanced up and saw him, she smiled. She had been a beautiful bride and looked absolutely radiant. And when he opened his arms, she stepped into his embrace. They would be leaving later that day to fly to London where they would catch a ship for a twelve-day Mediterranean cruise.
"I love you, Mrs. Steele," he whispered, holding her tight in his arms.
She smiled up at him. "And I love you."
Over his shoulders he saw his mother eyeing his brothers, who seemed oblivious of her perusal. Galen knew exactly how their mother"s mind worked. She was thinking, "One down, five to go."
His brothers would deal with Eden Steele as they saw fit. Galen knew he would have his hands full with the beautiful, s.e.xy woman in his arms. She would continue to teach him manners and he intended to make sure her pleasures were never hidden again.
"Are you ready for your wedding gift now, Galen?"
He arched a brow. "I have another one?" A couple of days ago she had given him a new digital camera. And she"d given him a book on manners. He had given her a gold bracelet with the inscription "Galen"s Lady." And he"d given her a toy yellow cab to replace the one he"d taken from her that day in New York.
"Yes, you have another one. I"m not going to blindfold you but you must promise to close your eyes and keep them closed until I say you can open them."
"All right."
He closed his eyes and felt himself being led no telling where, and after a few minutes, Brittany instructed, "You can open them now, Galen."
He did and sucked in a quick breath when he saw the car he"d wanted, the 1969 Chevelle, parked only a few feet away from where he stood. He couldn"t believe it. It looked beautiful, but then when he glanced over at Brittany, he knew she was the most beautiful thing in his life.
"But how?" he asked, barely able to get the words out past his excitement.
She smiled. "After you confessed to eavesdropping on my and Nikki"s conversation that day, I felt bad that you missed out on the chance to bid for this car because of me, so I gave your brothers the job of locating it for me. Luckily, they did. I hope you like it."
"Oh, sweetheart, I love it, but not as much as I love you." He pulled her into his arms intent on showing her how much. He took her mouth in a lingering kiss, not caring if his brothers or any of the other wedding guests could see them.
She was his and he was hers. Forever.
Books by Brenda Jackson
Kimani Romance
*Solid Soul
*Night Heat
*Beyond Temptation
*Risky Pleasures
In Bed with the Boss
*Irresistible Forces
Just Deserts
The Object of His Protection
Temperatures Rising
*Intimate Seduction
Bachelor Untamed
*Hidden Pleasures
Star of His Heart
Bachelor Unleashed