Page 84 of Love Me Forever

She smiled as she nodded, interested in what he would say.

He placed his face near hers and whispered, “I am a warrior who has recently seen battle. I was left with many scars. Many I did not think would heal, many that were deep and painful. I thought I could heal on my own; I was determined to heal on my own. Then I met you, who needed to heal from an accident and from her own inner battle. We healed each other. We are alike, you and I, warriors—determined warriors. And I lost my heart to you, and I know you lost your heart to me.”

Tears welled behind her closed eyes.

“You know me well, Brianna, like no other has known me. My looks matter not; do not see me with your eyes, see me with your heart.”

He kissed her cheek, and with his finger to her chin he turned her face so her lips would meet his. His kiss caressed and sent shivers racing through her.

“I love you,” he murmured. “Marry me because you love me—me, Brianna, not the warrior or the legend, but me.”

She could not deny her love for him, and she could not deny that with her eyes closed she heard and envisioned the man she had fallen in love with—the scarred warrior who had captured her heart.

She did as he had suggested: she saw with her heart and chose with her heart. She opened her eyes, a teardrop rolling down her cheek. With her hand to his cheek she said softly, “I love you so very much that it frightens me.”

He kissed her fingers. “There is nothing to fear between you and me.”

“I think that is what frightens me: this love of ours is so powerful, so different, and so beautiful that I wonder if it is real.”

“Never doubt that it is, Brianna, for there is nothing that can prevent us from loving, not even death. This I promise you. Now say you will wed me, for our love demands it.”

She laughed softly and whispered in his ear, “I will wed you, Royce Campbell.”

He caught her around the waist and scooped her up into his strong arms and spun around yelling, “She agrees to wed me!”

“Stop! Stop!” she cried out on a laugh, though it sounded more like a whimper.

The door burst open, and Moira and Anne rushed into the room, Ian and Blair entering close behind them.

“Put her down, you fool—she is with child!” Moira shouted.

CHAPTER23

Moira cringed at her outburst, recalling how the same was done to her. Anne had then been the culprit, and now it was she.

Ian laughed, slipping his arm around his wife. “A memory recalled,” he teased and kissed her cheek.

Anne sympathized with Moira, knowing how she felt, though her concern at the time was for Moira, and she understood that Moira felt the same protectiveness toward Brianna.

Blair found delight in it all and grinned.

Royce and Brianna remained silent;

their eyes fixed on each other.

Royce spoke first. “You are sure?”

“Aye, I am sure your babe nestles comfortably inside me.”

“When?” Royce asked anxiously.

“When the summer is near to ending.”

Ian attempted to usher everyone out of the room so that his sister and Royce could have privacy.

But before he could, Royce turned to him. “We wed tomorrow.”

It was Moira and Anne who objected.