Richard rushed into the herb garden where Katrina was tending to the plants. She gazed up at him with her warm brown eyes and it stabbed at his heart. He’d been a daft i***t. How could he let his worry about her disappointment keep him from doing the one thing that would keep her safe by his side?
Since he hadn’t had time to plan for this moment, he took his sweet time wrapping her in his arms and kissing her. But despite, or because of, her enthralling nearness, his mind drew a blank. Where were the masterfully crafted words when he needed them?
“I don’t want to leave,” she murmured.
“You won’t.” He took a step back and went down on one knee. “I asked you sixteen months ago, but I’m asking you again today. Do you still want to marry me?”
“Of course I do,” she said. “I never wanted any
