The Rogue (The Moorehouse Legacy #4)(67)

“What a…bastard,” she said, appalled. That Richard could lie…about her mother? Could manipulate Spike and her like this?

“Mad, what are you thinking right now?”

Clearly, she’d been quiet for awhile. “I…I stood up for him at the board meeting this afternoon. Backed his acquisition proposal because it was the correct business thing to do. Even told him he was the right man for the CEO job because he was and is good in that role. But after this…” She shook her head. “Someone who can be that unethical, should not be running any kind of company.”

No, Richard definitely had to go. And not in retaliation for what he’d done to her and Spike, although she was going to give the man plenty of hell for that. Richard had to go because ethics in one’s personal life were indistinguishable from ethics in one’s business life.

And she would get him out. With the amount of shares under her control, she would find a way to make the change. And she was willing to bet Sean and Mick would help her.

She refocused on Spike. And smiled as she noted that he hadn’t let go of her hand.

“So where does this leave us?” she asked.

He hesitated. “Well, all things considering…I’d say we’re in love.” He leaned in close and punctuated his sentences with kisses. “Yeah. Definitely. Because I love you. You love me. So, we’re in love.”

“We’re in love?” She almost couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah. We are.”

She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.

“But Mad, about the sailing.”

She braced herself, wondering what she would do if he said he wanted her to give up her sport. “What about it?”

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of asking you to stop racing.” As she relaxed and smiled, he said, “But I think it would be great if you…didn’t drive yourself too hard. You know, with the working out stuff and the dieting. I love your body the way it is now, but I think I’d love it even more if you…ah, that is I wish you would…”

She kissed him to reassure him. “I’ve already started changing things. I’ve been thinking lately that someday, I might want to have kids. So I need to begin getting ready even now.”

He cut her off with his lips as if he couldn’t control the impulse. “I want to have babies with you. Lots of babies.”

She grinned at the possessive tone in his voice. “Do you now?”

“Yes…” But then he cursed and winced. “Actually…there’s something else. And we’re under that no-hiding rule, aren’t we?”

“We sure are.”

“Okay…well, I want to marry you. Tomorrow. Tonight. Right now.” He blew out his breath. “There. I said it. Yes, I know we haven’t known each other long—”

This time she was the one cutting him off with a kiss. “You know what? I think it’s a great idea.”

“You do?”

She smiled up at him. “I do.”





Epilogue


Spike and Mad said their official I do’s two weeks later in a small civil ceremony at the Saranac Lake courthouse. The rings they exchanged were plain platinum, his a little wider, hers a little thinner. Their honeymoon was spent on a sailing yacht. Mad showed Spike how to set and stay a nautical course. Spike showed Mad how to make homemade risotto.

Unfortunately, they ended up miles off in the wrong direction. And Mad’s risotto had the consistency of runny oatmeal and tasted like spackle. Both of them, however, were perfectly happy with the results. But then again, true love doesn’t care about the minor details of life, like miles lost and time wasted getting back on course. And it is fed by things other than competence in the kitchen.

Love thrives where there is warmth in the heart for another.

And now that they’ve found each other, Spike and Mad are always warm.