Now You See Her Linda Howard(91)

"Marry." He framed her face with his hands, searching her features with dark eyes stark and naked, letting her see every emotion. "I know you're wary; I understand that. But I would never try to get in the way of your painting; you're too talented for anyone to try to stifle. I've made some tentative plans to liquidate and get out of the market, buy a ranch somewhere, but if you—"

"Where?" she asked, interrupting.

"I haven't really looked yet; either the South or Southwest. As I was saying, if you prefer living in the city, I'll forget about the ranch and—"

"As long as it's somewhere warmer I don't care," she interrupted again. "Though a palm tree or two would be nice."

He went still, looking down at her. She looked back at him, then said, "Tick-tick-tick."

"What's that?"

"That's my biological clock. I think it's about to alarm." His face changed, filling with such heat and passion for a moment she thought she might be ravished right there in the hospital. "Are you certain?"

he asked, and he sounded shaken all' over again.



"I'm terrified," she admitted, her own voice shaking now that she had time to think about what she had just said. "I mean, I might be as lousy a mother as my mother was. But I want—" She swallowed. "I want you, and I want your children."

He laughed softly. "Then, sweetie, we're all yours."




Epilogue


? ^

A Year Later Richard looked up from the ook he was reading. "What time of day were you born?" he asked curiously.

Surprised, she gave him a questioning glance. "What are you reading?" she asked suspiciously.

"Just answer the question."

"I don't know exactly. I think I remember Mom saying I was born a little after sundown, whatever time sundown was. Why?"

He smiled and held up the book. She read the title: Ghosts and Other Spirits. "So?"

He looked down at the page and softly quoted, " 'And there are those who are born on the twilight of certain days who shall be blessed with magic, and have the ability to see spirits."