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.'Your engagement ring.If you like it.If you don't ''Of course I like it!' She was still staring at the beautiful ring.'You chose it for me, so of course I love it.It's really beautiful.Put it on for me.She held outher hand, the nails painted the same vivid red as her lip gloss.It was slightly loose on her finger, but not so loose it would fall off.'I'll get it made smaller while we're on our honeymoon,' Alex promised.'Oh, it doesn't matter ''Do you want to lose it?'Considering that it looked as if it cost a fortune she certainly didn't want to do that.She shot her head.'Okay.But it stays where it is until I have the plain gold band to take its place.It is going to be plain gold, isn't it?"Alex chuckled as he opened the car door for her.'When you aren't losing your temper you're quite bubbly, aren't you?' he teased.'I don't get engaged every day of the week, Mr Hammond!''Believe it or not, neither do I,' he said dryly, driving the Mercedes with his usual skill.'Have you ever been engaged before?"'No.''Married?''No,' he derided.'Well, Glenna never mentioned it, and I was—I was curious.' And now she knew that he hadn't actually made any commitment to the woman who had hurt him so badly.That was encouraging at least.'Well, don't be,' he taunted.'I've never been engaged, married, or into serious relationships for any long period of time.''Neither have I,' she told him lightly.'No?' he mocked.Morgan shot him a sharp look, not liking his tone at all.'I refuse to argue with you tonight, Alex, not when we've just become engaged.''Why should you want to?'"Because I think you just insulted me!''I did?Tou know you did,' she said crossly.'But you'll see, Alex, you're wrong about me, so very wrong.'His eyes were glacial, his jaw rigid.'Am I? I doubt it' He heaved a deep sigh.'As you said, let's not argue tonight.I hope you like the restaurant I've chosen,' he firmly changed the subject.'I'm sure I shall!'His mouth softened.'Don't be angry with me, Morgan.There are thirty-eight years of cynicism and scepticism that you have to deal with.'Her eyes flashed deeply green.'And there are twenty-six years of independence and honesty you have to deal with!'Alex touched her cheek gently.'I'll cope.''So will I!' she vowed determinedly.The restaurant was very full, although they were somehow shown to one of the best tables in the place, a secluded table in one corner of the room.The restaurant was styled like an old country inn, the service friendly and intimate, the lighting a soft red glow.I like it,' Morgan told Alex once they were seated.T hoped you would.' He nodded briefly to the waiter as he arrived with their champagne.'To us,' he toasted her minutes later.'To us,' she echoed fervently.Alex sipped the bubbly wine, looking at her speculatively.'That sounded very intense!'She met his gaze steadily.'I'm a very intense person.''I've noticed!''And I don't just mean my temper,' she glared at him.'Let's order,' he suggested gently.'Are you always going to shut me up by feeding me or kissing me?' she asked in a disgruntled voice.ioNo,' he told her softly once the waiter had left with their order.'Once we're married I'm going to use a much more effective method.The way I remember it, you're a silent lover—except for those deliciously spine-tingling noises you make in your throat.''Alex!' For all her sophistication colour flooded her cheeks, and she looked about them self-consciously.'Indeed, Alex,' he drawled.'What have you done to me, Morgan McKay? I've never been known to engage in conversations like this before.''You were never going to be married before, she teased, loving him so much she ached for him.'But you said earlier that I wouldn't be sharing your bedroom when we're married/ she reminded him with a frown.He shook his head.'I said you wouldn't be moving into my room at the house, and you won't be.I thought we could go and look at houses tomorrow if you're feeling up to it after your flight.' He quirked dark brows questioningly.Morgan frowned.'Houses.? You mean, of our own?' she gasped her surprise.'Of course.''Just the three of us?''And a housekeeper, and possibly a maid or two.I trust you have no objection to someone else doing the cooking and cleaning while you take care of Courtney?' he mocked.'No.But—Your mother?' she frowned.'Doesn't like the idea at all,' he confirmed drvly.'Then why-- ''I'm not marrying to please my mother, Morgan.Far from it!' he rasped, revealing more than words the pressure he had been under during her week of absence to change his mind about marrying her.'But I remember the problems you said you had facing you, and buying our own house would solve two of them—seeing too much of my mother and living in I bouse as her.You've chosen for us all to r England, so obviously you feel you can cope with tba.The last problem I am unable to do anything about,' be finished harshly.That they didn't love each other! No, they didn t, but she loved him, and she was going to do her damnedest to make him fall in love with her.'Tell me some more about the houses, she encouraged huskily.He gave her a searching look.'You like the idea, he said at last.'I love it!' she smiled.'Although not too far Irom your mother, so that she can visit Courtney whenever she wants to.''After the way she's treated you that's very generousof you,' he said stiffly.'She's his grandmother,' she explained simply.They had an enjoyable meal together, in fact it was a long time since Morgan could remember enjoying herself like this.Perhaps she never had; she had never been in love before.'Nightcap?' Alex queried huskily when they got back to the house, a silent house where the servants had already gone to bed.She was very conscious of the fart that there was no malignant presence of Rita Hammond upstairs tonight just waiting for their ascent, and that fact alone made her feel almost lightheaded.Or perhaps it was the champagne doing that? She didn't care what it was, she loved the feeling.'I'd love one
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