Page 83 of Sweet Siren
He sighed. "Of course, she was right. I changed. I learned to build prosperity for those who work for me and I studied pricing to pay fairly for anything I bought. Occasionally, recognizing the potential of a product or a business, I paid more. I stilldo."
"I've heard that'strue."
"But you've paid a price for my greed," he said with anguish. "If I could change that, Iwould."
"Much as I wish it, I don’t need that. I’ve come to terms with my past and learned from it. Changed. For the better, Ibelieve."
"I’m pleased to hear it. But I will tell you one thing I've learned. To go to America is to leave your past behind and to work for a better life. But to become an American is to believe you can become a betterperson."
That filled her with hope. "There is only one way to ameliorate the past. If you can forgive yourself, it is the best beginning. And then there is this." She fished from her skirt pocket the gold ring he'd offered her that day inParis.
His face fell. "You're giving it back tome?"
"I saved it," she said and put it in his hand, curling his fingers over it. "Frankly, I had no idea what to do with it. At first, thatis."
"You can't forgive me," he said it like a deathsentence.
Tears pooled on her lashes. "I hoped you might offer it to meagain."
His silver eyes glistened with his own tears. "You want me to ask you to marryme?"
"I hoped you would. I could ask you, of course, if you'd excuse the impropriety of it. Whichever you choose, I don't care. I want it done. Above all, I believe the best way to forgive the past may well be to live a future filled with proper loving care for eachother."
He shook his head. "Liv, this isextraordinary."
She knew his hesitancy had everything to do with what she had not yet said. "What you were affected us all. But that was yesterday. You and I could choose to live apart, reflecting on those dark days until we die, but what real happiness might that bring either ofus?"
She cupped his jaw. "We've both changed. You are richer but wiser. I am stronger and I hope wise enough to forgive the past. My darling, I love you. I love you as you've become. So if you'll be good enough to ask me once more to marry you, I'd like toaccept."
He took the ring and slid it onto her finger. "To wear down the rough edges of each of ourpersonalities."
"To become betterpeople."
"Marry me, please,Liv."
Her heart filled with all the possibilities their lives together held. "Iwill."
"Say thatagain."
She laughed and hugged him. "I will. I love you. Now do you mind, dear sir, if I kissyou?"
"Here?" His eyes danced. "In front of all thesepeople?"
"In front of anyone, everyone, everywhere, Killian. I don't care who sees that I loveyou."
He swung her up and around in his arms. Then he stopped and caught her face between his large warm hands and his lips were on hers, a promise of a magnificent future. "I loveyou."
