Playing His Game Part 23

her. He didn't squeeze her into a hug because of the bruised ribs, but he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth.

"I love you."

She threw her arms around him, then stiffened at the pain that shot through her. "How long have you

loved me?"

"I'm not a romantic fool..."

Mya snorted.

He gave her a repressive look before continuing. "But I think I loved you the moment I laid eyes on you.

I didn't admit that romantic notion to myself, at first. It took me a while to realize that it wasn't just l.u.s.t,

and by then I couldn't live without you." He frowned. "When did you realize you loved me?"

"The first time we made love. You were so gentle, and you cared so much about pleasing me. I think I recognized your love, and it forced me to acknowledge my own. I just didn't realize it at first." She touched his face and smoothed her finger across his mustache. "I was terrified."

"Why?" He shook his head. "Dumb question. You were engaged to Bobby..."

"Mostly it was because I didn't know how you would react. Obviously falling in love wasn't part of your game." Mya's frowned at him. "Exactly how long have you been playing this stupid game anyway?"

Roarke held up one finger. "Just with you."

Her mouth fell open, then closed with a snap. "But you seemed to know exactly what you were doing."

She glared at him. "Like you'd done it many times before."

He laughed. "I got the inspiration from a screenplay on my desk. The playboy seduces a naive innocent.

He ends up falling for her. Hard."

Mya didn't know whether to laugh or hit him. "You started all this because of a script?"

He nodded.

She shook her head. "What if the author had never written it?"

His stomach clenched at the thought, but he tried to smile. "I still would have stolen you from Bobby."

She smoothed a hand through his hair. "You didn't steal anything, Roarke. You didn't sneak your way

into my heart or bed through seduction or coercion. What I gave to you was given freely."

"What's that?"

"My heart."

He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers, careful to avoid the bandage. "Will you stay here

in L.A.?"

"Do you want me to move in with you?"

Roarke shook his head, then nodded. "Yes, but I want you to marry me too."

"Really?" Her eyes sparkled. It was more than she had dared to hope. Mya had vaguely thought he might

keep her around as his mistress, but she had never expected a proposal. "I'll probably say yes."

His eyes darkened. "Probably?"

She grinned at him. "As long as my family likes you. They hated Bobby, so they must be excellent judges

of character." She giggled at his pained expression and brushed her lips against his. "My sister likes you.

That's good enough for me."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

Epilogue.

Happily Ever After.

Several months later, Mya entered Roarke's home office to find him deeply engrossed in a dog-eared script. She plopped her robe-covered f.a.n.n.y onto the corner of his desk. "Whatcha doing?" She twisted the gold bands on her finger absently. It was still difficult at times to believe she was his wife. Some days, she still couldn't believe she had married him a little over a month ago. The new definitely hadn't worn off.

He lifted Playing His Game to show her the t.i.tle. "Debating about whether to option this. I don't want my secret weapon to leak out."

"I think you should. It could be a very romantic movie."

He frowned. "The ending is unrealistic."

Mya nodded sympathetically as she scooted her bottom to move closer to him. "Who would believe something like that could have a happy ending?"

Roarke dropped the script onto the desk and slid her in front of him to wrap his arms around her waist. "You don't think anyone would believe that?"

"Nah. You should probably ask the writer to change the ending."

"It is for Hollywood. People are a sucker for love stories with a happy ending."

Mya giggled as he moved his hand from her waist to venture under the white silk robe she wore. She could tell the exact instant when he realized she wore nothing under it by the way his eyes widened and his breath grew ragged. "You should leave it as it is. I know I'm a sucker for a happy ending."

The End.

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