The Prodigal M.D. Returns Page 17

  Say yes, idiot, before he changes his mind. Say yes! But she had more questions to put to rest, and if she didn't do it now, she never would. "You're not marrying me because of Hannah?"

  Taking the ring, he slipped it carefully on her finger as he spoke. "Of course I'm marrying you because of Hannah." She tried to pull back, but he went on as if she'd held her hand perfectly still. "I'm also marrying you because of Hayley." Releasing her hand, he looked into her eyes. Seeing himself there. As well as the rest of his life. "And because I love you."

  She caught her lower lip between her teeth. Torn. Wanting so hard to believe, yet afraid to surrender. Afraid because if she did, there would be nothing left to rebuild with if someday he did leave her.

  "I'm sorry, Ben, I find it hard to believe that you love me."

  A wicked grin curved his mouth. "I could show you. I've thought about nothing else these last thirty days but showing you," he confessed, his voice growing serious. "In every way possible." He ran his hands up and down her arms. "For a long, long time."

  Her heart had already climbed up into her throat. "Is this your way of wearing me down?"

  The wicked look had worked its way up to his eyes. "How am I doing?"

  Okay, so she had nothing left with which to put up a fight. She knew it was time to surrender with grace. Heather slipped her arms around his neck. There was no point in denying that she was his. Because she was. Lock, stock and barrel. "I think you already know the answer to that."

  With a swift movement Ben picked her up and swept her into his arms. "God, I hope so. But I'm not taking anything for granted."

  She looked at him, very impressed. "That's a new side to you."

  "I know." Still carrying her in his arms, he began to climb the stairs. "It's all part of the new, improved Ben Kerrigan."

  Would he regret this? Regret settling down? "I didn't ask you to change for me."

  "I know. That's why I want to." He paused for a moment to look at her, wanting her to know this above all else. "I want to be part of your life, Heather."

  "You can't be part of it, Ben." Holding her breath, she searched his face, searching to see if he understood. She wasn't sure if he did. So she told him. "You can't be part of it because you're all of it."

  Coming to the landing, he set her down. "But then why did you keep saying no?"

  "Because I didn't want to be hurt. I didn't want to feel, indefinitely, the way I've been feeling this last month. But I realized that it's too late. Trying to shut you out doesn't work. I'm already bound to you, already belong to you. So I might as well take advantage of the situation and enjoy whatever time I have with you."

  Whatever time. "How does forever sound?"

  "It sounds wonderful," she confessed, but she didn't want him making any promises that he couldn't ultimately keep. "But—"

  Ben put his finger to her lips. "No, no but. Forever it is. Forever and always. Because I love you," he told her softly. "Love you to the point that when I think about you, everything inside of me smiles. And when I think of a day without you, there's nothing. No feeling, just a vast emptiness." He framed her face again, thinking how his world began and ended right here, in her eyes. How could he have been so blind all this time? "I don't want that emptiness anymore, Heather. One month was enough. The next time I go to Seattle, you're coming with me."

  "Next time?"

  He nodded. "I raised a lot of money, Heather, but it wasn't a king's ransom. The clinic's going to need more eventually." He grinned. Life was going to be good from now on. "And I know some very wealthy people with money to burn and in need of a good cause to make them feel as if they were contributing to society. Have the girls ever been out of Hades?"

  "No." As far as the girls knew, the only thing beyond the small town was a forest.

  He thought of all the things the city had to offer. "Then they're in a for a treat. But right now," he appealed to her, "I'm in desperate need of a treat myself."

  She wound her arms around his neck, her heart singing. "Can't have Hades's new philanthropic doctor feeling desperate."

  He grinned. "Glad we're on the same page."

  She glanced toward her room down the hall. "I'd rather have us on the same bed."

  He lifted her up into his arms again and began walking toward her room. "No sooner asked than done," he promised. And then, to prove he meant what he said and to seal the deal, Ben kissed her. For a very long time.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7048-4

  THE PRODIGAL M.D. RETURNS

  Copyright © 2006 by Marie Rydzynski-Ferrarella

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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  Table of Contents

  Letter to Reader

  MARIE FERRARELLA

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen