Lifelong Affair by Carole Mortimer

you're away. There's no    rush,    a   few    weeks    isn't   going    to   make   any difference. And I believe it's
something you do need to think about.' 'You didn't,' she pointed
out softly. 'Not for long, no,' he admitted. 'But then it's different for me, I
have nothing to lose by marrying you.' 'Your freedom?'
    His
mouth twisted derisively. 'That isn't so much. And I would be gaining so much
more, a beautiful wife, a healthy son.'
    Morgan
blushed at the compliment. 'It really does need thinking about, Alex.'
    'Take
all the time you need. I won't rush you.' The thinking began that night, to
such an extreme that she hardly slept. She looked at Alex's idea from every
angle, and every time she came up with the same answer. But it was an answer
she didn't want. America was her home, with Sam as her boy-friend, and her
parents not too far away; she didn't need a complicated man like Alex Hammond
in her life. He had the depths of no man she had ever met before!
    She
almost turned and ran when she entered the dining-room the next morning to find
only Rita Hammond there. The other woman took great pleasure in telling her that
Alex had already eaten and was in his study doing some last-minute work before
driving her to the airport.
    'But
it gives us a chance to talk alone,' Rita Hammond added warningly.
    Morgan
instantly stiffened, deciding coffee was all e could stomach this morning if
the other woman was going to start being insulting.
    "What
did Alex want to talk to you about last night?
    Her
eyes widened at this open attack—talk about straight for the jugular! 'He
didn't tell you?' she prevaricated.
    Rita
shot her a vehement look. 'I would hardly be iiin. if that were the case. Alex
has always been i—solitary person. I have no doubt he'll tell me, in
time.'
    But
you'd rather not wait?' Morgan derided.
    No,'
Rita agreed tautly.
    Morgan
drew in a deep breath, sipping her coffee skrwly. 'I can't tell you either, Mrs
Hammond,' she gave the only answer she could in the circumstances. 'If Alex had
wanted you to know he would have told you. I'm afraid you'll just have to wait
until he decides to tell you.'
    The
other woman's face became an ugly mask in her anger. 'Don't get clever with me
on the basis of one kiss, Morgan!' she rasped. A little comforting got out of
hand, I refuse to believe it was any more than that!'
    'Believe
away,' she shrugged dismissively. 'I can't add to that.'
    'You
don't need to,' Rita scorned. 'I have more faith in Alex than to believe he
would become seriously involved with a woman like you.'
    'That
will be enough!' Alex spoke coldly from the doorway behind them. 'I will not
have you insulting Morgan any more, Mother,' he added tautly.
    'But --- '
    'I'm
ready to leave for the airport now if you are, Morgan,' he cut across his
mother's protest.
    She
gave him a grateful smile and stood up. 'I just have to say goodbye to
Courtney.'
    'He'll
hardly know anything about it,' the older woman derided, still pale from
her son's anger with her.
    'And
it isn't goodbye,' Alex added softly.
    'It
isn't?' his mother demanded sharply, forgetting to be wary of his biting tongue
in her surprise.
    He
looked at her with chilling grey eyes. 'Morgan intends returning to us in a few
weeks' time,' he informed her.
    'I
didn't know that,' his mother flushed.
    'Oh,
Morgan always intended to return, she has Courtney's future to think of.
Doesn't she?' He looked at Morgan challengingly.
    Her
gaze was caught and held by his. 'I do,' she acknowledged softly. 'I'm just not
sure what it's going to be yet, she added the last for him alone.
    'I
told you, there's no hurry,' he soothed gently.
    She
knew that he was just assuring her that he hadn't changed his mind since last
night, and she was grateful for that. She had finally drifted off to sleep
about four o'clock this morning, waking with a start what seemed like minutes
later, sure that she must have dreamt it all, that Alex Hammond hadn't really
asked her to marry him.