Forgotten Dreams (20 page)

Steven.

"I'm sorry, Steven," she said quietly. She pushed back her chair and stood, one hand going to the front of the robe and holding it together. "I ... really

"At a loss for words, Toni?" Steven said with a sneer. "No wonder you didn't want me to follow you. You'd already decided to have a go at a bigger fish, hadn't you?"

Toni stared at him with dark eyes gone cold with anger. "The last time we had a similar confrontation, Steven, I distinctly remember you telling me I should ignore whatever embarrassment you might have caused me, and be thankful that I'd soon be your wife.

"Well . . ." She released her hold on the front of the robe in order to cross her arms over her chest, her palms cupping her elbows. "I suggest you take some of your own advice. Why don't you ignore whatever embarrassment you might have caused me by coming here today, and be thankful that I didn't take a horsewhip to your worthless hide the minute I set eyes on you!"

A dull red stain spread over Steven's face at her attack. "Still the same smart-mouthed little bitch, aren't you?" he snarled. "I wonder how long it will be

before Barr tires of you and tosses you aside?"

Without warning, a raging Christian materialized in with startled eyes as her former fiance was gripped by one arm and swung completely around to face her future husband.

"You never learn, do you, Crowell?" Christisn growled, his face contorted with anger. "Antonia will soon be my wife, and no one talks to her the way you've just done."

Toni saw Steven's free hand clench into a fist; she saw his arm begin an upward motion that would ulti mately collide with Christian's jaw.

But Christian was the faster of the two. She could hardly believe the speed with which he blocked the uppercut.

The next few seconds would always remain somewhat of a blur in Toni's mind. With the same quickness, Christian hustled Steven through the house and nearly threw him out the front door.

Several minutes passed before he returned to the kitchen and Toni, who was calmly clearing the table and placing the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

She glanced up at him as he walked over and stood close beside her. "I'm sorry that you always seem to be fighting my battles," she said quietly.

"I'm not." Christian grinned. "As I told you last night, Antonia, life with you is so peaceful . . . so tranquil."

"I also remember telling you once that I wasn't sure you had the stamina to pursue me." She gave him a mischievous grin. "Are you still game?" she asked

huskily.

"I thought I'd settled that point once and for all he said calmly, then leaned down, swept her up into his arms, and walked into the bedroom. "Obviously I need to restate my claim."

"Oh, I understood the first effort on your behalf, Mr Barr,” she said with a contented sigh, her arms stealing around his neck. “ But I do like to see a man put his whole heart into a project, don’t you? I keep remembering something about ‘ [ractice makes perfect.’ Do you get my drift?”

“Indeed, Miss” Grant, indeed,” Christian agreed. “ I have three days in which to practice,” he said huskily as he laid her on the bed, then began to remove his clothes.

“Does that meet with your approval?”

“I approve of you.” Toni smiled as she shrugged off the robe and then opend her arms to him. “ Always and forever,” she whispered as his large, tanned body covered hers and his strong arms swallowed her.

“ I love you , Antonia,” he rasped hoarsely as he took her.

“ I love you, Christian,” Toni whispered as magic surronded them and ushered them upwards to an ex-ploding world of passion and desire.