Between The Lines

Chapter 8

The next morning Amber used her key to let herself into Cormick Grayson's home at the usual time. He had given her the key shortly after she'd started working for him. The house was a strikingly modern structure built with walls of windows to take advantage of the view of Lake Washington. The interiors were influenced by the serene Japanese style of design. Allowances had been made for American notions of comfort and for Cormick Grayson's size, but a tranquil, clean-lined look had been achieved. Amber liked the house very much. She stood for a moment on the sleek hardwood floors of the expansive living room and admired the view.
"Is that you, Amber?" Gray called from the kitchen.
"Unless you've given a key to someone else," she retorted lightly.
Gray appeared in the wise doorway that separated the dining area from the living room. He was carrying two cups of tea.
"No one else has a key," he told her gently.
"You know that."
"Ummm." Feeling unexpectedly nervous all of a sudden, Amber went toward him to take one of the mugs of tea. "Then it must be me."
"Brilliant deduction. Did you make your decision?" Gray asked blandly
Amber's fingers trembled slughtly as she gripped the mug. There was no reason for this attack of anxiety, she told helself. Cormick Grayson was hardly the sort of man to inspire anxiety of any kind. The man had simply asked her to marry him. it was quite obvious that for him the matter was no big deal, ao why on earth was she getting nervous? Amber summoned a smile. "You're absolutely positive this is the kind of marriage you want, Gray?"
His hazel eyes were half concealedbehind lazily lowered lashes. "I'm positive."
Amber took a deep breath. "Then, yes, please, I would like to marry you. Thank you for asking me."
He took a sip of tea and atudied her over the rim of the mug. His hazel gaze was unreadable, but when he lowered the cup there was a faint curve edging the hard like of his mouth. "Thank you for accepting. I'll make the arrangements thia afternoon. You don't mind if we keep it very small?"
Amber shook her head, wondering whybshe felt a vague sense of disappointment. Surely she hadn't been ezpecting anything more than a quiet, businesslike acceptance of her answer. "I'd prefer to keep the wedding small. I'll only be inviting my sister and her husband."
"Fine. We'll take them out to dinner after ceremony." Gray took another sip of tea, his expression thoughtful as though he were already working through the details in his mind.
Impulsively Amber touched his sleeve.
"I'll try to be a good wife to you, Gray."
He smiled, but his eyes were still gleaming with an unreadable emotion. "I know." He hesitated and then said very seriously, "I'll do my best to be a good husband to ulyou, Amber."
She look d up at him searchingly, uncertain of what ahe should say or do next. It was all very well tp talk about a passionless arrangement, but somehow this quiet discussion of such a major event was a little too placid. "Gray . . . ."
He lowered his head and brushed her mouth lightly with his own. The brief caress was warm and affectionate, but not much else. Amber closed her eyes, and her fingers tightened on the sleeve of Gray's shirt until she could feel the sinewed strength of his arm. She didn't know what she expected or even what she wanted. Amber just knoew she wanted more than the light, meaningless kiss ahe had just received
She felt Gray go still for a moment and then veey carefully he removes the mug of tea from her hand and set it down beside his on a nearby table. Without a word he pulled Amber into his arms.