No Red Roses

She jumped to her feet and ran through the crowded tables toward the exit.

"Tamara!" Her name shouted over the mike reverberated around the room, but she didn't stop. Then she heard a woman's shrill scream of horror and looked back.

Rex lay on the floor in front of the stage, his body ominously still. The people in the audience were suddenly milling about excitedly. Someone called out for a doctor. Good Lord, what had happened? He'd obviously leaped down from the stage to follow her. Had he lost his balance and fallen? She was suddenly ru

There was a crowd around his limp body now, and she elbowed them aside and fell to her knees beside him. "Rex!" she sobbed, anxiously feeling for a pulse in his wrist.

With lightning swiftness his other hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist as his dark eyes flicked open. "It's about time," he said grimly. He sat up and dusted off his clothes with one hand, still holding on to her with iron inflexibility. "This floor is damn hard."

She stared at him incredulously. "You were faking!"

He nodded curtly. "I knew I didn't stand a chance of catching up with you, so I decided to make you come to me."

"That's terrible!" Tamara said indignantly. "What a horrible trick."

He got to his feet, bringing her with him, and threw a warm, endearing smile to the circle of fans around them. "Sorry for the bother, folks. My lady is acting a bit crazy tonight."

There were amused chuckles from the crowd which parted as Rex headed swiftly for the door, dragging Tamara behind him. She didn't have the time or breath to protest until they were in the elevator on their way to the penthouse.

"Your grandstand play was entirely u

"I couldn't take the chance," he snapped. "I wasn't about to have you ru

She shook her head. "I think I'll go make some coffee. Would you like some?" Anything to avoid the painful conversation that was to come.

"You're not going anywhere until we get a few things straight," he growled. "I've been going crazy all day since I left you, and I'm not about to put up with any more of your evasions. Our relationship has had enough misunderstandings and general fireworks without your closing up on me now."

She didn't answer, and he ran his hand through his jet black hair. "It had something to do with the flowers, didn't it? You were fine until I gave you the camellias."

Her throat was so tight she couldn't speak. Her eyes were wide and pained in her pale face. She shook her head dumbly.

He was beside her in four steps, his hands grasping her shoulders and shaking her roughly. "Damn it, answer me! I can't stand this any more. What the hell was wrong with those camellias?"

"Nothing," she gasped. "They were beautiful." Then the tears were raining down her face and she almost wailed, "But they weren't red roses, damn it!"

"Red roses!" Rex's face was blank. "You put me through this hell over roses?"

She nodded, hiding her face in his shirt. "You've never given me roses," she mumbled. "Everything else, but no red roses."

He went still, then pushed her away from him to look searchingly into her face. "And did you want me to give you red roses?" he asked hoarsely. His arms crushed her to him in a breathless embrace. "Good Lord, why didn't you tell me? Do you know how careful I've had to be? Have you any idea how many flower meanings have something to do with love?"

"Careful?"

"You're damn right. I was scared silly I'd frighten you off with any hint of commitment. I'd bulldozed and blackmailed you since the first evening we met. I didn't dare put any additional pressure on you. I was afraid you'd panic and run."

"I don't understand." She looked up at him bewilderedly. Her head was whirling. She'd thought she would never see the tough, aggressive Rex Brody caught in a situation that would intimidate him.

His lips twisted. "For a bright girl, you can be remarkably dense, Tamara. Do I have to spell it out for you? I could give you a roomful of red roses and it wouldn't say enough." He buried his face in her hair and said thickly, "I love you, sweetheart."

She stiffened as if she'd been struck by lightning, and he felt it. "Don't freeze up on me," he said, his lips on her ear and his arms tightening possessively. "I'm not going to rush you. Now that I've broken through that wall of reserve around you, I can wait. You don't have to marry me. Just stay with me, love." His voice was low and shaking. "I'll give you anything you want, but don't leave me. I don't think I could stand it without you now, babe."

She wanted to put her arms about him and hold him forever. She wanted to say something beautifully eloquent and meaningful that he would remember and look back on tenderly. But she was exploding with happiness inside and all she could do was try to lighten the atmosphere a little before she became completely inarticulate.

Her tone was tenderly teasing. "Will you write me another song?"

"I'll write you a symphony," he promised extravagantly, kissing her ear.

"What about that boutique on Rodeo Drive?"

"London and Paris, too. You can open a chain."

She slid her arms up to his shoulders and around his neck to toy with the thick, crisp hair at the nape of his neck. "And will you give me a baby, Rex?" she whispered.

He pushed her away a little to look down at her, his dark eyes grave. "You'll have to marry me for that, babe," he said quietly. "I know it's outdated, but I want my child to have his father's name."

She smiled up at him, and he inhaled sharply as he caught a glimpse of that star like radiance shining out of her. "You're being so generous I think it's only fair that I make an honest man of you." She buried her head against his shoulder. "I don't want anything but you," she said with aching tenderness. "Do I have to send you red roses, too?"

"You love me?" His tone was incredulous and she had to chuckle.

"How could I help it? You've told me yourself how irresistible you are," she teased. She kissed the trip hammer pulse beat in his throat. "I adore you." She kissed the tip of his nose. "I idolize you." She kissed his lips with lingering sweetness. "I love you. Is that enough for you?"

"It may be too much," he said hoarsely, giving her back a kiss that was far more passionate than the ones he'd received. "I have a vague hunch that we should talk some more, but it had better be the shortest discussion on record. Last night was much too long ago."

She pushed him gently away and shook her head firmly. "No way. You have a few explanations to make, Rex Brody."

His dark eyes twinkled mischievously. "I was just being considerate, babe," he said i

Soothing! Tamara felt oddly breathless as she remembered just what Rex considered a soothing shower. He was right. It had been too long and she was as hungry for him as he was for her.

"Later," she promised, with no little effort. She released herself from the warm temptation of his embrace and backed away to perch on a stool at the bar. "How long have you loved me?"

He sighed in resignation and answered absently as his flickering gaze lingered on the silken smoothness of her shoulders. "Since that first night," he admitted. "At first I thought I just wanted to drag you into the nearest bed, but at the Bettencourts' party I knew for sure." He shook his head wryly. "It hit me like a ton of bricks when I watched you walk out of that ballroom like a martyred empress. It really threw me for a loop. I was torn between wanting to throw my cloak down for you to walk on and breaking your lovely little neck for making me feel that way." He sighed again. "And then you cried, and I knew I was really and truly lost. I had to have you any way I could get you. When I arrived at the party, I fully intended to tell you I wasn't going to pursue the matter with your aunt any further."