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“It was time and I needed to make a statement I’d changed.”
His other hand went to her waist. “You did that with your wardrobe alone.”
“You noticed? The way you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder, I thought you might not have.”
He trailed his fingers over her hip. “Oh, I noticed and so did the male interns. I might have spoken a little harshly to one after I caught him watching you walk away.”
“So, I’m not the only one who has jealousy issues.” She cupped his face. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I just couldn’t get things straight in my head. I was so eaten up with envy and confused about my life that I couldn’t think straight.”
“Have you got it figured out?”
“You were right.” Her hands ran over his shoulders to stop at his biceps as she looked into his eyes. “Alexis had no idea. She and I had a long talk. I discovered I’ve being using her as a security blanket all my life. I needed to find my own identity.”
“Do you still want what Alexis has?”
“No.”
His heart fell, taking his hope with it. She didn’t want a family any more. Which meant that even if she loved him, which she hadn’t said she did, it would never work between them. He wanted children. He wasn’t staying around to have his heart trampled twice.
He took a step back and let his hands fall to his sides. “I understand. I just came by to apologize for embarrassing you. I won’t let it happen again.”
“Ryan.” She caught his hand as he turned. “I don’t think you do understand.”
He looked at their hands then up at her face.
“I don’t want what Alexis has. I want more. A husband of my own and lots and lots of children.”
His heart fluttered and started to live again. “And who do you plan to have father these children?” he asked, moving close again.
“I was hoping you might consider the job,” she said with a flicker of shy lashes that he found alluring. “I love you, Ryan O’Doherty. With all my heart. Do you maybe still care for me?”
He swept her up into his arms again, holding her as tight as he dared. Joy surged through him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him just as tightly.
“I love you,” she said over and over.
He moved so that he could see her face. It was killing him to have to ask but he had to know. “You’re sure that you’re not just replacing Alexis with me?”
She cupped his cheek again. “I’m not. For the first time in my life I’m an individual. I could survive on my own. But I don’t want to. I want you.”
Ryan hugged her close. Minutes went by before he let her slide down him. His lips hovered close to hers. “I love you, too. Never stopped and never will.”
Long, wonderful, contented and soul-filling hours later, Ryan rolled over in his bed to look at Lucy naked beside him. She’d come a long way, not once trying to conceal herself or prevent him from looking until he’d had his fill. Not even an argument when he’d wanted to make love to her with the lights on.
Unable to resist, he dipped down to kiss her rosy lips before he asked, “When do you think Alexis and Sam will visit again?”
Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t know. Why?”
Leaning over her, he kissed away the crease. “I thought we might invite them to a wedding if they could come back soon.”
“And if they can’t come back soon?” She trailed fingers over his chest.
“Then they may miss it,” he growled as her fingers traveled lower.
Her gaze left her fingers to come up and meet his. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
He grinned. “Lucy Edwards, I promise to give you that family you dream of. You’ll always be a part of me, never alone again. You are my life. I love you. Will you marry me?”
Those blue eyes she loved expressed that love so clearly. She wrapped her arms around Ryan’s neck and pulled him closer. Precious minutes later her lips released his. “Oh, yes, I’ll marry you. Whenever you say.”
She put her head down on his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. The one that held her in it. “I’ve been thinking.”
“I’m not sure I like that idea.’
Lucy gave him a nip with her teeth. “Not funny.” She rose so that she could see his eyes. “I was just thinking about how much I admire how close you and your family are. And how far apart mine has been for so long. I’d like to invite my parents to the wedding. It’s time someone reached out and tried to build some kind of connection. Maybe a wedding is a good place to begin.”
He covered her body with his and his mouth rumbled against hers. “I think that’s a great idea. Now, how about we practice that having a family of our own idea?”
“You have to ask?” She gave him a quick kiss. “You make me happy, Ryan. Something I’ve not been in a long time.”
“I aim to please.”
“The O’Doherty way,” she whispered, as his mouth took hers in a kiss warm with promises of tomorrows to come.
