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Some emotion she struggled to interpret flickered in his dark silk-framed eyes. ‘You would?’
She nodded. ‘So long as she’s not exposed to... Er... I mean, I’ll need you to keep your private life quite separate from her—that’s non-negotiable,’ she told him earnestly.
‘So no wild orgies in the nursery, then.’
‘You know what I mean.’ This was hard enough without him mocking her.
‘Relax. That offer is no longer on the table.’
Her face fell and she half turned to hide her mortification but a hand on her shoulder pulled her back.
‘I don’t want a wall between us.’ He curved one hand around the side of her face and looked deep into her eyes. ‘I don’t even want air between us.’ He bent down and fitted his mouth to hers. The kiss was deep and hungry and tinged with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes.
She emerged breathless.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ he said.
She looked at him with shiny eyes and thought,That’s more than I do!Her mind was in a whirl and she barely knew if she was sitting or standing, but she was definitely floating, though a voice in her head was still telling her to be cautious.
‘I’m not asking you to leave work if you don’t want to. We can buy a house near this school. There’s a small estate for sale within commuting distance and—’
She lifted a hand to his lips to quiet him for a moment, as her head was reeling. ‘Are you asking me to move in with you...’ she paused ‘...for Ellie?’
‘No, I’m asking you to move in with me for me,’ he said huskily, taking her hand and pressing it to his chest. ‘I’ve a Gwen-sized hole inside me and if you leave me, I’ll always feel this way. There wasnothing,’ he emphasised, ‘going on that night with Rachel. She was grief-stricken and drunk, and I was cornered and actually relieved to see you.’
‘I think I already knew that. I just wanted—’
‘To hear me say it,’ he completed with a deep sigh. ‘And you deserved that.’ He lifted both hands to his head and pushed his fingers deep into his hair. ‘Just...just be with me, Gwen. I’ll try to be the person you need. I swear I will. I love you and I’ve been trying to pretend I didn’t because I was scared...a coward...but I’m not running from love any more. Marry me, Gwen, and be my family.’
By the time he had finished the sobs were shaking her body and tears were running down her cheeks.
‘Please tell me that means you’re happy,’ he begged, wiping away the tears with the pad of his thumb as he bent in to kiss her salty lips.
She nodded. ‘It’s just I was so miserable and now I’m so happy! Oh, I love you so much, Rio. I think I always did right from that very first time we were together. A lot has changed since then but not that.’ She suddenly gave a little laugh of pure joy. ‘Is this real? Is it really happening?’
‘I know I’m not good enough for you, Gwen, but I promise I’ll try to be. You will marry me?’
She nodded, her emotions glowing in her eyes. ‘Oh, yes, I’ll marry you—and you are good enough for me,’ she declared fiercely. ‘You’re the best man I know and Ellie loves you too.’
He took her hands in his and lifted them to his lips. ‘When I think of you being all alone it kills me, giving birth and no one to be there for you. It’ll be different next time!’
‘Next time?’ she echoed.
He searched her face, a shade of concern in his eyes. ‘If you want a next time, Gwen. For me, I already have everything I want in you and Ellie.’
‘Well, actually, yesterday Ellie was saying she’d like a baby...’
A smile glimmered in his eyes. ‘Really?’
‘Or a cow.’
He gave a laugh, and she loved the sound.
‘I love her but I draw the line at having a cow.’
‘She’ll be sad but I think she might be happy enough with a baby brother or sister.’
‘Or one of each.’
She caught his hands and put them on her hips before stretching up to kiss his mouth. ‘It’s negotiable, but in the meantime make yourself useful and blow up your daughter’s paddling pool.’
He grinned. ‘I have a much better use for my breath.’
He absolutely did.
