“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.
“I know.” He kissed her neck. “And I pledge to spend the rest of my life reminding you of why.”
As his lips closed over hers, Rayne felt the ghost of Monique that she’d carried around for a lifetime simply floating away, leaving only Rayne.
She leaned back to see his face. “What now?”
His handsome face spread to a wide grin. “I thought you’d never ask. Let’s go back to my place.”
She frowned in annoyance. “No, I mean where do we go from here?”
“That depends on you.” He released her long enough to reach up around his neck and pull a chain from beneath his shirt.
Rayne gasped and covered her mouth, realizing that dangling from the chain was the yellow diamond engagement ring he’d given her before.
“I believe this belongs to you.” He took the ring off the chain and gently placed it in the palm of her hand. “Whenever you’re ready to wear it.”
She looked up at him unable to hide the tears in her eyes. “But…why?” She looked at the ring in her palm and back to the man she loved. “Why did you hold on to it?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess some part of me still believed.”
Rayne was too stunned to do anything but stand staring at the ring.
Tristan lifted her chin until they were eye to eye once more. “So, Rayne, where do you want to go from here?”
Rayne bit her bottom lip, considering. She didn’t want to spoil the perfect moment but she needed to know where he stood on a certain issue. “Would you be willing to move back to New York?”
“Yes, I know how much Optimus means to you. But, Rayne…when we start having children I would like you to at least consider moving back to Albany.”
Her eyes widened. “Children?”
His smile fell as sadness entered his eyes. “You don’t want children?”
She smiled. “I never thought about it.”
He placed another quick kiss on her lips. “Well, think about it. Personally, I would like to have at least one.”
She cupped his face in her hands. “A little Tristan.”
“Or a little Rayne.”
Her expression turned thoughtful. “A baby,” she whispered in awe.
Tristan smiled, seeing the wistfulness she had no idea was reflected in her eyes. “Just think about it. We have time.”
She quickly slipped the diamond ring on her finger and huffed loudly. “Maybe you do, but my biological clock is ticking. I’m almost thirty, remember?”
He took her hand and headed toward the door with the intention of taking her back to his apartment. “Well, then, we don’t have a moment to waste.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5527-6
RHYTHMS OF LOVE
Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
YOU SANG TO ME
Copyright © 2010 by Beverly Jenkins
BEATS OF MY HEART
Copyright © 2010 by Elaine Overton
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