She watched Gareth struggle to maintain his straight face. “Um…that would be a no.”
“Man!” Nicholas heaved a heavy sigh, then gave a prosaic shrug of his shoulders. “Oh, well. We can still get married if you want.”
“Nicholas – ” Gwyn moved to crouch beside her son, but a strong hand on her arm stopped her and drew her back up again.
“It’s not quite what I had in mind,” Gareth said quietly, “but I’m learning that not much goes according to plan where your kids are involved. And besides, I do want.”
Her world went very still.
Gareth smiled a slow, unhurried smile that made her toes curl against the floor. With strong, capable, infinitely gentle fingers, he brushed back the hair from her face.
“I want,” he continued, “to have you beside me for the rest of my life. I want to share your home, and your family, and your heart. I want to face every day with you; to laugh with you; to lighten your load in every way I can. I want to hold you in my arms every night and make love to you every chance I get. I want, my darling Gwynneth with two n’s, to be your husband, if you’ll have me.”
“Is that a yes?” Nicholas asked, tugging at Gwyn’s sweater. “Are we getting married?”
The intrusion jolted Gwyn out of a stupor that might have otherwise rendered her catatonic. She smiled down at her son, and then raised her face to Gareth.
“Yes, Nicky,” she said. Joy swelled in her, chasing away every last shred of insecurity she had ever experienced. “That’s a yes. We’re getting married.”
Gareth’s eyes locked with hers, his love an unmistakable blaze in their depths as his arms slipped around her.
“Now can we have a party?” Maggie demanded, wedging herself between Gwyn and the wall and gazing up expectantly.
Ignoring the new intruder, Gareth completed his enfolding of Gwyn, burying his face in her hair and wrapping her so close that no one else could possibly come between them.
“I love you,” he muttered.
“I love you too.”
“And you know that I love your kids.”
She sensed something more behind his words and drew back a little to raise an eyebrow. “But?”
He sighed and cast a wistful look at the crew that had assembled near their feet. “But if I’m allowed one last want,” he said, “I would really like a nice, long honeymoon. Without kids.”
Other Books by Linda Poiteven
Sins of the Angels
(Grigori Legacy #1)
Sins of the Son
(Grigori Legacy #2)
Sins of the Lost
(Grigori Legacy #3)
coming October 2013
About the Author
Linda lives near Ottawa, Canada’s capital with her husband, youngest of three daughters, one very large husky/shepherd/great Dane-cross dog, two cats, a rabbit, and a bearded dragon lizard. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in her garden or walking her dog along the river or through the woods. She loves to hear from readers, and you can stay in touch with her on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog for news and updates.
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