“Maddy thought you’d like green, but we can change it no problem,” Gavin murmured from the far corner of the room, the apprehension in his voice making her already-weak knees even weaker.
“Green is beautiful. Perfect,” she whispered, meeting his gaze and blinking back the tears. She made her way across the room and threw herself into his strong, waiting arms. “Is this all for me?” she asked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. The idea that he’d gone to this much trouble to make sure she had a space that felt like her own made everything feel so much more real…so much more permanent and solid. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed that until she walked through the door.
He circled her waist and squeezed her tight, then lifted her until they were nose to nose. “Of course it is. But first, I need to tell you I have missed you so fucking much, I could barely stand myself.” He pressed his lips against hers in a kiss that rocked her socks. By the time she came up for air and he set her back on her feet, the room was spinning. “Welcome home, Doc.”
She swallowed hard and got her bearings, turning again to take in the full effect of his amazing and thoughtful gift. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the front wall had been almost entirely scooped out, and a gigantic walnut bookcase had been set in. It was brimming with hundreds of paperbacks. She stepped toward it, scanning the titles. The Pirate’s Brazen Wench. Deceiving the Count. Reluctant Captive. They were all romance novels, and her favorite kind. A fat, butter-soft chair next to a squat lamp was right next to the shelf, with all the books within easy reach.
“I-I don’t know what to say,” she said, shaking her head, willing the stinging in her eyes to go away. If she started crying again, there’d be no stopping her. How could this giant slab of a man, so tough, so hard, be so amazingly sweet? It never ceased to amaze her.
“Say you love it,” he urged, stepping behind her and tugging her hair gently to get her to turn around. “Say you love me.”
“I love you. God, you know I do.” She faced him, stretching onto her tiptoes for another kiss, but the apprehension on his face stopped her cold. “What? What is it?” Her stomach jumped and did a shimmy as he pulled away from her. Surely, he wouldn’t go to all this trouble just to tell her he’d changed his mind, or—
“I’m glad because—” He reached a hand into his pocket and pulled out a tiny box before sinking low in front of her.
Holy shit. “Holy shit,” she muttered, her mouth going bone-dry as the breath sawed in and out of her lungs in panicked gasps. Was this seriously happening?
Gavin laughed and took her hand. She wasn’t sure which one of them was shaking, but it didn’t matter. She dropped to her knees next to him a second later when her legs couldn’t hold her.
“That’s not how this is supposed to go, love,” he said, his tone gentle. He brushed the hair away from her face, and she shrugged helplessly.
“I don’t really care about how it’s supposed to go. I just want to be next to you.”
“That’s what I want, too. Now and forever.” He cracked open the box and a gorgeous cushion-cut diamond winked up at her. “Sarabeth?”
She swallowed hard, willing moisture to her mouth with everything she had. “Yes?” she finally managed to squeeze out.
“I’ve spent my whole life thinking I wasn’t worth loving. Then I met you.” His voice grew husky and with it, the brogue that was barely a trace most of the time thickened. “And suddenly, everything changed. You made me want to be worthy of that love. You made me want to be worthy of you.”
“You are. You always have been,” she insisted, trying to quiet the sound of the blood rushing in her ears.
“I love you for saying that, and I’m just now starting to believe you. So, before you change your mind, I need to know.” He took her hand and held it in his own and this time, the two of them were steady as a rock. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She didn’t hesitate. She yanked her hand away and launched herself at him, knocking him back onto the plush cream carpet, eliciting an exaggerated ooph from him.
“Yes,” she said, peppering his face with kisses. “Yes, yes, yes!”
His chuckles warmed her from head to toe, and he closed his arms around her tight. “I’m so glad to hear that, because I told Maddy my plan and she already called dibs on the best man slot and bought a tux. I think she’d be heartbroken if she had to take it back.”
“Well, we can’t disappoint her, can we?”
“Not if we want to live to tell the tale,” he agreed through his laughter. He gaze never left hers as the smile on his face slowly faded, but the joy in his eyes remained.
“I’m the luckiest man in the world and believe me, I know it, Doc.” He paused to gently run his thumb over her bottom lip. “It’s me and you, together forever, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you make me.”
“You already have, Gavin.” She stared into the eyes of the man she loved and let the magic of the moment wash over her. “You already have.”
About the Author
Christine Bell is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and one-half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from young adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns, or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants, and playing Texas Hold’em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja, maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons.
Christine loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website, www.christine-bell.com or on Twitter under the handle @_ChristineBell.
Indulge in these other bestselling contemporary romances …
Wife for Hire by Christine Bell
Owen Phipps is out for revenge. He needs a “wife” who can play along. Too bad his last, best hope is an actress who tries to mace him with perfume when he offers her the role of a lifetime. Lindy Covington can’t believe her good fortune when Owen offers her more than enough money to hold off foreclosure until she can find a job. Three weeks at a resort, money she desperately needs, and she gets to help bring a criminal to justice? It seems easy enough until the first couples bonding game turns intimate, and they realize how dangerous their mutual attraction could be.
The Baby Bargain by Jennifer Apodeca
Former Marine, Adam Waters keeps his heart on ice, even with the one woman he can’t forget, hometown girl, Megan Young. But when Adam learns the shocking truth that Megan’s child is really his, will his heart thaw or turn to stone?
Wife in Name Only by Hayson Manning
To save her Pacific island resort Zoe has to convince a honeymoon magazine she’s happily married. When her cutthroat business mogul nearly-ex arrives, he makes it clear he’s there for one reason. To return to LA with his wife.
Faking it by Diane Alberts
If Stephanie Miller doesn’t find a fiancé, she’s out of a job–but she never thought the man she needed would be her brother’s uptight best friend. Derek Rory may have the business savvy to close the deal she wants...but can Stephanie endure this maddening mock engagement long enough to fake her way into real love?
Seducing the Enemy by Noelle Adams
After being injured in a tragic accident as a child, Marietta Edwards has lived a sheltered life. Finally recovered, she wants to indulge in pleasures entirely new to her, beginning with seducing a sexy stranger. It’s her bad luck when she realizes that the man who awakened her body and emotions is none other than Harrison Damon. T
heir families have been embroiled in a fifteen-year legal battle. The man she’s given herself to is her worst enemy. Can two people destined to be enemies find love with each other?
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