And somehow, that hurt more. Because it was a kindness at his own expense.
She pressed herself half over him, pulling him under the shelter of her slender arm and leg, wanting to cry for him. Forthe boy he’d been.
“The one thing I have never wanted to be is like him.” He stroked her hair as he spoke. “But there was no other way to deal with him except to double-cross him. It felt wrong to do it. It’s not the sort of person I want to be, but when he caused you to be attacked, I wanted to kill him. I really did. That is not the sort of husband and father you and the baby need. The kind you deserve. I questioned whether I should come after you.”
She picked up her head, alarmed. “What changed your mind?”
“I thought of Fernando,” he said simply. “He was equally cold-blooded when he took over at LVG after Lorenzo’s heart attack. It was underhanded, the way he moved with the board to unseat him, but he had to do it. And he bore the consequences for years.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “Zurina still loved him. Which gave me hope that you would love me, too.”
She ran her teeth across the tingle he’d left in her lip. “I wasn’t sure if you loved me, but I thought you might, if I gave you a chance.”
“Of course, I love you. It sits like a beacon inside me. That’s what scared me. I had trained myself not to hope. I tried to hold back from you, but it’s there all the same. Hope and want and a craving for you like I crave air. Maybe you’re right. Maybe fate does want us to be together, but I need you to know that I’mchoosingyou, Siobhan. I’m choosing to love. To believe I can have you in my life. I’m doing this badly.” He scraped his hand over his face.
“No. You’re doing it right.” She spilled her naked body over his. Her own chest full of hope and joy and gleaming love.
“Okay, then. Will you… Wait one sec.” He rolled her off him and stretched to reach the sleeve of his coat, dragging it from the chair to the bed. He fished through the pockets. “Will you wear this?” He opened the ring box to reveal a square diamond ona split band encrusted with smaller diamonds. It sparkled and shot prisms into the backs of her eyes, dazzling her.
“Are you asking me to marry you?” A smile was taking over her whole face.
“Because I love you, yes. Because I can’t imagine my life without you. Because we’re having a baby and I want to give you the family that you long for.”
Oh. She blinked away fresh, emotive tears.
“Well.” She cleared her throat. “Since it would be very comfortable and convenient to have the person I love and want to make babies with be my husband, I accept.” She held her finger for him to put it on her.
“Brat.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips. “Never leave me again. That was among the worst moments of my life.”
“I never will,” she promised with a press of her quivering lips to his.
Epilogue
One year later…
It was theirwedding day. They were keeping it small, family only, and marrying atSus Brazos. Siobhan’s mother and sisters were here along with Zurina and her children and, of course, all the Sauveterres and their children.
It was the delightful madhouse of her dreams.
Siobhan should already be on her way to the suite that had been set aside for primping and setting hair and dressing her in her simple, seed-pearl encrusted gown.
Her groom had his own places to be, but he hadn’t left their rooms yet, either. They had slept together last night and made love this morning.
A few minutes ago, Siobhan had finished feeding Rogelio, their four-month-old son. Joaquin had lingered instead of leaving, then took Rogelio while Siobhan stepped into the shower.
Along with nannies, there was a grandmother and countless aunties dying to hold him. All the other children wanted a turn giving him a cuddle and having photos with him, but as Siobhan came out of the bathroom in her robe, she found Rogelio was still here, playing with his father.
Joaquin sat in the armchair with Rogelio clasped in one arm. Rogelio was still in his jammies. He was strengthening his wobbly legs against Joaquin’s thigh, one hand curled into the soft T-shirt Joaquin wore.
He chewed his fist as he watched the small teddy bear that Joaquin slowly swooped toward him. “He’s going to tickle your belly.”
As the plush bear arrived in Rogelio’s middle, the baby let out infectious baby chortles. Joaquin laughed right along with him.
“Now he’s going to get your neck.”
Siobhan stood struck with wonder as she watched them. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen Joaquin be so tender with their son. It happened many times a day, but it filled her with awe and tenderness and pure happiness every time. In this moment, the sight of Joaquin’s defenses completely down as he allowed his naked love for his son to shine in his face, brought a squeeze of adoration to her chest and made her eyes sting with joy.
He noticed her. “You’re ready to go up with him? I’m sorry, little man. If the adoration of all those women gets to be too much, call me and I’ll take you to the barber with me.” Joaquin dropped the teddy bear so he could pinch a lock of fine strands in two fingers to measure it. “You could use a shave and a cut, no? While we talk politics and the economy?”
“Do you want to take him to the barber with you?” Siobhan asked with amusement.
