“There’s no denying that I got to be the voice of reason when Kate and Molly came into our lives, Jules. Because I knew better than you that we were both done for.”
He turned his attention to his new sister-in-law next. “Molly, my brother loves you more than anything in the world,” he told her, lifting his glass now. “And if you take care of my brother, I promise I will not only kiss your sister, but I will not rest until I make her my wife.”
The guests whooped and cheered, as Julian stood to slap him on the back and everyone seemed to glance at Kate for a moment. Their smiles almost pleaded with her not to be stupid and just snatch up this man for herself.
And she would.
Of course she would.
She knew Garrett would want an answer, but before she could give him anything, he would need to know that she was pregnant.
Oh, God. She was having his child, and he loved her. He. Loved. Her.
The hours sped by. Soon, they were served the artichoke hearts with a special tangy mustard sauce, a variety of meats, an assortment of vegetables and desserts to spare.
By the time Molly and Julian were ready for the first dance, Garrett made his way to Kate, and she rose to her feet, anticipation making her heart race. She didn’t know if she could postpone her answer until she had a chance to talk to him about the pregnancy. There was impatience etched across his features, as though he’d been waiting too long already to hear her acceptance and he wouldn’t wait anymore.
He would want an answer now—she could see it in his eyes. Eyes that wouldn’t stop staring at her.
* * *
Garrett’s heart crashed into his rib cage as he approached Kate, who looked so warm and inviting as she waited for him to get close.
He let his gaze drift down her body, taking in the perky breasts encased in that corset dress he’d seen her try on, the form-fitting fabric that hugged her shapely hips and the skirt that flared over her legs. She wore her hair loose. Long and wavy and so damned glossy it looked like satin, it tumbled past her shoulders. Feather earrings clung to her little ears. And her eyes...
When he looked up at her eyes and found them staring at him with shy vulnerability, he almost couldn’t take it, he wanted her so much.
He wanted these people gone, wanted her intimately, in his arms.
“Dance with me,” he said quietly as he gently pulled her into his arms. She hooked her arms underneath his, and her hands curved over his shoulders from behind as she pressed her body to him and tucked her face under his chin.
He closed his eyes and savored the feel of her as she drew an invisible pattern with her fingertips along his back. She moved fluidly against him, like she belonged in his arms.
His insides thrummed with impatience as he held one arm around her waist, then slowly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the velvet Tiffany box. He clasped her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger, then lifted her hand so that she noticed the jewel as he kissed her knuckles, one by one.
He’d never been so impatient in his life.
He couldn’t understand how he’d waited to claim her for so long, for he couldn’t handle another second of wondering if she was still planning to move somewhere else.
“I need to hear you say yes,” he murmured, tucking her hand under his arm as he kissed her ear softly. Her hair caressed her shoulders as she angled her head backwards an inch or two, and she looked at him with those blue eyes, shining with tears and emotion.
I love you, she’d said.
He was burning to hear it again.
“Say it, Kate,” he pressed her, cupping the back of her head in one hand. Impatiently he fitted his lips to hers and hungrily searched inside her mouth for her response. When her tongue pushed back thirstily against him, she set him on fire. He splayed his hand at the small of her back and pressed her tightly to him as he dragged his mouth up to her ear. “Tell me yes.”
She grabbed his jaw and turned his head so she could whisper, “I need to tell you something first.”
He groaned, already burning with desire, needing to be with her. “Tell me after you’ve said yes.”
She smiled. “You’d take me anyway? Whatever I have to say?”
He shot her a solemn gaze. “Yes, Kate. I would. Tell me yes, and then tell me what you want to say to me.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you. We’re having a baby.”
He drew back, staring wordlessly. His astonishment was so complete, his disbelief so overwhelming, he wasn’t even breathing. “What baby?”