The Heart Surgeon's Secret Son

“But, as much as I know you love Ryan, what I want is for you to marry me because you love me. In Boston, you told me you loved me and would always love me. Has that changed?”

Her chin lifted. “You said you didn’t want my kind of love.”

Her eyes glittered and he fought the urge to pull her to him and kiss her into agreement, tell her everything he wanted with his mouth and body. Hadn’t he done that in Boston?

“Your love is the only love I’ve ever wanted, Kimberly. The only love I’ve ever needed.”

She trembled, and he clasped her hand more firmly.

“I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Ryan.”

“You love me?”

“I’ve always loved you.”

“Daniel,” she whispered. She took his face in her hands and searched his eyes.

He waited for her to say more. She didn’t, just closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his.

“Does this mean yes?” he asked, hopeful.

“Yes.” Her moist eyes opened and she smiled at him. “Oh, yes.”

No longer wanting or willing to restrain himself, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until all the breath had left his body and his head spun.

“I want more babies, Kimberly. I hope that’s okay.”

Her mouth fell open and she stared at him with startled eyes.

“You don’t?” he asked, trying not to let his disappointment show. Kimberly and Ryan would be enough, more than enough, his whole world.

“It’s not that.” She looked uncertain. “It’s just…”

“Just what?”

She met his gaze and gave him a nervous look. “When you said more babies, I realized I haven’t had a period since Boston.”

She looked incredulous she hadn’t realized sooner.

“Since Boston?”

She nodded, watching him nervously.

Life couldn’t be this good. A happy laugh bubbled out of him. “A baby would be wonderful, Kimberly. More than wonderful.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Mind?” He grinned, happier than he’d thought he could be. “I just told you I wanted more babies.”

“I might not be, Daniel. Maybe it would be better if I wasn’t pregnant so we’d have time to get to know one another again.”

“Either way, I’m the luckiest man in the world, Kimberly, because I’ll have you and Ryan. Another baby would just be the icing on the cake.”

“Really?”

“Really.” He kissed her long and hard, barely recalling his son waited upstairs for news of how his proposal had gone. He couldn’t make love to Kimberly on the sofa. Not right now. But soon.

“Let’s go tell Ryan our news.”