A flood of delighted tingles spread throughout CJ’s entire body, giving the hope wings that soared to its fullest glory. ‘Oh, Ethan,’ she breathed, her voice catching on the words. Elation and utter happiness continued to tingle their way around her.
‘I know this may seem sudden or crazy or both but…’ He stopped and forced himself to slow down. ‘I know you’ve been hurt so badly in the past but I promise I will accept you for the incredibly intelligent, vivacious, honest and hard-working person you are. I trust you, CJ, I trust you with my heart. I give it to you, now and for ever.’ He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. ‘I love you, Claudia-Jean.’
‘You… You…’ She couldn’t get the words out. Her mind was trying desperately to compute everything he’d been saying and the whole time he’d been talking her heart had been singing with delight.
‘I love you,’ he said for her, and placed a firm kiss on her mouth, as though desperate to prove his point. The kiss instantly turned hard, possessive and urgent. He was a man dying of thirst in the desert and finally finding water. He pulled back and tenderly caressed her cheek. ‘I love you,’ he stated again, then chuckled. ‘I can’t believe how many times I’m saying it. I can’t seem to stop.’
‘Don’t ever stop,’ she instructed. ‘Always reassure me that you love me.’ As she said the words, he heard the quiver in her voice, saw the pain, the hurts, the betrayals of the past. She was scared but he knew he could fix it.
‘I promise to tell you every day—even if we’re having an open and honest disagreement—that I love you. I could never want another woman, CJ, because you’re all I need. Well…you and Elizabeth.’ He laughed. ‘The two of you have brought me back to life and I can never thank you enough for opening your life and letting me in. I know you’re scared and you have every right to be but you must feel how different things are this time.’
‘Yes. It’s very different. Before you went to Sydney, I wasn’t sure if I could trust you with my heart but when you weren’t here, not only was the house so dark and lonely, my life was dark and lonely.’ She pulled back to look at him. ‘You’re right. I’m scared. I’m scared to take another chance at love, at marriage—especially as I have Elizabeth to think about this time—but I’m even more scared to live my life without you.’ Her lower lip trembled. ‘Oh, Ethan. I need you so much.’
Ethan couldn’t stand it any more. He crushed her to him once again and pressed his mouth to hers. She was his—and he was never letting her go. She and Elizabeth were his family. His heart had known it for a while but his mind had taken a little while to catch up.
Eventually, he released her and she smiled up at him. ‘I still can’t believe you’re really here.’
‘I am and I’m never leaving you again. I must have been mad.’
‘You’re really staying? Here? In Pridham?’
‘If you’ll marry me.’
‘Married? Are you sure?’
‘One hundred percent. My life is…meaningless without you.’ He paused and stared into her eyes, showing her every aspect of his vulnerabilities. ‘Please, CJ? Marry me. Be my partner for life. We’ll love our Lizzie and we’ll love any other children we might have.’
‘You want more children?’
‘I do. I really do. I want to fill this house with fun and laughter and noise.’ He paused, sadness creeping into his words. ‘I’ll always love Ellie, and Abigail, but they were my past. You are my future. You and Lizzie-Jean. I love you. Will you? Will you marry me?’
CJ’s heart overflowed with love for the man before her. ‘Yes. Oh, yes, yes, yes. I need you, Ethan Janeway. I need you and I trust you.’ She placed her hand on his cheek. ‘In fact, I adore you.’ She kissed him again, then drew back with a gasp. ‘But what about your job in Sydney? What will you do here?’
‘Firstly, I’ve resigned from the hospital.’
‘What?’
‘Secondly, I’ve decided to set up a private practice here, in Pridham. A permanent general surgeon for the Pridham and Whitecorn district hospitals. Also, I’ve started negotiations for my next research project, which will be a collaboration with a few of my colleagues at the Royal Sydney Children’s Hospital.’
‘FAS?’
‘Yes, and no doubt we’ll be wanting your input, too.’
‘Really? I get to have my name on a published paper?’ She giggled. ‘This really is a night of dreams coming true.’ CJ sighed, content and happy and amazed that she could feel this good.