Keeping busy was the only thing keeping Gracie sane at the moment. She’d never felt lonelier in her life. She moved around her house as if in slow motion, thinking back on her time with Sebastian. They’d had something pretty wonderful together that only lasted mere days, but it had been gut-wrenchingly powerful, and now it was gone. He’d stopped calling and texting as she’d asked. It only made her feel hollow inside and so incredibly sad.
Had Sebastian moved on already?
Had he given up on her?
It wasn’t that she wanted to speak to him, but if she was being totally honest, a part of her wanted to know he was suffering as much as she was. She wanted to know that he felt the same emptiness. Was that selfish of her?
Why couldn’t things just go back to the way they were before?
When her doorbell rang, she quickly opened the door to Beth. “Hi, I’m a little early.”
“That’s no problem. I’m happy to see you.”
“Same here.”
They hugged a little longer than usual, Gracie needing the support. She’d called Beth this morning and they’d spoken about her honeymoon with Cam, which had been fabulous. Gracie wanted to explain to Beth about the baby and why she hadn’t told her that Sebastian was the father. It was a misstep on her part and she apologized. Luckily, Beth hadn’t taken offense. Then they’d lamented about how much they missed seeing each other, and Gracie had invited her over. “Come in. I made lunch for us.”
“Something wildly Mexican and tasty?”
“Your favorite. Enchiladas. Come into the kitchen.”
It was great having her friend here now, filling the empty void in her heart for a little while. She led Beth into her modest kitchen. “Tea, lemonade, wine? What can I get you to drink?”
“I’d love some tea, Gracie, and if you don’t mind me saying so, you look...”
“Terrible, I know.”
“No, you could never look terrible. But you’re stressed, aren’t you?”
She gave her a half smile. “A bit.”
“I thought so.”
Beth took her hand. “I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be, Beth. You know I’ll bounce back. I always do.”
Beth gave her a skeptical look. “Nice try, Gracie, but this is me and I know you better than that. You’re hurting.”
She shrugged and offered her friend a seat. “I’ll be fine...eventually.” She didn’t really think so, not with the way she’d been feeling lately, but it sounded good.
Gracie warmed a pot of tea on the stove and then picked up a pair of pot holders and took the dish of enchiladas out of the oven.
“Oh, those smell delish. Can I help with anything?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” She poured two cups of tea and then placed a salad on the table.
“You’re a busy bee to keep your mind off...things. I recognize the traits, Gracie. I’m a lot like that, too.”
“Guilty as charged.” She dished up the enchiladas, steam rising up off the cheesy topping, and set the plates down on the table. “Here we go.”
“Those look wonderful. My mouth is watering.”
“Let’s dig in. Baby is hungry, too.”
Beth’s eyes softened immediately as she gazed down at Gracie’s belly. “Did you know that you’re in good company? We had a family dinner the other night and found out that Aunt Piper is pregnant, too. And so are Zeke and Reagan—those two are having twins, for heaven’s sakes. I can’t keep up with my family.”
Gracie smiled. “I know. That’s very good news. Babies bring so much joy. Your family is expanding, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it sure is. Only thing is, Sebastian looks about as frazzled as you do. He’s hurting, too, Gracie. He told the family about what happened and apologized for bringing the family’s image down again, but none of it is true. He has a good explanation for all of it.”
Gracie picked up her fork, and wished Beth would do the same. She was sorry Beth had to find out about the baby through some sleazy tabloid article; she’d wanted to tell her friend herself. But as far as Sebastian was concerned, she didn’t want to hear it. She’d never forget the way he’d reacted to her marriage proposal, and if that wasn’t her first clue, then him seeing his ex-girlfriend behind her back certainly was. Add in that his company needed cash to completely get out of the red, and she had a rock-solid case of no-can-do.
“I really don’t want to talk about Sebastian, if you don’t mind.”
“I, uh, sure. All I’m going to say is to please think about giving the guy a chance to explain. And now,” she said, making a zipping gesture over her mouth, “I promise, no more talk about my brother.”
“Thank you,” Gracie said. “I’m not a horrible person, you know, but I’ve been hurt and...”
Beth took her hand. “I get it. We won’t talk about it. I’m not judging you. And I’m here if you need me.”
“I know you are.”
Beth finally dug into her food. She made a satisfied face and sighed quietly as she chewed. “This is heaven.”
“I’m glad you like it. It’s a foolproof recipe, handed down from my grandmother.”
“I love that you’re keeping your family traditions alive like that. It’s special.”
“I do try whenever I can,” Gracie said.
“You should be a chef specializing in Mexican cuisine.”
“No, I think I’ll leave that to Lauren, thank you very much. Actually, I wanted to pick your brain about something else. If you’re up to it.”
“Sure. What’s up?” Beth asked.
“Well, I’m still hoping to become an event planner and open up my own business. I’ve been looking for a space to lease or buy. But since you’re an expert at it, would you mind giving me pointers and tips on getting started? I think I have pregnancy brain.”
“That is a thing.”
“Oh, how well I know it!” she said. “So maybe you can clear up some questions I have and we can go from there.”
“Okay, sure. And, Gracie, just for the record, I think it’s admirable that you want to pursue your dream. I know you’ll be a success and a great mommy, too.”
“That’s my goal.”
“Okay, so ask away.”
It was almost three o’clock before they finished their talk and Beth left. Gracie felt inspired after getting her questions answered. Beth had a wealth of knowledge in the event-planning department. She’d planned so many Wingate parties and charity events in her life, and was generous in sharing the business side of it, as well. With her mind spinning in several directions, Gracie got lost in thought. And so when the doorbell rang again, it took her a few seconds to realize someone was at her door.
“Just a minute,” she said. Gracie had given her housekeeper the day off, which had worked out perfectly since she needed to keep busy, and cooking and cleaning had done the trick.
She opened the door and stared into the striking blue-green eyes of supermodel Rhonda Pearson. Her first inclination was to slam the door in her face. But she wouldn’t do that.
“I know, I’m probably the last person on earth you wanted to see.”
They’d never met before, yet the woman assumed she knew who she was. Well, yes, she was that famous.
“I’m Rhonda.” She put out her hand.
Gracie shook it once—she hated her manners at times. “Gracie.”
“May I come in?”
She really wasn’t up to this. “It depends.”
“Before you think otherwise, Sebastian has no idea I’m here. I guess you could say I’m here at my own risk. He’d actually murder me in my sleep if he found out I came to speak with you.”
Gracie had had a fleeting notion to do the same to the two of them when she’d seen them in that cozy scene on the news. It had knocked her for a loop. “And why is that?”
“Can I please come in? I’d love to explain everything.”
Gracie sighed. So many people had encouraged her to hear Sebastian out, but maybe this was the next best thing. “Yes, please. Come inside.”
She showed Rhonda to her living room and offered her a seat.
“Thank you,” the other woman said.
Gracie nodded, took a seat, too, and continued to stare at the gorgeous supermodel. Rhonda’s features were picture-perfect, with big turquoise eyes, long, luscious blond hair and a figure that wouldn’t ever know a bad fit.
Rhonda seemed confident in her own skin and didn’t seem to mind Gracie’s staring. It was as if she expected it, which wasn’t so much conceited as it was honest. She banked her life on her good looks, flawless skin and body. “So tell me exactly why you are here.”
“That’s easy to answer. I’m here for Sebastian. One good turn deserves another. Even though he would hate that I came here.”
“Yes, you’ve said that already.”
“You see, I’m raising my younger brother, Lonny. And when Sebastian and I were together, Lonny became attached to him. They really got along great. Sebastian was such a good role model to Lonny, and my brother was at his best around Sebastian. Only, when my relationship with Sebastian ended, I thought a clean break would be best for Lonny. But that apparently was totally wrong. Sebastian lost touch with Lonny, mostly because of me. And because his company started having trouble. I didn’t realize how much Sebastian meant to Lonny until he started acting out.”
Rhonda sighed. “Let’s face it, it’s not easy having your big sister modeling bathing suits all over magazine covers and being under the scrutiny of the paparazzi. Lonny is at a sensitive age. I mean, do you remember when you were fifteen? It’s tough. And there’s tons of peer pressure. Anyway, when I came back to town recently to give Lonny a good home life, his rebellion didn’t end. It got worse. So I called Sebastian and asked for his help. I knew he could get through to him.”
“You’re saying Sebastian was meeting you secretly for Lonny’s sake?”
“Yes, and it’s all my fault he didn’t confide in you. I made him promise not to tell a soul, in order to protect my brother. If news got out about him getting into trouble, the paparazzi would’ve damaged him, permanently, I’m afraid.”
“Sebastian lied to me about where he was.”
“If he did, I’m sorry. But you see, he bailed Lonny out of a jam. My brother got in with the wrong crowd, and the boys vandalized a building. He could’ve gone to jail if Sebastian didn’t convince him to own up to what he did. Lonny confessed and Sebastian pulled some strings to get a judge to give Lonny a second chance.”
“He did?” It was too complicated a scenario to not be true. Gracie could actually see Sebastian helping a young boy out that way. But if she was to believe that, she wished he would’ve trusted her with the truth.
Rhonda nodded. “Yes, and I’m very grateful to him, but we’re only friends now, Gracie. I swear it.”
“You broke his heart. I think he’d care more for you than just as a friend.”
Sebastian’s ex shook her head. “I didn’t break his heart. I never wanted out of our relationship. He broke up with me, and he let me save face with the public by claiming I broke up with him. It was silly of me to do that, but Sebastian went along with it for my sake. You see, he’s a really good guy.”
Gracie pulled air into her lungs. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“I know, but whatever the press wanted you to believe about me and Sebastian isn’t true. And if you’ll allow me, let me show you something.”
“What?”
Rhonda pulled out her cell phone and scrolled until she found what she’d been looking for. “Here we go. Just hit the arrow for the video.” She handed Gracie the phone and she turned the video on. She seemed to be watching a track-and-field event.
“That’s Lonny. He’s on the track team now in high school. He’s always been fast and he loves to run. A short time ago, he might’ve landed in juvenile detention, but look at him now. He won the race and the coach is very impressed with him. With Sebastian’s guidance and a little encouragement from his big sister, Lonny is the happiest I’ve seen him.”
The impact of this wasn’t lost on Gracie. She’d known boys who hadn’t been that lucky and had gotten into major trouble, only to drop out of school. She had a brother, too, and only wanted the best for Enrico. Just like Rhonda wanted for her younger brother. “This is wonderful to see.”
“It is. The only drawback is that you and Sebastian aren’t together anymore. And I feel responsible for that.”
“It’s not your fault. Sebastian is the one who made the mistakes.”
“Everyone is worthy of a second chance. Lonny got one, and hopefully Sebastian will, too. Please think about it. Oh, and congratulations on the baby. I know you both will make wonderful parents.”
Hope jetted through Gracie’s heart. She’d refused Sebastian’s explanations because she’d been extremely hurt. She’d lumped all of his mistakes and her misgivings into one tidy package and labeled it “Unforgivable,” and she hadn’t thought anything he said would be enough to change her mind.
And now, thanks to a supermodel and a fifteen-year-old kid, she had a better understanding of why Sebastian had done what he’d done. “Th-thank you. And you don’t have to worry. Sebastian won’t know a thing about this.”
“So you’ll give him a second chance?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Good.” Rhonda smiled and glanced at her watch. “I’d better go. I promised Lonny we’d go out for ice cream after his practice today, but he wanted a protein shake instead. I’m so proud of him.”
The winsome look on her face filled Gracie’s heart. It was as if both of them were getting a fresh start. “You don’t want to be late. And thank you, Rhonda. I do appreciate your honesty.”
Gracie walked her out and watched her drive off in a sporty silver car, her heavy heart easing a bit learning of Sebastian’s motives.
In just two hours, Gracie had a private early bird childbirth class. She closed her eyes and concentrated on that, instead of the eye-opening conversation she’d just had with Sebastian’s ex-girlfriend. Gracie sighed, afraid to hope, but even more afraid, not to hope.
The next day, Gracie dressed in a black wool blazer and slacks, with a cozy blue cashmere sweater underneath to keep her warm. The weather had turned nasty, the clouds overhead gloomy. It would’ve been a good day to stay in, but she’d done enough of that lately. She wasn’t about to mope all day. She’d had a very informative childbirth class at her home last night, when the instructor, Maddy, had let it slip that Sebastian had also hired her for a private class. Maddy had kind eyes, and there was a soothing softness in her voice as she spoke. Perhaps she was a bit of a matchmaker. So Gracie didn’t call her out on the possible intentional slip but instead questioned Maddy on why she supposed he’d done that. And the woman had simply replied, “He wants to support you when the baby comes.”
Every time Gracie thought about that, the frost in her heart thawed a bit. Heck, who was she kidding? She was melting inside, and all signs pointed to Sebastian being a good guy. Still, she couldn’t fathom why he’d rejected her marriage proposal.
She headed to The Eatery, opting to do some work this morning. A frigid wind swept her inside and she took off her blazer and weaved her fingers through her tangled hair. She glanced inside the work area, and found Lauren and Sutton, apparently in a private moment.
Quietly, she moved into the back room, giving them privacy.
“Is that you, Gracie?” Lauren called out.
“Don’t mind me,” she called back. “Go back to what you two were doing.”
Lauren walked into the back room and they came face-to-face. “We weren’t doing anything other than talking. How are you, Gracie? What are you doing here so early?”
It was early for her. She usually didn’t start working on the books until nine, and it was only seven thirty. “I, uh, just had to get out of my house. I couldn’t sleep, and well, I guess I needed a friend.”
Lauren put out her arms, and she walked straight into them. “You’ve got a friend right here.”
“Thank you.” Tears came to her eyes. Lauren’s friendship meant so much to her.
“Is it about Sebastian?”
She nodded. “I love him, Lauren. And I think I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’m not sure about anything anymore.”
“It’s a confusing time.”
“It is,” Gracie said hoarsely.
“But if you know you love him, why not hear him out?”
“I know, I should.” She pulled back to search Lauren’s eyes. “Right? Everyone’s been telling me to give him another chance...”
“I think you should.”
“So do I.” The deep voice came from behind and she turned to find Sebastian there. Immediately her heart started pumping hard. “Sorry, I overheard.” Then he smiled.
“What on earth?” Gracie looked at Lauren.
She shrugged. “I guess you thought I was with Sutton.”
“You know I did!”
“Sebastian came by to talk, the same way you did just now. It seems like kismet that you were on the same page, and we all know this mistaken-identity thing can get really baffling.” Lauren gave her an innocent look. “So I guess I’ll leave you two alone now.”
Dumbfounded, she stared after Lauren, watching her leave the room, and feeling Sebastian’s overwhelming presence in the room.
And when she finally turned to meet his eyes, he wouldn’t stop smiling.
Her lips curled up, as well. She was glad to see him, too. Even if the twin-switch mistake had happened to her once again. Couldn’t one of them style their hair differently or something? They looked identical, and she wasn’t really thinking that Sebastian would come to talk to Lauren so early in the morning. So when she’d first walked in, she’d assumed it was Sutton.
“I’ve missed you, Gracie.”
She nodded, unable to speak at the moment. He’d heard everything. And she wasn’t angry or embarrassed about it. She was glad. Yes, glad that her feelings for him were finally out in the open. She’d been sheltering her emotions for too long. It wasn’t healthy, and now she felt liberated. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“There’s a lot I want to say to you, but not here. Will you have dinner with me tonight? I want to take you someplace special.”
She smiled. “Yes.”
Sebastian took a big gulp of air and sighed in relief. The look on his face was filled with gratitude and promise. “I’ll pick you up at six.”
“I’ll be ready.”
He grinned. “Until tonight, then.”
And he leaned over to kiss her cheek, leaving her to wonder just what he had in store for her tonight.
Gracie could hardly concentrate on what she was doing. Sitting in the back room at the computer, she opened and closed the inventory app for The Eatery half a dozen times, her hands shaking. Excitement and curiosity crowded her mind to the point that there was literally no room inside her head for anything else.
“Why don’t you quit for the day,” Lauren said, coming to stand beside her at the desk. “You’re not going to be able to get anything accomplished today.”
Gracie ran her hands down her face. “I think you’re right. My heart’s not in it right now.”
“That’s because your heart is where it should be. With Sebastian.”
Gracie tilted her head toward Lauren. “Thanks to you.”
“Sure, I’ll take credit if you want to give it to me. But you have to know that I had no idea Sebastian was coming over to speak to me until early this morning, when he texted me. I think Sutton put him up to it. He said his brother was pretty desperate and needed to talk it out with someone close to Gracie. Me.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. The guy’s nuts about you. And when you opened up to me this morning, I couldn’t know that he’d overheard. But I’m glad he did. You two have been dancing around each other for weeks now.”
“True story.” She was ready now to hear Sebastian out. After her conversation with Rhonda, she was ready to give him the benefit of the doubt and try to move forward. Finally admitting that she was in love with him, saying it aloud to Lauren, made it all seem real and attainable. At least, she was willing to give it a try.
“So go home, gussy up and have a good night with Sebastian.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Gracie said. “Are you sure you don’t need me?”
“I’m covered here, and the inventory can wait. Just go.”
Lauren was already handing Gracie her blazer. “Keep warm, it’s cold out there.”
“The baby’s keeping me warm.” Which was true. Being pregnant had some advantages, like she was never too cold. The added weight and her hormones kept her from turning into a popsicle during the winter season. “You should try it sometime.”
“The Eatery’s my baby right now. But someday in the future, our children will be playing with each other. I’m sure of it.”
“That’s a beautiful thought. Thanks again.” She hugged Lauren. Their friendship was rock-solid. Lauren and Beth had given Gracie nothing but support lately. She was lucky to have both women in her life right now.
One hour later, Gracie was home, soaking in a nice hot bath. Her nerves were so rattled she’d lit candles and put on her favorite soft country rock music before stepping into the tub. The only thing missing in the bubbles was champagne and... Sebastian.
Oh, boy. The champagne would have to wait for months, but Sebastian wouldn’t.
The hours dragged by, and finally it was time to dress. Gracie chose a slinky scarlet gown, the high-low hemline making a statement of its own. She wore tall heels and her best gold jewelry, along with wide hoop earrings. Glancing in the mirror, she could see her baby bump was evident now, the slightest little rounding of her belly filling her heart with immeasurable pride.
When Sebastian pulled up to her home, she was ready and greeted him at the door.
“Wow,” he said immediately. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you. So do you. Handsome, I mean. Do you want to come in?”
He took her hand. “Trust me, you don’t want me to come in. If I did...”
She couldn’t argue with his logic. He was right. She’d never get over seeing him look so dashing in a dark suit and tie, his facial hair groomed just enough to make him look sexy and dangerous. She’d missed him, both in and out of bed.
He kissed her cheek again and helped her on with her coat. With a hand to her back, he walked her to his car and opened the door. “Where are we going?” she asked as she slipped into the passenger seat. His gaze roamed over her legs, and a swell of heat shot through her body.
“You’ll see.”
He was being cryptic all of a sudden, and she didn’t know what to think.
“It’s someplace special to me. To us.”
He started the engine and turned on the music. The song playing was from her favorite band. Softly, she sang along with the tune, her voice no match for theirs, and yet it put a smile on Sebastian’s face. Had he remembered her favorite music?
They headed down the road, away from her house, and after ten minutes, he pulled up to the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Her brows rose in surprise. What was he up to?
The question in her eyes prompted him to say, “This will all make sense soon.”
He helped her out of the car, and hand in hand, they entered the club. After they checked in, the receptionist said, “Everything’s ready for you, Mr. Wingate.”
“Thank you.”
She handed him a key and Sebastian led them down a hallway to a private room. He stopped to open the door and ushered her inside. The room was magical, with dozens of lit candles, a roaring, wood-burning fire in the fireplace and arrangements of beautiful flowers throughout the room. In the middle of all of it, a table was set for two.
She turned to face Sebastian, her face probably revealing her awe. “This is amazing. You did all this today?”
He nodded. “I had to work fast. It was worth it to see the look on your face. But before we talk about the future, I need to talk to you about the past.”
Sebastian pulled out a chair for her, and she took a seat. Then, sitting down to face her, he took her hand. It was as if he needed the connection, needed to touch her in order to proceed. “It isn’t easy for me to admit this, but I’ve made a lot of mistakes with you. And I hope to rectify all of them tonight, Gracie. First of all, thank you for hearing me out. I want us to start out with a fresh slate, so I’ll admit to not being perfect.”
“Nobody is,” she said. In her youth, she’d thought of him that way. Her crush had known no bounds. But she was steeped in reality now. “I’m not perfect, either.”
“From where I’m sitting at the moment, I’d say you are.” He scanned over her face, gazing into her eyes.
She smiled, loving the way his hand was softly squeezing hers, as if he needed her strength to go on.
“I was never after your money. Never. The thought never once crossed my mind. The Wingates are financially sound, and whatever struggles we have will be taken care of professionally. You bought the house, and that helped us, yes, but it was never about money between you and me. In fact, I wasn’t thrilled that you thought so little of me.”
“I didn’t want to, Sebastian, but there were so many other things that confused me, too.”
He inhaled. “I know, sweetheart. And that’s on me. I wasn’t sure about how to convince you about my feelings for you. You seemed to have the notion that I only cared about the baby, that I never wanted you because you weren’t good enough for a Wingate. That I never seemed interested in you before this.” He released a ragged breath. “But the truth is, I had a thing for you, too, Gracie. I just never acted on it because your father worked for us. And also because you were Beth’s best friend. In my mind, you were off-limits. So yes, I never thought of us as a possible couple, but not because I didn’t think you were worthy. And certainly not because I felt superior to you.
“More recently, I thought it best not to bombard you with my growing feelings because I didn’t want to rush you. You seemed to need time, and I thought I was doing what you wanted. So I held back. Perhaps I shouldn’t have. But I’ve always cared for you, Gracie. Make no mistake about that.”
He squeezed her hand. “You may not even realize it, but you turn heads when you walk into a room. And to know that you’re carrying my baby only makes you more beautiful to me.”
Tears welled in her eyes. This time, she wouldn’t blame it on hormones. This time, it was hearing Sebastian open up his heart that gave her hope and brought on deep emotion.
“About Rhonda,” he began.
She held her tongue, keeping her promise to his ex that she wouldn’t divulge anything they’d spoken about. Besides, it was better to hear it from him.
“I was only trying to help Rhonda’s younger brother...”
Gracie listened to his full explanation and to his apology. She already had forgiven him in her heart. “I understand. It was a good thing you were trying to do.”
“I’m still trying. I plan to be in the boy’s life to a degree.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, but why didn’t you just tell me about it? Didn’t you trust me?”
“I—I didn’t want to rock the boat. It was hard earning your trust, Gracie, and I wasn’t sure I had it at the time. I gave my word to keep Lonny’s problems private. It wouldn’t have done anyone any good to bring light to his troubles.”
She nodded. “I get that, Sebastian. I really do. You were trying to protect Lonny, just like I was trying to protect our baby. I, uh, I probably shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions about you. I thought the worst of you, when in my heart, I’d always believed you were a good guy. I guess that’s why I was so confused and hurt.”
He squeezed her hand once again, keeping their connection solid. “I made a mess of things, but you have to know, I didn’t want to fail our baby the way I failed Lonny in the past.”
“I understand that.” But she had to ask. She had to clear the air, and even though it was hard for her to do, she couldn’t let this go without an explanation. “I guess what hurt me the most was when I proposed to you, and you looked like the devil had cornered you in the bowels of hell.”
Sebastian began shaking his head. “Oh, man, Gracie. No, that’s not how I felt at all. You just startled me, because I’d made so many mistakes with you, I wanted to be the one to do the proposing. I wanted to sweep you off your feet the way you deserve. I wanted to show you how much you meant to me. I had this all planned out in my head, and so—”
“I jumped the gun.”
“I was thrilled you wanted to get married, but you deserve a beautiful wedding proposal. Can you understand that?”
Candles flickered, the fireplace shot blue and golden embers up, and Sebastian’s love surrounded her. “I can. I do.”
“Hold that thought, Gracie. Just hold that thought.”
Sebastian rose from his chair and walked to her side. Then he bent his knee and brought out a gorgeous red velvet ring box. Her heart began to pound, and her body trembled as she gazed down at Sebastian, love shining in his eyes. He lifted the box lid to reveal a stunning oval diamond ring surrounded by dozens of tiny diamonds. It was the prettiest ring Gracie had ever seen.
“Gracie, we started out right here in these rooms when I met a wonderful masked woman who knocked me for a loop. I’d never felt that way before, the instant connection we had, the way we responded to each other. It wasn’t a fluke that we’re together now. We were meant to be, Gracie. I believe that with my whole heart. I love you so much. I love the baby you’re carrying, too, and I want this love to continue on until we take our last breaths. Gracie Diaz, my love, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down Gracie’s face. She’d wanted this since childhood, and now she believed in Sebastian and his love. She believed they belonged together. She believed in the beautiful family they’d created. “I love you, too, Sebastian. I want nothing more than to be your wife. Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes. Yes. Yes!”
He took her hand and placed the diamond ring on her finger. Then he pulled her up from the seat and cradled her face in his hands. “I love you, Gracie.” And the kiss he bestowed upon her spoke of love and promise and forever. She’d never been happier.
“There’s more, sweetheart,” he said. He pulled a few papers out of his pocket. “This is the deed to your house. It’s in your name now, and all yours. And here’s an agreement proving I was never after your money. It says we each keep what we went into our marriage with, so there’ll never be any doubt.”
“There never will be, Sebastian. Because I’m never letting you go.”
He gave her another tantalizing kiss, and then took her by the hand. “Remember that little alcove, when we first—”
“Hooked up?”
“Made love,” he corrected and then nuzzled her neck, his mouth working magic on her.
She ached for him. It’d been too long. “Think we can find it again?”
“I’m sure of it, sweetheart.” He pointed to the far end of the room and the hidden space between the fireplace and a large bookshelf. “Right there.”
She opened her mouth in awe, surprise and delight, then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him for all he was worth.
He took her hand and led her to the alcove. “This is where it all began...”
“If you wanted to sweep me off my feet, you’ve succeeded. Sebastian Wingate, you just might be perfect after all.”
He touched her belly lovingly and his warmth brought joy to her heart. “That makes three of us, my love.”