Ray of Love (Lifestyle by Design Book 3) (20 page)

A short time later, they reached the foot of the arch and started climbing, which to her surprise was actually easy. The view was fantastic! At that moment, she was humbled to be living in such a beautiful city.

But even more breathtaking was the fact that she was experiencing this with Ray. Every once in a while he would lean in for a quick kiss and she would melt yet again.

They continued their ascent to the summit and when they got there, their guide called for everyone's attention. Ray put an arm around her waist as they listened.

"Everyone," the guide said cheerily, "we are all about to witness a very special moment. What is it, you ask? Well, let me tell you … love is in the air," he said mysteriously as he waved his arms theatrically.

A few gasps went around the group and Faye felt Ray stiffen beside her. Her heart pounded madly. She read on the website that marriage proposals happened at the top of this bridge. Was that his other surprise?

Her head whipped to look at him, her eyes alive with hope and excitement. She found Ray looking totally uncomfortable and chagrined.

"Ben," their guide called out to a dark-haired man who looked so nervous you'd think he was about to jump off the bridge.

Faye's heart sank as she realised it wasn't Ray, but a guy named Ben, who was doing the proposing to his girlfriend. She watched as Ben knelt in front of a very pretty lady with jet-black hair and swallowed her disappointment.

How silly can you be, Faye?

She bit her bottom lip as she tried to contain her mortification. The yipeee-you're-proposing-to-me look she gave Ray was so obvious. Now she'd ruined this special experience. She made Ray feel awkward and embarrassed.

Ben's girlfriend said yes and everyone clapped and cheered.

Faye turned to Ray and gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry, baby. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I just made a huge assumption. But don't read anything into it, please?"

He simply smiled and kissed her forehead.

~~~~~~~

Faye gave Ray a furtive glance as he drove them back to his place. She'd been staying there for most of the last three weeks. Ever since that night they first made love in his office, they'd only spent a total of six nights apart. Practically half her clothes were already in his wardrobe.

They hadn't officially moved in together yet, and she still had her apartment. If he asked her to, she wouldn't hesitate to say yes ... just like she wouldn't have hesitated to say yes if he had asked her to marry him at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge - or anywhere else, for that matter.

But she resigned herself to the fact that it might be a while before Ray got around to proposing. Judging by his silence and discomfiture during their bridge descent and their dinner at another exclusive restaurant, she didn't think he'd be broaching the subject of getting married anytime soon. He just seemed truly disconcerted at the idea.

She knew she was being impatient. Three months wasn't a long time to be dating. It was just that deep inside she knew Ray was 'the one' and she wasn't the type to be able to simply sit still and wait for what she knew she really wanted.

They got to his house and he pressed his automatic garage door opener. When he shut off the engine of his car he glanced at her and she saw him gulp nervously. She grabbed his hand to alleviate whatever concerns he had and found it moist and clammy.

"Honey? Is everything okay?" she asked in a soft tone laced with anxiety. "You seem so nervous."

"A little bit," he admitted.

"Why? If you're worried about my reaction on the bridge earlier, please forget it. It didn't mean anything."

"It didn't?" he asked hoarsely.

"Well, it did, but nothing you should be worrying about. I mean, if we've been together for three years and you still haven't proposed, I'll probably start hounding you. But I know it's only been three months for us."

"I got really annoyed when that guy proposed to his girlfriend at the bridge today," Ray said quietly.

"Really? Why?"

Instead of answering, Ray got out of the car. She sighed and grabbed her handbag. He waited until she was by his side before opening the door leading to the house. To her surprise he led her towards the formal living area at the front instead of heading up the stairs to his bedroom.

Her jaw dropped and her eyes popped out at the sight that greeted her.

The big room was aglow with tealight candles. There were so many of them she couldn't even begin to guess how many. And rose petals were scattered all over the plush carpet and leather lounge.

In the middle of the designer coffee table was a huge bouquet of long-stemmed red roses, possibly three dozen of them. Beside the vase was a box of her favourite chocolates, a bottle of expensive champagne and two crystal glasses. The room was absolutely gorgeous and filled with such wonderful fragrance.

She was flabbergasted. Totally blown-away. This was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for her.

"What do you think, baby?" Ray asked nervously.

She couldn't take her eyes off the vision before her. "Ray, it's amazing," she said in a voice full of wonder.

He took her hand and led her to the sofa.

"Who? … How? …" She couldn't even articulate her question properly. She couldn't think straight. She was overwhelmed by the gesture.

"I asked your best friends to arrange it for us. I gave them a key and texted them that we were heading home before we left the restaurant. I wouldn't be surprised if they only left a few minutes ago."

"This is so sweet, Ray," she said sincerely. She smiled at him and pulled him close. "So this is your second surprise. What a wonderful Christmas present. I'm afraid my present to you will pale in comparison."

Ray smiled enigmatically. "Fancy some champagne and chocolates?"

"Yes, please," she purred, giving him a loud smooch on the lips.

Ray opened the bottle and started pouring while she lifted the lid on the box of chocolates. For the second time in the span of five minutes, her jaw dropped and her eyes popped out. She turned to him in utter surprise and saw the love in his eyes.

Ray reached into the box, picked up the stunning object amongst the sweet treats and knelt on one knee. "I love you, Faye Summers, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me, please?"

Her vision blurred as her face shone with the widest smile she'd ever given. "Yes," she whispered as happy tears coursed down her face.

Ray put the oval diamond ring on a platinum band on her finger. It was more beautiful than she would have dared pick for herself. Then he kissed her with so much tenderness, so much reverence, so much love that she didn't think her chest could accommodate her expanded heart.

"I was worried that Ben, the guy at the bridge, stole my thunder," he murmured in her ear. "When I saw your face full of hope that I was the one proposing on top of the harbour bridge, my heart sank. I was worried you'd see this as a poor proposal in comparison."

"Oh, baby, I wouldn't have it any other way. This is perfect," she assured him as her fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt. "This is far more special, and we're all alone in a very romantic setting."

"You catch on fast," he grinned as he tugged on the zipper of her dress. "Why do you think I wanted to do it at home? In a room we haven't made love in yet?"

Her laugh was sensual as she lunged herself at him and kissed him thoroughly.

They came up for air and he cupped her face. "You have just given me the best Christmas present ever," he said gruffly.

"We're even then."

EPILOGUE

Three Years Later…

"You feeling okay, baby? You up to this?" Ray asked with concern as they walked towards the modern double-storey house with pink, purple and yellow balloons tied to a potted plant near the front door.

"That's about the twentieth time you asked me that since this morning. I'm fine, honey. You worry too much," Faye answered with a laugh.

"Just making sure," Ray responded with a crooked smile. He leaned in to kiss her lips before pressing the doorbell.

A few seconds later, the door opened and Faye cried out in delight.

"Rachel! Happy birthday, sweetie!"

The adorable toddler's face split into a shy smile, showing her cute baby teeth, as she gazed at the visitors while perched on her father's arm.

"Come to Auntie Faye," she coaxed, holding her arms out to the child. Rachel buried her face in Rob's neck and held on tightly to her daddy.

"Come on, sweetheart," Rob said softly to his daughter. "Auntie Faye and Uncle Ray just want to give you a hug."

Rachel shook her head stubbornly.

"Will you give them a hug later?"

After a couple of seconds, the tot nodded her head enthusiastically and the adults chuckled.

"Not in the mood yet," Rob grinned.

"Later then," Faye said, kissing Rachel's hair and Rob's cheek.

"Come on in, guys. Everybody's out the back."

They made their way through the big house and out to the vast backyard decorated with balloons and fairies.

Jessa rushed to greet them, bouncing with excitement and happiness and no doubt thrilled to be celebrating her beautiful child's first birthday. After exchanging pleasantries with some people they were introduced to by Jessa and Rob, they made their way to Clarise, Will, Victor and Evan, who were waving to them from a corner table.

"Excuse me if I stay seated," Clarise said with a grin as the men got up to greet them. "I just found a comfortable position in this chair."
 

"How are you, darling?" Faye asked as she leaned down to kiss her friend.

"Good, thanks. But I'm looking forward to not being pregnant anymore," Clarise said with a sigh.

"Well, you won't be in another two weeks or so," Victor said cheerfully. "Do you think there's a chance of you having the baby before your due date?"

"There's always that chance," Clarise responded.

"As long as it doesn't happen within the next five days," Will said with a worried frown.

"Don't worry, honey. I don't think our son's ready to come out yet," Clarise comforted her husband.

"Just don't do anything that might hasten it," Will said. After a slight pause, he squinted his eyes at Clarise. "Maybe I'll cancel my Perth trip. I don't want to take any chances. There's no way I'm missing out on the birth of my son."

"You can't do that, Will," Clarise cried. "You know you have to be there. Your staff needs you for the official branch opening and I don't want you going after the baby's born. Besides, you're already flying out tomorrow. Everyone's already expecting you there."

Will grimaced, seemingly not pleased with his options.

"What's going on, guys?" Rob asked as he and Jessa joined them at the table.

"Will's worried I might go into labour while he's still in Perth," Clarise answered.

"I was a week overdue with Rachel," Jessa quipped. "Apparently, it's common for first babies to be late, although, of course, there's no way to tell if your baby will be early or late."

"I remember you telling us you tried all sorts of things to induce labour, Jess," Faye remarked.

"Yeah, we did. I was so uncomfortable I couldn't wait for her to come out."

"We're pretty sure it was all the sex that did it," Rob said cheekily. "So you better abstain tonight if you don't want to risk Clarise going into labour while you're gone, Will."

"Really? Sex could induce labour?" Will asked in astonishment.

Ray laughed. "Didn't you know that? Even I knew that."

"No. No one told me." Will looked at Clarise. "Did you know that?"

"Yes. I thought you knew. It's common knowledge."

"So why did you let me make love to you last night, then?"

Clarise blushed and smacked Will's thigh for sharing too much information. "I'm not due yet. The baby's not ready to come out."

"Well, no sex for you tonight," Will growled at his wife.

"Okay," Clarise responded with a smile that said it was Will who was more likely to suffer with that decision. She turned to Jessa and changed the subject. "How does working from home work for you, Jess?"

"Oh, it's great. I'm really enjoying it. I edit or write when Rachel's asleep or when Rob's around. And going out for a couple of hours once or twice a week to do interviews helps break up my week," Jessa responded. Glancing at Ray, she asked, "Is this arrangement working well for you Ray?"

"Yes, it is. It's working out better than I anticipated. I must admit I was worried when the two of you told me you wanted to work from home more after your maternity leave but the new structure is working well."

Clarise giggled. "Isn't it funny that I went on maternity leave just as Jess came back from hers? It was like when we were getting married. We made sure I was back on board before Jess took time off for her honeymoon."

"You didn't plan your pregnancies around what would work for me, did you?" Ray asked, looking horrified.

The women laughed. "Hey, we love you, Ray, but not to that extent. No, it just happened that way," Clarise replied.

"Good," Ray muttered with relief.

"Speaking of maternity leave," Faye interjected, "expect Ray to take some paternity leave in a few months' time."

A collective look of surprise, then absolute delight, went round the table and everyone was talking at once.

"Wow, you're pregnant?"

"You're pregnant! Woo-hoo!"

"Congrats, guys. That's wonderful!"

"That's great news! How far along are you?"

"This is so exciting!"

"Our kids can all play together!"

Realising they were babbling at the same time, they stopped. For a couple of seconds there was silence as they looked at one another. Then they all burst out laughing.

"We're ten weeks pregnant, so we thought we could tell you guys already," Ray said with a wide grin as he put an arm around Faye's shoulder.

"We kind of suspected it when Faye complained of not feeling too well and being rather tired lately," Victor commented.

"Yeah. I've been having some bad morning sickness. Hopefully it will ease up in my second trimester. But there's a reason for that and the extra tiredness," Faye said, her eyes twinkling and her face aglow with happiness as she smiled at her husband, who was looking at her with utter devotion.