The Doctor's Baby (16 page)

She drew back far enough to look into his eyes. “I love you, David. But I understand if you don’t feel the same about—”

Suddenly his mouth was on hers, his arms holding her tight as if he’d never let her go, and July didn’t have to think, she only had to feel. By the time his lips finally left hers, she was trembling. Not with fear, but with the realization that for the first time, she could believe it was going to be alright.

“I have something for you,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

The long hard length of him was pressed against her belly. She rubbed up against him, cursing the fabric between them. “I bet I know what it is.”

“Um, that’s for later.” He grinned. Releasing his hold on her, he slid a hand into his pocket. When he pulled it out his fingers were in a fist. He slowly turned his left hand over and opened it. Lying in the palm was the Claddagh ring she’d admired at the silent auction. “This is for now. This is for you.”

July gazed at the intricate detail and her throat grew tight. “It’s beautiful.”

He picked up the moonstone in his fingers. “This ring signifies friendship, loyalty and love.”

Love? Did he say
love?

“I’m feeling a little dizzy.” July brought a hand to her head. “Do you mind if we step into the shade for a minute?”

His brow furrowed in concern. Without a word, he took her arm and propelled her under the large branches of a nearby cottonwood, his fingers immediately moving to her wrist. After a few seconds he looked up. “Your pulse is rapid and irregular.”

She braced herself against the rough bark of the large tree and gazed up at him through lowered lashes. “It happens all the time when I’m around you.”

A look of relief crossed his face. He smiled sheepishly. “It happens to me, too.”

“It does?”

Without a word he pressed the palm of her hand over his heart.

She looked up at him in wonder. “It’s racing, just like mine.”

He trailed his knuckles down her cheek oh-so-gently. “Why do you think that is?”

Her heart skipped a beat. And then another. She felt all jittery inside, as if she was facing something momentous. “You’re nervous?”

David chuckled. “I’m happy. Excited. Scared. All rolled into one.”

She homed in on the last emotion. “Why would you be scared?”

He searched her eyes. “Because I have something very important to ask you and your answer will determine my future happiness.”

He took her hand and the world stood still.

“I love you, July,” he said slowly, solemnly. “And I love our son. My life is so much richer with you both in it. Where you are is where I want to be. So if you want to move back to Chicago or even to Timbuktu, I’ll gladly go with you.”

July burst into tears. “But I love it here.”

David gently brushed away her tears with the pads of his thumbs and gazed at her for a long moment. Then he took her hand and dropped to one knee. In his brilliant blue eyes she saw utter devotion and an abundance of love. “Will you marry me, July Greer?”

“Marry you?” The words came out on a squeak.

“Marry me,” he repeated in a soft low tone. “Please.”

“I do,” July said. “I mean yes, I will.”

With a loud whoop, he jumped to his feet and took her left hand, sliding the Claddagh ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. “I pledge you my fidelity and my friendship, but most of all, my love forever and ever and ever.”

Happiness bubbled up inside her. July gazed down at the ring, her heart singing so loudly it nearly drowned out everything around her.

“Forever,” she murmured, her voice catching at the wonder of it all.

“Scared?” he asked in a gentle, teasing tone, though she could hear a hint of worry.

She met his gaze. “Only that forever won’t be nearly long enough.”

A slow relieved smile spread across his gorgeous face. “In that case, we shouldn’t waste a second.”

He pulled her into his arms and before she could catch her breath, he kissed her. Deeply. Possessively. A kiss that sent waves of promise clear down to her toes.

When she finally came up for air and gazed into those love-filled eyes, it finally sunk in. This was no dream. This amazing man was hers. And today was only the beginning of a long and wonderful life.

Now, if they both had a horse and the sun was low in the sky, this would be the perfect time for them to ride off into the sunset together….

But neither of them owned a horse and the sun was still high in the western sky. So instead July wrapped her arms around David’s neck and kissed him again.
When he whispered words of love against her mouth and down her neck, she decided horses and sunsets were highly overrated.

Everything she wanted, everything she would ever need, was right here in her arms.