The Surgeon's Fatherhood Surprise (16 page)

Jack grinned. ‘We certainly don’t want that happening. I have plans that involve us both leaving this room and going upstairs to some where more comfortable.’

Alison shivered at the image that sprang to her mind. She could picture her and Jack walking up the stairs to her bedroom… She blanked out the rest, knowing that it would be impossible to concentrate if she got too carried away. ‘As I said, it took me a long time to find myself again. That’s why I was so scared when I realised the effect you had on me. I was terrified of being hurt again the way I’d been hurt before.’

‘I will never hurt you, Alison.’ He pressed her hand to his heart and held it there. ‘I swear on my life that I shall do
my best to protect you and make you happy. You and Sam, of course.’

‘Thank you.’ Tears welled to her eyes, because there was no doubt that he was telling her the truth. She kissed him on the mouth, then snuggled into his arms, enjoying the fact that she could do so. There were no barriers between them now, and she was free to show him her love any way she chose.

Jack brushed his mouth across her hair. ‘If it’s confession time then I have a confession, too. I tried desperately not to fall in love with you. Even when I realised it had happened, despite my attempts to stop it, I still couldn’t tell you how I felt. That’s why I stayed away. I didn’t want to risk telling you that I loved you.’

‘Because of Freddie?’

‘Yes. He needs so much of my time and attention. It just didn’t seem fair to involve you in my life at the moment.’

‘I thought it was because you weren’t interested in me,’ she admitted. ‘Especially when I saw you with Alex Ross that day.’

‘Really?’ He groaned. ‘I wish I’d known that. Alex had asked me to meet her in Rock so we could discuss this new clinic she’s involved with. There’s nothing going on between us, Alison, I promise you.’

‘I believe you.’ She tipped back her head and looked at him. ‘I would never make you choose between me and Freddie. He needs you, and I’m happy to wait for however long it takes.’

‘Thank you.’ He kissed her gently. ‘I don’t want to wait, though. I want us to be together now, not at some point in the future. I need you beside me, Alison. If there are problems, I know we can solve them if we do it together—you, me, Sam and Freddie.’

Alison wound her arms around his neck. Jack was right.
There was no problem too big that they couldn’t solve together. Her heart over flowed with love when he set her on her feet and led her to the stairs. This was the start of a whole new life for all of them.

I
T WAS
the day of Maggie and Adam’s wedding, and it appeared that the whole of Penhally Bay had turned out to wish them well. The local church was packed as the couple made their vows. Maggie looked lovely in a simple white dress and carrying a bouquet of spring flowers, and Adam looked so handsome in his dark suit. They made a perfect couple and everyone was thrilled for them.

Alison sat at the back of the church with Jack and the boys, and cried through out the service. It was just so beautiful and so moving, especially in view of what had happened to her. Jack took her hand and held it tightly, and she knew that he felt as emotional as she did, and for the same reasons, too. They were so in tune with one another that it was hard to imagine being without him now, and she didn’t try. Jack was part of her life now and she was part of his—they were in se parable.

Maggie and Adam had decided not to have a reception. As they had explained, they wanted to be on their own more than anything else, and everyone had understood. Alison followed the rest of the party outside as everyone went to wave them off. When Maggie tossed her bouquet to the crowd, Alison automatically reached for it, but missed. It wasn’t until a great cheer erupted that she discovered Jack had caught it.

He grinned as he handed it to her. ‘This is for you.’

‘Thank you.’ Alison laughed as she took it from him, then gasped when he dropped to one knee in front of her. ‘What are you doing?’

‘What do you think?’

He gave her a wicked grin, then called Freddie over and whispered something to him. The little boy solemnly felt in his pocket and drew out a velvet-covered box, which Jack then gave to Sam. Alison’s heart was racing as her son proudly handed the box to her.

‘Alison Myers, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’ Jack said as everyone held their breath.

‘I…er…um…’ Alison tailed off and swallowed. Her hands were shaking so hard that she could barely open the box, and when she finally managed it, she gasped again. The ring was gorgeous, a diamond solitaire in a delicate platinum setting.

‘I don’t want to rush you, my love, but I’m starting to get cramp,’ Jack said, sounding slightly nervous. ‘Please, say you’ll marry me and put me out of my misery.’

‘Yes,’ she whispered, then took a deep breath and repeated her answer so that everyone could hear her. ‘Yes, I’ll marry you, Jack!’

All the guests went wild, but Alison was barely aware of what was going on around them. Jack stood up and kissed her, then took hold of the boys’ hands.

‘Right, let’s go and see if Granddad would mind looking after you two for a couple of hours.’ He smiled at Alison, a smile that was filled with promise. ‘Alison and I have things to do this afternoon.’

He led the children through the crowd, pausing to accept congratulations along the way. His father was talking to Lucy, and they both turned and smiled when they saw him approaching.

‘Granddad!’ Freddie suddenly shouted, catching sight of Nick. He and Sam went racing off, but Jack stopped dead. He couldn’t believe that Freddie had spoken at last—yet wasn’t it fitting that it should have happened today?

A wave of happiness enveloped him as he looked back at Alison. He’d had so many doubts when he had come back to Penhally Bay, but it had worked out far better than he had hoped. Not only did he have a son he adored, he had found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He had to be the luckiest man alive!