‘I know you are frightened. And angry. It’s all so new and confusing and scary. That is normal, human,’ he reassured her, hugging her close. ‘But I also know your courage and humour and intelligence. Your spirit will see you through. And you won’t be alone,
mon amour
. We’ll face this together. And together we can do anything.’
She cried again then, releasing all the tension and the fear and loneliness of the last days and weeks as she clung to him. ‘RP is degenerative and incurable.’
‘No one knows what the future holds. Already there are advances, possible new treatments, encouraging research with stem cells, even prosthetic retinas. However bleak things seem now, a few years down the line it may be different, there may be much that can be done to save, maintain or even improve sight for those with RP. But whether or not that happens, we have our love, our passion, our friendship. Life waits for no one, Lauren. We grasp what we have. We’ve been blessed to have each other.’
Accepting a tissue, she blew her nose and allowed him to cradle her against him. ‘What about a family?’ she asked, broaching a subject that disturbed her greatly. ‘Professor Murchison said I could have genetic screening but what if the results show I can’t risk having children? I don’t want you to give things up for me.’
‘We’ll cross each bridge as we come to it,
chérie
,’ he encouraged, and she marvelled at his calmness, his acceptance. ‘You are the person who matters most to me. If we can’t have children, so be it. If you wanted to, we could consider adoption—and do it properly so any child knows he or she is loved and all about their roots.’
‘I really don’t deserve you,’ she whispered, overwhelmed by his love and understanding and innate goodness.
With a mock growl he gave her a gentle shake. ‘Don’t say silly things like that. You are the best thing to ever happen to me.’
‘But what about your search for your own roots, Gabe? You can’t give up on that, on finding out more about your mother,’ she insisted, knowing how important it was to him. ‘I don’t want to hold you back. And don’t you want to go back to France? What about your work?’
‘Stop inventing obstacles,’ he chided with the kind of rumbly chuckle that warmed her right through.
‘I—’
His fingers stroked her face as he hushed her. ‘I’m still going to research my mother. I’ve not decided what to do when my contract here ends, but we’ll make that choice together. There are all kinds of options. I just heard this week that Lucy is about to give birth again,’ he informed her. ‘She wants to stay at home with the children and may not come back to work at the surgery for some while, and then only part time. Maybe I can stay on in Penhally.’
‘Really?’
‘I love it here.’ He dropped a kiss on her forehead. ‘The solicitor says that the Bartons have decided not to return to England after all. They are going to put the Manor House on the market when my tenancy ends. We could buy it—leaving Oliver and Chloe to buy Gatehouse Cottage, where they are happy. There are a range of possibilities, Lauren. We can do whatever we want.’
Filled with new hope, she pressed closer to him. ‘I don’t care where we go or what we do—as long as I’m with you. I’m sorry, Gabe. I thought I was doing the right thing. I love you so much and I thought it was unfair to trap you, that you would have a better life without me being a burden and dependent on you. You’d already been so manipulated by Yvette, I didn’t want to do the same thing.’
‘I know. You temporarily lost your judgement,’ he teased,
nipping her earlobe. ‘But I forgive you. We put that behind us now and move on. OK?’
‘OK.’ A rush of peace flowed through her and she allowed herself to believe that maybe it was going to be all right.
Gabriel smiled and drew her to her feet, taking Foxy’s lead in his other hand. ‘Good. Now, come with me.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘Home. To bed. We have a week of loving to catch up on and I intend to make the most of every moment.’ The sensual promise in his sexily accented voice sent needy desire coursing through her. ‘When we come up for air,’ he continued with a wicked smile, ‘we can start planning our wedding. We can elope like Oliver and Chloe or we can have a big shindig. Whatever you want. Just so long as it is soon.’
‘Is that a proposal, Dr Devereux?’
‘It is, Ms Nightingale.’ He sent her a mock glare in warning. ‘And I don’t plan to take no for an answer.’
‘Just as well I’m going to say yes, then.’
He caught her to him and swung her round, tangling them up with Foxy. Lauren laughed through her tears—happy tears—beyond grateful that Gabriel loved her, believed in her and hadn’t given up on her. The fingers of one hand sank into her hair, tilting her head for his kiss. A hungry, deep, thorough kiss that was full of the passion and desire that had flashed between them from the first moment and the love that had grown with each day that had passed.
Gabriel broke off, his breathing as ragged as hers. She could feel his heart thundering as madly as her own. She could also feel the effect their kiss had had on him as she rocked her hips against his. Sweet mercy she had missed this…missed him…so much.
‘Home,’ he growled with pleasing desperation.
She wasn’t at all sure she could wait to get back to the Manor House. Excitement fired her blood and an ache of
need clenched deep in her womb. Some time in the next decade or two she might even manage to breathe again. Filled with the same urgency that drove him, she allowed Gabriel to take her hand, linking their fingers, as they all but ran back to his car.
Anticipation clamoured inside her. How could she have gone from despair to blissful joy in such a short time? The sexual tension crackled between them as they drove back through town—a town that had been through so much in the last year or two but which had only grown stronger and more together because of it.
Just like Gabriel and herself.
The future of her eyesight was uncertain, but with Gabriel by her side and secure in their once-in-a-lifetime love, she would no longer be afraid. Wherever they went, whatever they did, together they had everything they would ever need. Each other…united in body, heart and soul.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
®
and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with
®
are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
THEIR MIRACLE BABY © Harlequin Books S.A. 2008
First published in Great Britain 2008
Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Caroline Anderson for her contribution to the BRIDES OF PENHALLY BAY series.
SHEIKH SURGEON CLAIMS HIS BRIDE © Harlequin Books S.A. 2008
First published in Great Britain 2008
Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Josie Metcalfe for her contribution to the BRIDES OF PENHALLY BAY series.
A BABY FOR EVE © Harlequin Books S.A. 2008
First published in Great Britain 2008
Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Maggie Kingsley for her contribution to the BRIDES OF PENHALLY BAY series.
DR DEVEREUX’S PROPOSAL © Harlequin Books S.A. 2008
First published in Great Britain 2008
Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Margaret McDonagh for her contribution to the BRIDES OF PENHALLY BAY series.
ISBN: 978-1-408-91489-2