them, they gave me something to give to you. If you’ll accept it.”
The tenderness and intensity and even a shocking vulnerability in his eyes stole her breath, and it took her two attempts to find her voice. “Accept what?”
“This thing in my pocket that’s digging into my ribs, and I hope you’ll help me relieve my pain.” His fingers stroked her cheeks once more before leaving them to pull a surprisingly worn-looking box from his jacket.
“That looks about a hundred years old,” she said through sniffles she knew had to be awfully unattractive, but she couldn’t seem to do a thing about the tears that kept leaking from her eyes.
“Four hundred, actually. My great-great...some big number of greats-grandmother was given this ring by some great-great-grandfather.” He surprised her by folding his fingers back around the box, and she nearly begged him to let her at least look inside. His other fingers tipped her chin up to meet his eyes. “Will you marry me, Gabriella? Be my wife? My princess? Please say yes.”
Gabby stared, unable to fully process his words, unable to speak, and he pressed his lips softly to hers before pulling back again. “You’re scaring me here, Gabriella. Will it help to see the ring?”
He flipped open the box, and she gasped at the huge, square-cut emerald surrounded by diamonds. An emerald that dazzled almost as much as Rafael’s eyes. As Rafael himself. But not quite.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, “but I didn’t need to see it to say yes. Yes, I love you and, yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Thank God,” he whispered back. He pulled her close, and she could feel his body relax as he pressed his cheek to hers. “I promise you won’t regret it. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”
Long seconds ticked by as they just held one another, and she knew he was feeling the same unbelievable connection radiating between them without another spoken word. When they slowly parted, he pulled the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger. As she looked down at it, a bubble of happiness ballooned in her chest so big she thought she might just float away. At the same time she realized there was one important thing they hadn’t talked about.
“I assume you want to go back to your country to live? Would I...if we’re married...be able to work?”
“I’m not going to lie,” he said, his lips twisting. “Being my wife will require helping with some charitable work I’d like to start in the kingdom, and public appearances. But we can live anywhere you want, and you can do whatever you want, including be a midwife. We can work together, if you like, or not. It’s up to you.”
“I don’t know. You can be awfully overbearing and bossy.”
“Another reason I need feisty and amazing Gabriella to keep me in my place.” He gave her another lingering kiss then stood, holding out his hand to help her to her feet. “What do you say we go back to L.A. for now, until we make a plan?”
“Yes.” She twined her fingers with his, hardly able to believe this was really happening. “I think I’m finally ready to move on to wherever life takes me next. With you.”
“HERE’S SOME NEWS I think you’ll want to read with your breakfast, Gabriella,” Rafael said, sliding several newspapers in front of her on the table.
“I’m enjoying being pampered by you in this beautiful house.” She scowled and took a fortifying swig of the delicious coffee Rafael had made. “Why would you want to ruin that for me by making me read the news?”
“I don’t think this news will ruin your morning.” He refilled her cup and she looked up to see his lips were curved and his eyes were dancing.
Moving on from her past didn’t mean she wanted to read the awful stuff that had continued to be plastered in all the media but she had to admit his expression made her curious. She glanced at the headline and her heart stumbled.
“What...is this?” She slowly picked up the paper, staring.
“The world is defending you, querida,” Rafael said. “Shall I read a few of the quotes? ‘Gabriella Cain is the best thing to ever happen to The Hollywood Hills Clinic.’ I like that one, since she’s definitely the best thing to ever happen to me.” He dropped a kiss on her head. “And how about this? ‘Anyone who knows midwife Gabriella Cain knows this trash being said about her can’t possibly be true.’”
“Oh, my gosh.” She stared up at him, her heart somehow squeezing and swelling at the same time. “This is incredible!”
“And my favorite, from Cameron Fontaine,” Rafael continued, flicking through another paper. “‘If Gabriella Cain isn’t hired back by The Hollywood Hills Clinic there will be a boycott. And if there isn’t an immediate retraction from the media, taking back all those ridiculous and inflammatory statements, influential actresses and studio directors like me are going to sue the hell out of every single one of them.’”
Gabby put her hands to her cheeks and laughed. “Oh, my gosh, that’s so Cameron. I guess she liked me after all.”
“Loved you. As I do.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek, moving on to her mouth, and just as Gabby was clutching his shirt and sinking into another delicious kiss, the doorbell rang.
“Well, who could that be? Maybe it’s the media come to apologize.”
“Like that would ever happen.” There was something odd, secretive even, about the smile playing on his lips, and Gabby had to wonder why.
“You never know, when a woman like you has so much clout behind her.” He winked and headed for the door, and when he returned a moment later a familiar voice came with him.
“Gabby. You’ve got to help me out,” James said. “There’s a near-riot at the clinic!”
“A near-riot? What are you talking about?”
“Several of your pregnant patients are refusing to see anyone else, and they’re threatening a sit-in if you don’t come back. They’re mad as hell that you’re gone and they’re blaming me.” James threw his arms wide, and she nearly laughed at the look of alarm on his normally cool, impassive face. “Will you come back? Please? Tell me what it would take and I’ll make it happen.”
The swelling of her heart grew so much she could barely hold in all her joy. Then remembered she wasn’t living her life alone anymore. That there were two of them now. Someday, maybe, she might even be ready to add a few more to the wonderful life she and Rafael would share.
She turned to him, and her face must have told him exactly what she was thinking because he stepped close, pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
“The clinic is a pretty great place to work, isn’t it?” He tipped her chin and his beautiful eyes smiled into hers.
“Yes. It is.” She pressed her palms against his chest and smiled back. “How would you feel about us both working there?”
“You already know, Gabriella Cain,” he said, his warm gaze a steady promise, “that
