The Christmas Baby (18 page)

“I don’t know. I assume Brian worked something out with someone. Maybe Mark and Cat.”

“It’s none of my business anyway,” Faith said hastily. “Thanks for going with me today, Gail.”

“Anytime.” Gail leaned over and gave her an impulsive hug. “Call me tomorrow, okay?”

“Uh, sure.” Her friend’s eyes were suspiciously bright. Had Gail teared up? “Is something wrong, Gail?”

Roxy opened the back door and got in. “Hi, Faith.”

“Hi, Roxy. How are the babies?”

“They’re good. Well, they were. They’re asleep now. Uncle Brian’s good, too,” she added and shot her mother a grin.

Gail had pulled out a tissue and was dabbing at her eyes.

“Gail, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just sentimental. Go on. And don’t forget to call me tomorrow. Promise?”

“All right.” Sentimental? Faith got out of the car and walked up the sidewalk to the front door.
That was weird
.

F
AITH WALKED INTO
a room lit with a thousand candles. Candlelight and flowers, everywhere. Fragrant, beautiful lilies and roses of every color and description were scattered around the room. Vases of them. Bowls of them. Roses and lilies, her favorite flowers.

Soft music played in the background. She recognized the song. “You’re Beautiful.” The song that had been playing the first time Brian kissed her.

And Brian, wearing blue jeans and a dark green sweater the color of his eyes. Tall, dark and very, very sexy.

He walked up to her and handed her a single perfect white rose. “I wanted to celebrate the new year together. Dance with me?”

Stunned, she stared at him. Her head was spinning and her heart was fluttering madly and she couldn’t think of a single word to say.

He took her silence as agreement and pulled her into his arms to dance. She finally found her voice. “Brian, what are you doing to me?”

He looked down at her and smiled. That wonderful, sexy, beautiful smile she’d thought she’d never see again. The smile that seemed to say he was thinking of her and only of her. “I’m romancing you, Faith.”

“Brian, I can’t…” Her voice trailed away. He wouldn’t be cruel to her. Candles, flowers, romance. Hope burgeoned in her heart. “What—”

Frowning, he interrupted. “Work with me here, Faith. Just relax and enjoy yourself, okay?”

“Okay,” she said meekly and laid her cheek against his chest. They danced in silence for a moment. “I’m not very good at relaxing and going with the flow. You know I tend to analyze everything.”

“I know.” He put his hand beneath her chin and lifted it up. “Analyze this.” He covered her mouth with his, slipped his tongue inside and kissed her, a long, sweet, perfect kiss. “You’re beautiful, Faith.”

“You’re very good at this,” she said, finding it hard to breathe. “Romancing a woman.”

“Not just any woman. I’m romancing you, Faith.”

She sighed and closed her eyes, swaying with the music. She wouldn’t worry or analyze or even think. She was in Brian’s arms again, her head against his heart. Right now, that was enough.

“Are you hungry?” he asked her after a while. “Cat made dinner for us and brought it over. It’s ready anytime.”

“That was sweet of her.”

“Yeah. She’s a sucker for romance.” He led her into the dining room, which was also bathed in candlelight. The table was beautifully set with a snowy white tablecloth, crystal and silver and a centerpiece of an exquisite bowl with a lily floating in water. The chairs were positioned invitingly close to each other. He pulled hers out and seated her, then left the room.

The music changed and she smiled a little, recognizing some of the same music that had played that night on the dinner cruise. Brian came back with a wine bottle and poured them each a glass. He picked up his and tapped it against hers. “Happy New Year, Faith.”

After they toasted, he brought in their plates and set one in front of her. Tournedos of beef, with parsleyed new potatoes, green beans almondine and crusty French bread. “You remembered,” she said, blinking back tears. “When I told you on the boat about the tournedos.”

“I thought it was time we shared your favorite meal together. We never have.”

She picked up her fork and took a bite. The meat was so tender it melted in her mouth. “This is wonderful. I can’t believe you did all this.” She waved a hand to encompass the room. “Everything is perfect.”

“I wanted to impress you. Did it work?”

“Yes. Big-time.”

He smiled. “Did you have fun with Gail today?”

She glanced at him with narrowed eyes. “Did you put her up to that? Dragging me to every apartment in town?”

“Of course. I had to get you out of the house, didn’t I?” He took a bite of his own food and watched her with wickedly smiling eyes.

“And the new nanny? What about her?”

“I made her up so you’d quit making me interview nannies.”

She’d known that when she’d walked in and seen what he’d done, but it still made her happy to hear it.

“I suppose you’re the reason Gail was taking so long at the Scarlet Parrot.” She laughed. “Oh, I wanted to strangle her. I nearly screamed.”

“Yeah, she told me you were getting frustrated with her. Roxy was putting the babies to bed. Gail said she’d stall for as long as she could to make sure they were asleep when you got here.”

“I thought you had a date.”

He took one of her hands in his and brought it to his lips. “I haven’t been able to think about another woman since you came into my life.”

“You tried,” she couldn’t help saying.

“Yes. And it didn’t work.”

“I’m glad.”

“So am I.”

The way he looked at her had her stomach fluttering. As if he wanted to kiss her. Make love to her. As if he loved her.

But he still hadn’t said the words.

She noticed he wasn’t eating much. He seemed more interested in watching her. “Aren’t you hungry? The food is incredible.”

“For some reason I don’t have much appetite. Save some room for dessert. It’s chocolate mousse.”

“Have I told you you’re evil?”

His grin was swift and sexy. “I like to think of myself as smooth but whatever works for you.” He topped off her wineglass and went to get the dessert.

Faith convinced Brian to share some of her mousse and save the other one for later. “Leave the dishes. I’ll clean up tomorrow,” he said, and led her back to the den. “Tonight I want to romance my woman.”

His woman. She loved the sound of that. He left her to change the music again, then came back and took her in his arms for another dance. He held her close against him, next to his heart. A beautiful, lyrical voice sang about really, really loving a woman, lying helpless in her arms
. It’s gonna last forever
.

She looked into his eyes. They were dark green, brilliantly alive. His lips curved upward as he gazed at her. “I picked this song for a reason. Do you want to know what that reason is?”

Only more than she wanted to breathe. She nodded, unable to speak.

“I love you, Faith. I really, really love you. So much.”

And then he kissed her.

She all but melted into a puddle on the spot. She slid her arms around his neck and poured herself into his kiss. Her heart swelled with emotion. Joy and happiness and love. He eventually drew back and smiled at her, took her hand and led her to the couch where he sat beside her.

He gathered her hands together and kissed them. “Faith, there’s something—” He broke off as they heard a baby crying. “That’s Will.” He looked put out and then laughed. “Well, that’s appropriate. I’ll go get him.”

Lily must have heard Will because she began to cry, as well. “I’ll go see about Lily.” Why did children have such timing? What had he been about to say?

“Bring her back to the den,” Brian said over his shoulder as he left the room.

Mystified, she did as he asked after she changed the baby. Lily was so sleepy she’d have gone back to sleep easily, but Brian seemed to want her in the den with them. When he returned, he handed Will to her and he took Lily. Will snuggled up against her, clearly sleepy, as well.

Brian cuddled Lily until her eyes closed, then put her down on the couch between them. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small blue velvet box.

Faith’s heart stilled and she stared at him, a smile forming. “You shouldn’t give me jewelry.”

“I shouldn’t give this to the nanny,” he agreed. “But I’m not giving the nanny jewelry. You’re fired, by the way.”

“You can’t fire me. I already quit.”

“Whatever, just as long as you know you’re not working for me anymore.”

“Oh, Brian,” she said between tears and laughter. “This is crazy.”

“Don’t say anything else until I ask you.” He flipped open the box to show her a gorgeous diamond ring, an old-fashioned platinum setting of pavé diamonds with a beautiful pear-shaped center stone. “Did you know that diamonds are a symbol of everlasting love?”

“Yes,” she whispered, struggling for composure.

“Marry me, Faith. Marry me and be Will’s mother. Let me be Lily’s father. Stay with me and love me and have more children with me. Marry me soon.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “Next week would be good.”

She laughed through her tears and put her free hand on his cheek. “I love you so much. I’ll marry you, Brian. Whenever you want.”

He slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her again, long and slow and lovingly. “And now,” he said as the kiss ended, “we really need to put these babies to bed.”

“Why is that?” She had a feeling she knew.

“Because as much as I love them, we’re going to celebrate the New Year and our engagement without children.”

“Have special plans, do you?” she asked as she rose to take Will to his room.

“Very special.”

“What are these special plans?” she asked him a little while later when they met in the bedroom.

He took her in his arms and smiled at her, the sexy smile that made her want to tear off her clothes and his. There was so much love in his gaze. “I plan on loving you, Faith. Now and forever.”

“I love the sound of that. Forever is a very good thing,” she said, and kissed him.