He smiled and led her up a set of marble steps to the gallery beyond. “This museum, The Dupré Museum of Antiquities and Sea History, is yours.”
Her frown deepened. “The Dupré Museum of— Why?”
“Because we needed a suitable space to showcase this.”
They reached the top of the stairs, and there, in the center of the gallery, spotlighted so it glittered, was the crystal ball from the wreck.
Bella gasped, dropping his hand. “Is that—”
“The crystal ball? Yes. I bought it back, but it didn’t seem fitting for it to just sit and gather dust on your aunt’s mantle. Not when it could bring so many here to the city and be the centerpiece to show the world what an amazing find you made. You deserve to have the whole world know your name.”
She clasped her hands in front of her and brought them to her mouth, like a prayer, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. He was hoping to God he didn’t make her cry. “You did this for me?”
He smiled. “Of course I did this for you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice for you.”
She turned, tears streaming down her face and grabbed him around the middle, burying her face in his shirt. For a moment he stood, frightened to do anything that might make her cry more. But he couldn’t stop himself from touching her, not when she was so close. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her and letting her cry.
The soft scent of lemon and sugar cookies drifted up from her hair, making his heart do a double-clutch with need. God, how he’d missed her. He stroked the silk of her hair and rested his cheek against the top of her head. “Bella, are you okay?”
She nodded, and he let out a sigh of relief. Thank God. If he’d done something else to break her heart, he had no clue how to make up for it. He’d given it everything he had to get the museum renovated and open for business in this short amount of time to show her how much she meant to him.
“It’s beautiful,” she said softly.
He lifted her chin with the crook of his finger, forcing her to look up into his face. “The diamond?”
She shook her head. “All of it. The museum, the crystal ball, all of it. It’s amazing. I never could have pulled off something like this.”
“I did it for you.”
She smiled. “I know.”
“I want the world to know how proud I am of you. How much you’ve accomplished and to have a place to show all the wonderful things that you’ve found. There are also teaching labs at the back of the museum so you can give classes if you want.”
Her eyes sparkled far more than any diamond could have. “Really?”
“This time I tried to think of everything.” He sank down to one knee in front of her and pulled a ring box from his pocket, flipping it open to reveal a three-carat diamond ring. “At the risk of being rejected again, Belladonna Dupré, I love you. I know I’ve screwed up before, but I want to be with you.” He placed a kiss on her belly. “I want to be a father and grow old with you. Will you marry me?”
She nodded. Relief flooded his system. He stood and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest.
“Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll be your wife, the mother of our child—”
“Children,” he corrected, leaning his forehead against hers. “I don’t know about you, but being an only child sucked most of the time. I’d rather not repeat that for my own kids.”
She laughed. “I’ve always wanted a full house. See, we have way more in common than you ever realized. But there’s one thing.” She pulled back, looking him in the eye. “I’m not so sure I can become a McCormack.”
He gave her a ten-thousand watt grin, plucked the ring from the box, and slid it on her finger. “Good, because I was hoping you’d let me change my name to Dupré.”
“What?”
“Never wanted to be a McCormack; still don’t see the need. Besides, don’t you think Tucker Dupré sounds more southern?”
“Definitely.”
“Well, if we’re going to raise our children here, they’ll need to feel at home.”
She glanced at the ring on her finger then looked up at him with a smile that lit up her whole face and melted his heart. “You’ve always had a home, right here in my heart.”
He pulled her close and kissed her. She melted into him, and he realized for the first time in forever he was content, happy to be in this time and place with this woman in his arms. He caressed her face, loving the look that was in her eyes, the one that told him welcome home, you are loved. “Do you think fate brought us together?” he asked.
“No,” she said and kissed him lightly, the familiar spark arcing between them once again, “but perhaps it was written in the stars.”
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Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the dedicated team of my editor Alethea Spirndon, my agent Holly Root, my super amazing critique partner Cherry Adair, and the non-writer friends who always have my back, Karla Baehr, Larie Brown and Vivian Jensen. Thank you is not enough. You ladies inspire me, get me back to the keyboard, and keep me smiling with a good cup of tea.
About the Author
A former journalist and public relations officer, author Theresa Meyers couldn’t read until after the third grade. Despite her dyslexia, her first national piece was published in Merlin’s Pen magazine at age 17. She’s spent over a quarter of a century married to her Prom date, lives on a mini-farm near Seattle with her family, drinks tea – never coffee, and has been a PADI certified open water diver since the age of 19. When she’s not writing she’s likely sewing, baking, helping with homework, or riding her horse. Want to know more? Go to www.theresameyers.com
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Discover the Men of the Zodiac series…
Impulse Control
Sign: Ares
The Millionaire’s Deception
Sign: Taurus
The Millionaire’s Forever
Sign: Gemini
Ten Days in Tuscany
Sign: Cancer
The Millionaire Daddy Project
Sign: Leo
Revenge Best Served Hot
Sign: Virgo
The Prince’s Runaway Lover
Sign: Libra
The Colonel’s Daughter
Sign: Scorpio
One Night with the Billionaire
Sign: Sagittarius
The Greek Tycoon’s Tarnished Bride
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Blurring the Lines
Sign: Aquarius
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Her Sworn Enemy (Men of the Zodiac) Page 18