She frowned and he could see the drug was starting to work well.
‘I’d like to be with you whenever I can.’ He leant over and kissed her on the lips this time. Very gently. ‘Go to sleep. I’ll sit here and we’ll talk about that when you wake up.’
* * *
When Lucy woke up Nikolai was still there. It hadn’t been a dream. And as for the things he’d said before she’d gone to sleep, she hoped she hadn’t dreamed that. He was playing with a single red rose, spinning it in his hand, and she drank in the sight of him until he noticed she’d woken up.
He smiled and the whole room brightened. She loved his smile. ‘Hello, sleepyhead.’
Suddenly she felt very shy. Surely this tall and gorgeous man hadn’t said what she’d thought he’d said. ‘Hello, there.’
He was still smiling. ‘How are you feeling?’
Nervous. ‘Better.’
‘Good.’ He nodded and there was that little catch of accent she almost missed now because she was so used to him. Maybe he was nervous, too. The thought brought a little calmness.
He went on. ‘And you are properly awake?’
She nodded and moistened her dry lips with her tongue. Nick’s eyes darkened and he leaned backwards and picked up her glass of water and a straw from the pile Flora had brought. ‘Would you like a sip of water?’
Well, she would, but the suspense was killing her. ‘Only if you’re quick.’
He passed the water and she took a fast sip before he put it back. He frowned over her words and then got it. Laughed out loud. ‘Am I being too slow for you?’
‘Maybe a little.’
‘Lucy Palmer, I should have told you earlier.’
‘Yes.’ Lucy wanted to cross her fingers he wasn’t going to ask her to be his patient again.
‘I love you. With all my heart.’ Words she’d never hoped to hear.
Her mouth refused to work. How did you answer that?
His brow creased. ‘Is that okay with you?’
More than okay, but she still couldn’t speak, so she nodded. ‘I love you,’ he said again, and she blew him a kiss.
Nick must have seen that as a positive sign because he took her hand and went down on one knee beside her bed. Stared into her eyes with an expression she’d thought she’d never see on his face. ‘Lucy Palmer, will you marry me?’
Lucy felt the tears sting her eyes at her gorgeous man, down on one knee, looking into her eyes with the promise of loving her like she’d never been loved before. Fulfilling dreams she’d only dared to dream as she fell asleep in her lonely bed, and here he was, offering her the world. His world.
Waking up with Nick every morning. Sleeping in his arms every night. Her babies would be their babies and if they were blessed they would make more. A family with Nick. How had this happened to her?
Then she said something dumb. ‘Are you sure?’
He shook his head. Pretended to frown at her. ‘Flora May said you wouldn’t believe me. You’re supposed to say yes!’
Lucy blinked. ‘You’ve already told Flora?’
‘I had to ask someone for your hand.’
She smiled. Loved the idea of Nick asking Flora. Someone else who had really been there for her. Joy bubbled up with the sudden belief that this just might be true. Nick loved her. She loved him so much. Had loved him from the day he’d taken her to breakfast.
‘Um, can you ask me, again? Please?’
Nick nodded, suddenly serious, and she loved that, too. Nick serious was Nick seriously sexy.
‘Lucy Palmer, I love you. With all my heart. Will you marry me?’
This time she had the right answer. ‘Yes. Yes, please.’
He leaned forward and helped her sit up. Then his arms were around her and she felt as if she’d finally come home. Nick’s chin on her hair. His arms around her. Home.
She was home with Nick. She’d found her man, who understood her, loved her and would be her family for ever.
And she would be the home he’d lost at too young an age, the love he could always be sure of. The life he could trust his heart to. She would always be there.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LUCY AND NIKOLAI’S wedding took place at sunrise on the beach at Coolongatta an hour south of the Gold Coast, two months after Lucy and Nikolai’s twins were born.
As the sun peaked over the ocean horizon the bride walked slowly down the long silver carpet to the edge of the sea where her groom waited with love in his eyes and a swelling so great in his heart he could barely breathe.
Gold and red lights shimmered through her hair as she was blessed by the first rays of the sun, just like their marriage would be, and the trailing wildflowers of her bouquet danced and swayed in her shaking fingers as she closed the gap between them.
He glanced at the assembled guests, seated on white chairs in the sand, more wildflowers edging the silver ribbon that led her to him. To his baby daughters, Phoebe and Rose, being nursed at the moment by Callie Richards for the service.
To the attendants: his best man, David Donaldson, Flora May’s new husband; his bridesmaid sister, Chloe, smiling beside Flora May, the Matron of Honour looking tall and gangly with joyful affection in her eyes when she, too, looked back at his bride.
Then his eyes were drawn irresistibly to his beautiful Lucy—the woman who had resurrected his belief in family, given him such joy—and healed his heart. His bride.
Lucy wore a ring of flowers in her hair and her neck rose from the circular neckline of her dress like a swan, and at the hem, her coral-tipped toes peeked out as she walked towards him. He’d always loved her bare toes.
When she put her slender fingers into his he linked her to him and finally believed this dream was real. He’d found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and he could barely wait to pledge his love, for ever.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460320686
Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Books S.A.
GOLD COAST ANGELS: TWO TINY HEARTBEATS
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