Page 108 of The Husband Diet
He took both my heads in his hands and I found myself staring into his dark, dark eyes.
‘Now you listen to me, you nutter.’ He was serious.
I swallowed, not knowing what to think or say, so I just listened.
‘You gave me the encouragement I needed to get back in the saddle with my books. Without you, I’d still be feeling sorry for myself.’
Nowthathad come as a surprise. All this time he’d supported and cheered me on, when he had his own little traumas, which he hid very well.
‘But besides that, I love you. Very much. And I want to make you and the kids happy. How could you—’
‘I’m sorry,’ I repeated, tears coming into my eyes. ‘Especially because I love you. And I’ve been rehearsing ways to ask you to come, but I know your life and career are here. I’m sorry to do this to you now.’
He sighed and pulled me onto his lap.
‘Erica, please let me finish. How could you even think for a moment that I wouldn’t follow you if you wanted me to?’
I gaped at him, although you and I both know I was banking on him coming. ‘You want to come?’
‘Do youwantme to come?’
‘Would you?’
He nodded. ‘Of course. You think I’m going to let someone else snatch you up? You must be crazy.’
I felt a smile coming on. Not a teeth-baring one, but a real smile. ‘Cool!’ I breathed.
‘Cool,’ he agreed.
‘But what about your job? You studied so hard to be principal after your injury.’
He shrugged. ‘I think it’s time for you to be happy with me and for me to be happy with you.’
Which should have been more than enough, but you know good old practical me. ‘So while I run the B & B, you’re going to write your book?’ I asked.
Again, he shrugged. ‘I’d also like to breed horses.’
I grinned. ‘Books and horses it is.’
‘But first…’ Julian said, pulling out a small velvet box this time.
‘Uhm… what’s that?’ I asked.
‘It’s a goddam ring. To spell it out to you.’
Itwasa goddam ring. A big chunk of a rock, all shiny and pure. I looked at it and back at him, my eyes misty again.
‘This is not a marriage proposal,’ he warned me.
I forgot my tears as my jaw dropped in disappointment.
‘It’s not?’
‘No. Because I know you’re not ready yet, and I understand. But I don’t want to lose you, so I’m hoping you’ll wear this to scare off other men.’
‘Oh, I’ve never needed a ring forthat. They run the minute they see me,’ I laughed as I dashed a hand over the new gush of tears running down my face.
He laughed and cupped my chin, delivering me a whoppingly delicious kiss on the lips.
