Page 90 of Christmas at Valentine Inn

He shrugged.

“You are.” I ruffled his hair. “You don’t know what the bracelet means to me.”

Bridgette stood. “We should probably go to bed,” she sang, conspiratorially.

Rory was done with the mushy stuff and worked his way out of my arms before standing. “Yep, time for bed.” He grinned at his father. “Don’t get gross. We’re still children, after all.”

Bridgette and Rory roared.

“I love you two; now get out of here.” Patrick chuckled.

“Love you,” I called out.

“Happy birthday!” they shouted back.

I looked to Patrick, who had an impassioned fire in his eyes. “What was that all about?” It was late, but not that late. I thought we might all watch a movie or something before they went to bed. Or at least eat more cake.

Patrick motioned with his finger for me to come closer. “It’s time for me to give you my present.”

Was it getting warm in here? Because, oh, have mercy, I felt like I was on fire. I slinked across the hardwood floor, veryDirty Dancing–like. Just call me Baby.

Patrick leaned in, once I was close enough, to run his tongue across my lips. Whoa. I was going to have to remind myself not to be “gross”—and that we really weren’t alone.

“That’s just for starters,” he crooned.

I wanted more. I snuggled onto his lap and ran my hands into his hair, my lips teasing his. “I’m ready for my present now.”

“Your wish is my command.” His lips captured mine in a fantastic fashion, twisting my lips between his own, his tongue begging mine to come out and play. He consumed me with the taste of chocolate cake and French roast, while his hands ran down the length of my body, drawing me as close as he could. I’d thought the first birthday kiss he had ever bestowed upon me couldn’t be topped. I was wrong, so very wrong. I wanted to burn in the passion brewing between us as every breath I took belonged to him. I wrapped my hands in his button-up so that I didn’t rip it off him. It took everything I had not to push the envelope and risk getting caught in a compromising situation.

After several minutes of heart-pounding, pure desire as we touched and tasted, Patrick’s lips left mine. He had to take a minute to breathe before he could speak, but those aqua eyes of his spoke volumes. He wanted every part of me. That I knew.

“We need to stop before I do something that might result in my children never being able to look me in the eye again.”

I sat up and straightened out my sweater. “Good idea. I’m sorry, you just drive me wild, and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt so wanted—except by the felon, but he doesn’t count.” I’d filled Patrick in about Martez.

“Please don’t apologize. I do want you, Isabelle. I want you for the rest of my life.” He carefully adjusted me to reach into his pocket. He pulled out something but kept it hidden in his hand. “Darling, happy birthday.” His hand opened like a budding flower to reveal the most stunning vintage floral halo diamond, set in a band of diamonds.

I blinked several times, trying to take it all in. I had never seen such a beautiful ring.

“Go on the adventure of a lifetime with me. Marry me, Isabelle.”

The words got caught in my throat. The adventure packages I had gotten them for Christmas had nothing on this one.

“Say something,” he begged.

I swallowed hard. “Of course I will marry you.”

He let out a huge breath of relief.

I don’t know why he was in distress—I thought we had established the fact that we would marry, just not when. I mean, I had a marriage license with the man. But I thought it was cute he was worried.

He took my left hand and slipped the ring on my finger. It was a perfect fit.

I admired it in the light of the tree, tears filling my eyes. “Could you imagine this twenty years ago?”

“Yes. All of it.” He ran a finger down my cheek where some errant tears had escaped. “I loved you then. I love you even more now.”

How I wished I had known back then. Yet, I worried I wouldn’t have been brave enough to understand what a gift it was. “I love you, Patrick. Let’s set a date.” After my first experience with Jared and how he kept putting me off, I needed to know I would never be an afterthought, or just something on his to-do list.

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