She glanced around, wondering if the press had somehow gained access to this private event, thinking that only a long lens could have triggered that speech from him. But there were no fancy cameras. There were no journalists or paparazzi scrambling to record the moment.
So why was he saying these things?
‘Evie—’ He took her hand in his and drew her firmly to her feet. ‘I know how much you love me. What you don’t know is how much I love you.’
Her knees felt weak and her body started to tremble. ‘Rio—’
‘It’s real.’ Reading her mind, he pressed his mouth to hers, his kiss a lingering promise of a lifetime of love. ‘This isn’t for the press, or for your grandfather. It’s just for us. I want you to marry me.’
‘But—’
‘I live and work in such a hard, cynical world. I deal with hard, cynical people—and then I met you.’ He stroked her hair away from her face, watching her expression as if he were trying to interpret every blink. ‘Yesterday, when I finally heard that I had what I wanted, I couldn’t work out why I didn’t feel more elated. And I realised it was because gaining my daughter meant losing you and I didn’t want it to be that way. I’m afraid that my biggest fault is that I want everything.’
Evie was laughing through her tears. ‘Greedy.’
‘Yes. And selfish, and ruthless—’ Smiling, unapologetic, he leaned his forehead against hers. ‘You already know that I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want, and I want you, for ever, so you might as well just surrender without a fight.’
For ever?
Happiness flooded through her. ‘You don’t have to fight.’
‘Marry me,’ he murmured softly. ‘We need to give your grandfather a baby to bounce on his knee and in the meantime he can make a start with Elyssa. She’s in desperate need of spare family. She has us, of course, but a wise person once told me that it’s useful to have spares of everything so I thought it would be good to collect some more relatives for her.’
Evie buried her face in his neck, half laughing, half crying, thinking that if this was how love felt then from now on every day was going feel like Christmas. ‘I—’
‘I think the rest of this conversation should be conducted in private,’ Rio breathed, sweeping her into his arms so that the toe of her shoe narrowly missed the Christmas pudding. ‘Please enjoy the rest of your meal. This afternoon we have dancing. And singing. And Evie will be back to give a private performance of her much acclaimed version of The Twelve Days of Christmas but, as that requires dancing on the tables, it has to be after we’ve finished eating.’
‘Rio, you can’t just—’ Mortified, Evie turned scarlet. ‘They’re all looking! What do you think you’re doing?’
‘What am I doing?’ There was laughter in his voice. ‘I’m behaving like a real man, tesoro. If you have any complaints about that, you can take it up with your grandfather.’
Twelve months later
‘Can I hold her?’
‘Of course you can,’ Evie said immediately. ‘She’s your baby sister.’
Elyssa stepped closer and peered at the baby’s face. ‘She’s very small.’
‘Well, she’s only three weeks old. You were this small once.’
‘But I didn’t live with you then.’
‘No.’ Evie reached out a hand and stroked Elyssa’s dark hair. ‘But you live with us now. We’re a family. Always.’
‘I liked being your bridesmaid. I’m pleased you married my Daddy.’
Evie swallowed. ‘I’m pleased, too. Now, sit back in the chair and then I’ll hand Lara to you. She needs to feel secure.’
The little girl wriggled to the back of the chair and held out her arms and Evie sat down next to her and carefully gave her the baby, willing the infant not to wake up and cry.
From beyond the windows she heard the sound of a helicopter and moments later Rio appeared in the doorway. His exquisitely tailored suit moulded to his athletic physique and Evie felt her stomach drop. Even after a year together, she still found it hard to breathe when he was in the same room as her.
‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ he drawled, dropping his briefcase and walking across to them. ‘There were a few things I had to arrange. Last minute Christmas shopping. What have I missed?’
‘Daddy! Have you bought my present?’ Elyssa wriggled with excitement and Rio dropped a kiss on the top of her head and dropped to his haunches.
‘I might have done. You’re holding Lara.’ He shot a questioning look at Evie who smiled reassuringly.