God, he was so proud of her. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Thank you. I’ve also put an offer in on a house.’
Marcus went still. Well, hell, that wasn’t happening. ‘Withdraw it,’ he said.
Her eyebrows shot up. ‘What? No. It’s in a great location, has loads of space and a lovely garden.’
‘So does mine.’
‘Huh?’
‘Move in with me and let’s be a proper family. I love you, Celia. So much. I’m sorry it’s taken me such a long time to figure it out, but I adore you. Everything about you. You’re amazing and I’m so, so proud of you. Our child is the luckiest child in the world to have you as its mother. I should have told you all this that night, but I was spooked, as you knew I would be. Running away was a knee-jerk reaction but I stayed away out of fear, obstinacy, stupidity, and I’m so sorry.’
He stopped, breathing hard, his heart thumping and his blood racing as he watched her, standing there staring at him speechless, as if it was all too much to take in. And suddenly he thought, Oh, to hell with it. The most efficient way to show her how he felt and to find out how she felt was to simply march over to her and kiss her.
* * *
As Marcus’ arms came round her and his mouth descended, his eyes blazing with everything he’d just told her he felt for her, Celia melted.
It had been so hard maintaining a cool, stony-faced facade when all she wanted to do
was hurl herself at him and beg him to love her. She’d so nearly cracked when she’d mentioned the sensible but soulless house she’d found. And then he’d said what he’d said and she was still reeling, still hardly able to believe it.
Was it really true? Did she really not have to be miserable any more? Could she really let herself believe it?
His kiss told her it was, she didn’t and she could, and she nearly passed out at the happiness coursing through her, filling every corner of her and making her heart beat madly.
‘I love you, Celia,’ he murmured raggedly against her mouth. ‘We have so much to look forward to. I’ve spent so long looking backwards it’s clouded my judgement. For far too long. But not any more. Will you marry me?’
She went dizzy, practically about to burst with happiness. And then she winced and took in a quick, sharp breath.
‘What?’ he said, drawing back and looking down at her in concern. ‘Too much? I knew it would be too much. Or is it too soon? OK, we can wait. If that’s what you want. I’d marry you right now if I could, but I can understand if you have doubts. I mean, I know I’m a sure bet but of course you’d have concerns. Especially when I’ve been such an idiot—’
‘No, it’s not that,’ she said, her heart almost bursting as he stumbled over his words.
‘Then what is it?’
‘The baby kicked.’ She took his hand, and put it on her bump. ‘Here. Feel.’
‘God. That’s incredible.’
‘You’re incredible,’ she said softly. ‘I don’t have any concerns about you, Marcus. I have no doubts. Because I love you too. You’re my best man and you always will be, and of course I’ll marry you.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Seriously.’
He looked down at her. ‘Who’d have thought?’ he said almost in wonder.
‘Who’d have thought?’ she echoed softly.
For a moment he looked at her, his eyes shimmering with love and hope and a tiny glint of wickedness. ‘So this thing you’re meant to be going out to tonight...’ he said, tugging on the belt of her dressing gown and pulling her towards him.
Her breath hitched and desire began to surge through her. ‘Easily cancellable.’
‘Anything else in the diary for the next few months?’ he murmured.
‘Nothing important.’