Chloe was frustrated as tears sprang back into her eyes; she replied on a tortured sob that she couldn’t hold back, “I’m afraid that he won’t love me as much as I love him. I’m afraid because he’s become the most important person in my life, and I don’t know how I’ll live without him. I’m afraid it’s too soon, and that I’ll scare him because I still have some baggage I need to throw away. I’m afraid he’ll get tired of babying me because I screwed up.” Her tears became a veritable torrent.
“Sweetheart, that’s never going to happen,” Gabe said from a position directly behind her, his voice husky, his drawl heavier than usual.
Chloe froze, realizing the men had come in while she was on a roll, spilling her guts.
Gabe continued to speak as though he couldn’t stop. “I think I’ve been in love with you ever since I kissed you on New Year’s Eve. I just didn’t see beyond how much I wanted you. And I do want you, Chloe. I want you forever. Marry me and I’ll baby you forever if I need to, and I’ll love you every step of the way.”
She turned in shock, certain she misheard him. “You love me?” she asked tearfully, her heart full of dawning hope.
“Desperately, darlin’,” he answered with a nod, his eyes intent on her.
“Oh, my God. What happened to you?” Her euphoria over hearing that he loved her was overshadowed as she looked at his face. He had a bleeding cut over his eye, and his jaw was swollen.
“Nothing much,” Blake answered calmly as he stepped up beside Gabe.
“You fought with James?” The cause of his injuries was immediately crystal-clear.
“Wasn’t much of a fight,” Zane answered from behind Blake. “They had to take James to the hospital. I don’t think he’s getting out anytime soon. And Gabe didn’t give any of us a chance to take a shot at the bastard.” His tone sounded disappointed and disgruntled.
“Oh, Gabe,” Chloe breathed out softly, moving forward to gently swipe at the blood dribbling from his cut. “You’re bleeding.”
“Don’t worry about that. You didn’t answer my question,” he grumbled, sticking his injured hand into his pocket to pull out a jewelry box. “I planned on doing this in a more romantic way, but I can’t wait.”
Chloe took the box from him, her heart racing as she popped it open to find the most gorgeous ring she’d ever seen. “Oh, my God. It’s amazing.” Her tears continued to fall, her emotions getting the better of her.
If she had to pick the perfect ring, the one nestled on a bed of red velvet in the box in her hand would have been it. It was large, but delicate and elegant, a round cut center stone surrounded by small diamonds, with even smaller stones dotting the sides.
“I’m not much good at picking jewelry, but I’ve heard that the woman who designed it is one of the best,” Gabe said anxiously.
Chloe reached out a finger to touch the gorgeous ring. “Who?”
“The wife of some billionaire in Florida. She’s a jewelry designer.”
“This is a Mia Hamilton ring? Her jewelry is amazing, but very exclusive. She’s so busy it’s hard to get her to take a commission. I know of her—she’s married to Max Hamilton from the charity…” Chloe knew that Max was one of the founding members of the charity for abused women that she and Lara were getting involved with on a regular basis. In fact, Max’s own sister, Asha, was one of the reasons the charity had been founded. Mia was just as involved, donating most of the proceeds of her jewelry business. That made the ring Gabe had gotten her so much more special than it already was.
Gabe shrugged. “She did it for me, although I have to admit that I called in a few favors from friends. Do you like it?”
Chloe looked up at him with her eyes full of love. “I love it. You know she donates a lot of the money she makes to a charity for abused women? It’s really special.”
“I know, and I’m glad it has meaning for you, and that you love it. But it has a whole different meaning to me,” he answered with a grin. “Are you going to let me put it on or not?”
Chloe’s heart squeezed tightly at Gabe’s thoughtfulness. “You must have ordered it awhile ago. Nothing happens fast when a designer is that in demand.”
“Right after I first kissed you.” He took the ring from the box. “I rationalized ordering it, thinking you deserved a damn ring. Period. But I never would have given it to James to put on your finger. It was always going to be me, Chloe.”
That New Year’s Eve had been a turning point for her. But she hadn’t realized how much their kiss had affected Gabe, too.
Slowly, she held out her left hand. “Yes,” she told him, her voice quivering with emotion. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she reinforced, wanting to be joined with Gabe desperately.
He slipped the ring on her finger quickly, as though he were afraid she’d change her mind.
“I know you have a past to overcome, but we’ll build our future together, Chloe,” he said huskily. “I swear.”
She examined the ring on her finger, knowing in her gut that it was absolutely right. “I love you,” she whispered quietly, reverently, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him.
“I love you, baby. More than I ever knew it was possible to love somebody.” Gabe ignored the little peck she was going to give him and curled his uninjured hand around her neck and claimed her lips.
Everything was there in his kiss: love, devotion, understanding, and happiness and relief. Chloe kissed him back, forgetting that all of her family was watching.