A Baby on Her Christmas List (17 page)

‘Are you for real? I’ve called in every favour I’ve ever had and flown halfway across the world. Dashed straight to you. Which part of
I love you
don’t you believe?’

She bit her lip and as always her stark honesty was there in her face, in her words. ‘I’m scared, Liam. I want to believe it all. Wow, that would be such an awesome dream to have come true, really. I couldn’t think of a better thing I could have. But you don’t have to get carried away. I get that you don’t like connection.’

She was rejecting him? He hadn’t factored that into his plan. ‘I have spent every available waking hour for the last eight months here. I have pimped your house, transformed your garden, been at your beck and call. I’ve been your friend through thick and thin. I am still your friend, Geo. That is the best part about all of this. We are friends first. Doesn’t that prove that I love you?’

‘I want your heart. Not your duty or your responsibility, or some friendship loyalty thing. I want your true love.’ It was there in her face and mirrored in his heart, unfettered, truthful, raw. He needed to make her believe him. She clearly took some persuading. ‘I want your true love. For me. I won’t take anything less.’

‘Wait. Wait right there.’ He dashed out to the car, grabbed his things and dashed back. ‘The paramedics are waiting outside, they want to take little Nugget—we need a name. Really, we need a name. Just to be checked out at the hospital. And to get your foot sorted. But I want to give you this first.’

He dragged the cot into the lounge and placed it next to the biggest, brightest Christmas tree loaded down with the most garish baubles he’d ever seen. ‘Here. I got this.’

Her hand went to her mouth. ‘You bought the cot from the French market? And you’ve painted it? That’s very sweet, very kind of you. He’ll love it. I love it.’

‘And I love you. I bought this for you back then, the day after you fell in love with it. Because you wanted it so much. Because it makes you happy. I just want to do things that make you smile. I love you. Please believe me.’

‘Oh, Liam.’ Georgie shuffled across the sofa, trying to avoid the pain in her nether regions, her foot, and just about everywhere on her body. But it all faded just a little bit. He loved her? Did he? She’d listened out for it for so long, but he’d never used the words. She’d wanted to hear it, had waited so patiently for someone somewhere to say those three words to her. She had believed that a declaration of love could only be spoken. The deeds, though—they’d been plentiful. He’d shown her his love instead of declaring it. Every day for ten years.

For some reason she couldn’t breathe, her lungs were filled with nothing, her throat choked with a lump of emotion. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘Well, don’t, then. Don’t say a thing. Just listen. I didn’t want to fall in love because love can be damned painful. I pushed everyone away to protect myself. I didn’t want a family, I didn’t want those things you craved. But you’ve shown me how to make it work, how to take a risk. That fighting for the people you love is the most important thing of all. I love you. Because you are you. You’re funny and weird and you laugh at my jokes and your smile warms my heart every time I see it. But best of all we can get through anything—hell, we’ve stood by each other ten years already. I’m ready for another thirty, forty, eighty... You?’

‘Yes. Yes, of course.’ She wrapped him into her arms, with a slight protest from the little fella. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much. I love you too. Really. Truly.’

‘And if you want me to give up the aid work, I will. I’ll find something else.’

She shook her head. ‘Enough with the crazyville talk. I know how much you need to do that work. Just maybe shorter stints? And we’ll definitely discuss it, right? You won’t just decide.’

‘Of course not. We’re in this together.’ And the way he was looking at her convinced Georgie that he really did mean it. He planted a kiss on her cheeks, then laughed. ‘Hey, it’s Christmas Day, you realise? We’ll have to think of something festive to call him. I’m sorry, but Nugget doesn’t cut it.’

She looked over at the twinkling lights on the tree, at the three baubles centre stage with their names on. At the stack of DVDs and the romance novel. This was not how she’d intended spending Christmas Day, but she couldn’t think of a better way. Two guys to look after. Two guys to love her. A family. A proper family—now that had always been at the top of her Christmas wish list. ‘There’s always Noel or Gabriel...Joseph, maybe? We could call him Joe?’

‘Or...Rudolph? Rudi?’

That damned music was still playing in the background. ‘Not on your life. Come here and kiss me again.’

His nose nuzzled into her hair. ‘I can’t think of anything else when I kiss you, my mind goes to mush.’

‘That’s the plan, I don’t want any more suggestions like that. Besides, we’ve got plenty of time to think of a name, but way too many kisses to catch up on...’

He did as requested. When he pulled away it wasn’t as far as he usually went. She liked that. Liked the way he was intent on staying. Liked the way he loved her.

‘Happy Christmas, darling.’

‘Happy Christmas, Macadoodle-doo.’ She gave her man another kiss. Then snuggled into the baby snuffling in her arms. ‘Happy first Christmas, Nugget.’

And many, many more to come.

* * * * *

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ISBN-13: 9781460344330

A Baby on Her Christmas List

Copyright © 2014 by Louisa George

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