On Thin Ice (22 page)

“Yes, it does.” She faced him. “Are you ever going to trust me? When you know I lied?”

“I also know
why
you lied. That makes a difference.” He closed the distance between them and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her near, resting his cheek against hers. Hesitant at first, she put her hands on his arms. His breath felt warm, wafting across her cheek. Closing her eyes, she savored the sensation.

His voice was deep and quiet when he spoke. “I kept going to work, thinking about the position, the partnership. I should have been happy, but I wasn’t. I’d gotten everything I wanted, but none of it meant a damn to me because I’d lost you. Come back to me, Gabrielle.” He paused, then said, “I love you.”

She opened her eyes and looked into his, seeing the love in them. It hurt to throw up more objections, when all she wanted was to fall into his arms. “I’m not sure you understand what you’d be getting into. My past might always haunt me. Franco threatened to kill you. It could happen again, if someone else found out.”

He was smiling at her, that smile she loved so much. Didn’t he understand what she was saying?

“You called your father for me, didn’t you? I’d wondered what made you do it then, instead of when Franco first showed up.”

She nodded. “I won’t do it again. The only reason I did it was because I had no other choice. I’m not Gabriela Donati. I never will be again. I’m a different person now. Gabrielle Rousseau.”

“I’ve never known you as anyone else. I love you, Gabrielle.”

“I love you too, Devlin.”

He kissed her then, the sweetest, most tender kiss she thought she’d ever had. For a long time, they stood there holding each other until finally Devlin pulled back to look at her, keeping his arms around her.

“If you wanted to come back to CG and S, Sid would still give you the job.”

“No.” She shook her head and smiled at him. “I’ve discovered that’s not what I want after all. I’m happy going into practice by myself.”

“Good. I’m glad that was your answer.” He grinned. “How about a partner?”

“You mean—?”

He nodded. “I resigned this morning. What do you say, Counselor? Think you could stomach me as a partner?”

“I think I might manage it,” she said, smiling. “We work really well together.”

“In more ways than one. And I know just the way to celebrate our upcoming partnership.”

Since he’d slid his hands inside her cutoffs and was massaging her rear while he kissed her, she had a good idea of what he intended. “The desk isn’t here yet,” she murmured against his lips.

“That’s okay. We’ll improvise.” He kissed her again. “There’s one more thing.”

In the process of unbuttoning his shirt, she paused. “What?”

He covered her hands with both of his. “Marry me, Gabrielle.”

Stunned, she stammered, “Y-you want to get married?” Oh, that smile should definitely be licensed, she thought.

“Yes.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them, watching her with a devilish gleam in his eyes. “Say yes.”

“We haven’t known each other very long. We don’t have to rush into it.” Even though she realized there was nothing she’d like more than to marry him, she felt compelled to give him an out.

“Yes we do.” He clasped her hands together at his chest. “I’ve been going crazy without you. I want to be with you, all the time. Marry me and put me out of my misery.”

“When you put it like that, what other choice do I have?” She smiled and curved her arms around his neck. “Yes,” she said, and kissed him to seal it.

(Continue reading for more about Eve Gaddy)

Eve Gaddy is the bestselling, award-winning author of sixteen novels for Bantam Loveswept and Harlequin Superromance, with more than a million copies in print. Her books have won and been nominated for awards from Romantic Times, Golden Quill, Bookseller’s Best, Holt Medallion, Texas Gold, Daphne Du Maurier and more. She was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Innovative Series romance as well as winning the 2008 Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Series Storyteller of the year.

Eve’s books have sold over a million copies worldwide and been published in many foreign countries, including the UK, Canada, Latin America, France, Spain, Argentina, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Estonia and New Zealand.

Eve’s writing career began when she was in search of the perfect job and a friend challenged her to write a novel. Naturally, she thought of romance, since that is one of her favorite things to read. Once she began it was love at first type and she’s been writing ever since.

While a confirmed native Texan, Eve loves going to Colorado to escape the Texas heat and to snow ski in the winter. She loves spring in east Texas, especially when the azaleas are in bloom. She also enjoys books and needlework and is currently working on needlepoint Christmas stockings for her twin granddaughters. She adores animals. Just ask her incredibly spoiled Golden Retriever who is firmly convinced he is Eve’s third child. Eve enjoys cooking except when she is in the throes of creating, and has been known to tell her husband that is what peanut butter and jelly was created for.

Visit Eve Gaddy at http://www.evegaddy.net.