Chapter 26

Francesca had been staring at Blake's dear handsome perfect face while he'd been talking and she began to wonder how dare he decide to break up with her when things were going so well and she was even ready to have a child with him!? Then her hot-blooded Italian side overruled her calm cool American side and she demanded, "Just how is it that you can do this? I mean how do you make a decision about US without talking to me about it first? And what about Sammy? Doesn't she have a part in this too? Or is that why you let her spend the night at a friend's house so you could do this while she wasn't around and then just present it to her as a fait accompli tomorrow when it was all said and done?"

"Francesca, I was going to talk to you about it, in fact, that was what tonight was all about. I was going to wait and do it at Christmas, but I just found that I couldn't wait any longer."

She stared at him in disbelief. She just couldn't understand his callous attitude! Up to now he'd been so sweet and wonderful. She had actually pulled one of her hands free of his hold planning to slap his face, when his free hand reached into his jacket and pulled out of a ring box. She was in shock as he said, "Francesca Paretti will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

"Oh!" she gasped, her free hand rising to cover her mouth as tears sprang to her eyes. This was what she had dreamed of for the night, but had managed to talk herself out of in her worry that Blake wasn't thinking along the same line.

After quite a pause, he asked, "You seem surprised, Francesca. I thought you said you knew what I had in mind?"

"I thought you were going to break up with me," she admitted sadly.

"Why ever would I do something like that?! I love you and want to build a family with you! I was hoping that you felt the same!"

"I do! I love you, Blake!" she insisted and rushed on, "I guess I was just thinking that all this with you and Sammy was too good to be true. I haven't been very lucky in love as I told you before."

"I hope that by marrying me that will all change my love, but you haven't answered my question…will you marry me and be a mother to Sammy?"

"Yes of course I'll marry you and I already adore that little girl, so would love to be a mother to her and any more we have of our own."

Pleased beyond words, Blake opened the ring box and took out the marquee-cut canary diamond ring. "I hope you like it, the first time I saw you, you had on a yellow suit and I think I fell in love with you on sight. This ring reminded me of that day."

Caressing his cheek with one hand, as she held out the other for him to put the ring on her, she said, "It's a beautiful ring, and that story makes it even more precious. I will cherish it always."

Blake stood and pulled her into his arms and they shared a very tender kiss full of promise for all that was to come. As the kiss ended he swept her up into his arms and carried her to his room. He paused right in front of the door and asked, "Please tell me you want this as much as I do, my darling?"

Smiling up at him, she nodded and laid her head on his shoulder as she pushed the door open with her foot. He laughed and said, "I love you," before bending down to kiss her as he carried across the room to lay her down on the bed.

To be continued…..