Page 131 of The Cajun Doctor

“You do?”

“Yes, and I’m in it for the long haul. Doesn’t matter if you don’t love me now. You will, eventually, because I’m going to keep on trying to convince you to reciprocate. Hell, I have a thousand and one nights of fantasies to go.”

“I thought I was the one who had to come up with a thousand and one fantasies.”

“That works, too.”

He was still cupping her face with his hands. There was so much he wanted to say and wasn’t sure how much to say or how to say it. They had a lot to resolve, like whether they might marry someday, or have children, or stay in Louisiana, but none of that mattered in the scheme of the bigger issue. Love.

“You fool! I already love you, too,” she said.

“You do?” he repeated the same words she’d said to him.

When realization hit at how misguided they had both been, they smiled at each other. And then they kissed, gently, to seal their words.

It was a good thing Daniel was still inside her then because she said, “But don’t let that stop you from convincing me. For the rest of our lives.”

And that part of him that was quiescent inside her knew exactly what she meant. There was more than one way to pledge love between a man and a woman, and, in his opinion, this was the best way. And lucky him! He got a thousand and one chances to do it right.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Let the games go on . . . and on . . . and on . . .

They made love again two more times that night, and Samantha couldn’t be happier. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to walk when she arrived at Tante Lulu’s birthday party later tomorrow . . . rather, since it was past two a.m . . . but it was a small price to pay for the happiness she felt now.

“Are you smiling again?” he asked, turning his face to the side beside her. He was splayed out on his stomach, as depleted as she was . . . for the moment anyhow.

“Yes. I’m happy.”

“Me, too,” he said, sitting up and settling a pile of pillows behind them before pulling her over to rest her face on his chest. “Samantha?”

“Hmmm?”

“I promised myself that I wouldn’t rush you, but . . . oh, hell, will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

He held her away so he could see her face. “Just like that, yes?”

“Why not? I’m not a kid. I know what I want. Why wait? I’m excited to begin my life with you.”

“I feel the same way. Man oh man, I can’t believe what a difference there is in my life since this morning. Depression to euphoria.”

“Same here. Even Emily was getting sick of being around me, I was so sad.”

“Will Em be our flower pig?”

She laughed. “Why not?”

“I feel like I have a whole life of firsts with you to look forward to. First marriage. First honeymoon. First home together. First . . .”

As his words trailed off, she realized why he hesitated. It was the big elephant still in the room with them. Children.

“If you want children, Samantha, we’ll have them. Or at least one. I’m afraid, but I’ll find a way to overcome that. I know I can.”

She kissed him and said, “We can talk about that later. Truly, we’ve been handed a second chance here. We could have very well lost each other without ever confessing our love. Let’s savor that. Problems can be solved in the future.”

He kissed her, then asked, “Will you go to Tante Lulu’s birthday bash with me?”