Cain held up the first ring, and the diamond sparkled in the waning light from the window. “The jeweler told me the stone is flawless. To me it represents my love for you. Perhaps my life isn’t perfect, but I try very hard to make you feel cherished and loved as flawlessly as I know how. When you look at it I want you to remember that.”
She held it up close to the ring finger on Emma’s left hand. “Emma, will you have me?”
The question was barely out of Cain’s mouth when Emma said simply, “Yes.”
Cain held another ring, a simple gold band with two sapphires embedded in the metal. “This ring is a partner to the one I just gave you. Two more stones in honor of the most precious things you could have given me, our children.” The second one slid home, and Emma gave in to tears.
“Can the guy who sold you this add more to this one?” Emma pointed to the second ring.
Cain didn’t answer the question verbally; she just handed Emma the bag, then kissed the tip of her nose. The bag weighed just enough for her to know it wasn’t empty. When she tipped it over, another two sapphires rolled out into her palm, to be added to the ring if they had more children. “You
“That I do, lass, but before you go planning something, you might want to hear what I have to say.”
Emma pressed her hand to Cain’s lips and stopped whatever was getting ready to come out. “Later.” She looped her other hand around Cain’s neck and pulled. “Much, much later.”
Again Cain just grunted when Emma pressed her thigh between her legs. In retrospect Cain had chosen a rather strange way to propose, naked and just after making love, but Emma wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Whatever confessions Cain had would have to wait.
This was an occasion Emma didn’t want marred by anything.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Emma turned Cain in the shower so she could rinse out the shampoo she’d worked in. “Blue was responsible for bombing the clubs and Muriel’s office?”
“He didn’t set the bombs, but he let in the guys who did. Not that he admitted it, but he was also giving Stephano Bracato information about all of us.” She wiped the residual suds from her face before lowering her head again so Emma could repeat the process. “You have to understand that Bracato and his sons have no honor. They aren’t going to be satisfied with just my heart on a platter; they want to hurt me first by taking away everything dear to me. It got Marie killed and will make them keep coming until their sick needs for vengeance are sated. But I’m not just going to sit back and let that happen, no way in hell. I’m sorry if you think I’m a monster.”
“Don’t apologize. You’re protecting your family, end of discussion. I meant what I said, Cain. I’m here for you no matter what. Though when you see the tab for this afternoon, you may tell me to head back north.”
“The designer shops around town are going to start sending me thank-you cards again, aren’t they?”
“I believe Kevin said something about the wine being on him tonight.” Emma guided Cain’s dark head under the spray of water so she could rinse all the lather she’d worked up again while they’d been talking. “The FBI may not like you, my love, but Kevin simply adores you.”
“Who’s Kevin, and why haven’t we met?” They stepped out of the large shower together, and Cain accepted a towel from Emma.
“He’s my personal shopper, and while you’ve never met him, he’s memorized your account number. With your line of credit you might even make him forget Ralph.”
Cain laughed as she helped Emma into her robe. “I know I’m going to be sorry, but who’s Ralph?”
“The chef at the restaurant you’re taking me to, and also Kevin’s partner.” With her robe tied, Emma walked back into the bedroom and gasped at the number of packages stacked around the room.
“Is the little black dress you promised me in one of these boxes?”
“Along with a few other things, apparently.” She lifted the lid of one box that looked too small for anything she’d tried on in the store and closed it quickly when Cain stepped up behind her. Cain appeared amused as Emma’s face suddenly got hot. “Why don’t you get dressed and go downstairs and wait for me? I’m sure Uncle Jarvis would love to have a drink with you.”
“Tell me what’s in the box and I’ll be happy to.”
Emma put her body between Cain and the box in question. “What’s the matter, honey, don’t you like surprises? I believe that’s what you’re always telling me.”
“Ah, don’t I even get a hint?”
“Knowing Kevin the way I do, it’s made of silk. Satisfied?”
The smile that had attracted Emma in the first place grew even broader. “Not as much as I’ll be later when I help you out of the dress. It’s got to be something, to make you blush like this.” Cain ran her long finger up Emma’s cheek till it brushed through her wet hair.
“If you want to make it to dinner some time tonight, might I suggest you stop doing that, and most certainly stop looking at me that way.” Emma admired all the naked skin on display and for once felt like just staying in.
All those months on the farm she’d dreamed of the nights like this when Cain had made sure she enjoyed herself, no matter if she did a little business also. She’d seen the envy on a lot of women’s faces when she walked into a place on Cain’s arm. Emma knew most of them would have been all too happy to trade places with her—to see Cain standing before them naked and hungry.
“I thought you liked it when I looked at you this way?”
“I do, but you said it was important that we go out tonight, so stop it.” Emma felt chilled a minute later when Cain stepped into the closet to pick out a suit, and her white shirt almost crackled from the starch.
