“I did exactly what Stephanie did,” she said dully. “I kept something from you. You lost faith in me because I didn’t come clean.”
“That’s how I saw it. It really wasn’t that big a deal. I got how your family needed you and you took care of me as a client at the same time. I think all those years of unresolved rage exploded in that moment and that’s why I cracked. Five minutes after I erupted, I regretted how I’d behaved. The incident triggered something in me that spun out of control. I took out years of bottled up frustration on you.”
Wynn tried to turn toward her, grunting with the effort. Frustrated, he said, “Let me see your face again.”
Scarlett pushed up and hovered above him, looking vulnerable. His good hand went to cup her cheek.
“We were both wrong. It’s going to happen sometimes. We’ll get mad at one another but we’ve got to remember that we love each other. Nothing is stronger than our love, Scarlett. It’s going to see us through whatever comes at us.”
“Do you trust me?” she asked, biting her lip.
“I do,” he assured her. “I can’t think of anyone I trust more. Or love more.”
His hand slipped to the back of her neck and he pulled her close so her mouth could meet his. Scarlett braced her hands on both sides of him and kissed him. Softly at first, as if he were so fragile he might break. Wynn held her in place and opened his mouth. He wasn’t letting her go until they had really kissed.
After a few minutes, she broke the kiss. Hovering above him, she said, “I have a question to ask you.”
“Kiss me and I’ll answer it.”
“No, answer it and then I might kiss you,” she teased.
“Okay.”
“Would you like to marry me?”
“You mean spend the rest of our lives together. For better or for worse. In sickness and in health. Until death do us part.”
“Exactly.”
He pretended to think about it a minute and laughed at the exasperated sound that came from her. He nudged her lips back to his and enjoyed a slow, sweet kiss.
“Is that a good answer?” he asked.
Scarlett beamed at him. “That’s a great answer.” She paused. “There’s something else.”
He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “What, my beautiful lady?”
“Since you’ve agreed to marry me, I have a present to give you. Actually, it’s not just for you. It’s for us. Something that I hope you’ll really, really like.”
Wynn smiled. “If it’s from you, I know I’ll like it.”
“You actually gave it to me first. I plan to give it back to you.”
He frowned. “Either that makes no sense or my thinking’s gone fuzzy again.”
Her eyes shone with love. “Wynn, we’re going to have a baby.”
Thoughts of seeing their baby grow within her and come spilling out had him speechless.
“Is that . . . are you okay with that?” she asked, uncertainty shadowing her face.
“I think that’s the most brilliant gift you could ever give me,” he told her, erasing the doubt from her face, a beautiful smile replacing it.
Wynn kissed her, the kiss full of promise and hope for the satisfying life they would build together. For the family they would raise. For all of the love they would share in a lifetime of love.
“What the hell?”
Though Wynn couldn’t turn his head toward the doorway, he watched Scarlett as she looked at whoever had interrupted them.
“It’s a new, hands-on kind of medicine I’m practicing, Dr. Thomas,” she said, mischief in her eyes. “I think our patient is going to make a full recovery.”
◆◆◆
“You’re absolutely sure this is what you want to do?” Scarlett asked, looking nervous but lovely in a white sheath, her hair swept back in a simple chignon.
Wynn reached out from where he sat in the wheelchair and clasped her hands. “You know it’s what I want. I’m not letting you off the hook now.”
She started to smile and then turned pale. Wheeling, she sprinted into the tiny restroom and slammed the door. He heard her retching and his heart went out to her.
He heard the flush and the sound of water running. Scarlett emerged, looking embarrassed.
“Come here.”
He pulled her into his lap. “It’ll all be worth it. Second tri is supposed to be better.”
“I know. You Googled how many sites this week? I think you know more about this pregnancy than I do.”
Wynn started to kiss her but she pushed up and stepped away. Grabbing her purse from a chair, she returned to the restroom and brushed her teeth then freshened her lipstick. While she was doing that, Dr. Thomas entered the room.
“You’re cleared to go, Mr. Gallagher. I’ve signed off and all your paperwork has been completed.”
“Thank you for everything,” Wynn said. “You and the staff at Cedars-Sinai have been terrific, especially helping me check out so early this morning.” He paused and then added, “Now, if we could just lose the wheelchair.”
“Not a chance. Hospital policy.”
Scarlett joined them. “We appreciate everything, Dr. Thomas.”
The physician grinned. “You’ve been practicing medicine without a license, Ms. Corrigan. Just make sure your fiancé here is your only patient and I’ll let it pass.”
Wynn watched the blush fill her face. Warmth spread through him. He loved everything about this woman.
In an hour, she would be his wife.
Ted joined them and pushed him to the service elevator. They rode to the bottom level, a loading dock area. As arranged last night, Del awaited them. Though it was only six-thirty, Wynn hadn’t wanted to take any chances with paparazzi that might be loitering at the main entrance at the early hour.
Wynn stood and shook hands with Ted. “Thanks for the good care. I’ll text you when the next Carbon Man premieres. You’ll have the best seats in the house.”
He and Scarlett climbed into Del’s car, greeting Rob, who sat in the front passenger seat.
“Everything go okay?” his brother asked.
Wynn nodded.
