“And what did you say?”
“I said that we hadn’t been seeing one another for very long but that I…liked you. I told him that you’d done a lot for me and that I cared about you.”
“Did you tell him how I feel about you?”
She wore a shy expression. “Well, I left out the part about you wanting to make love to me in Florence, but I said that I thought that you liked me.”
Gabriel frowned. “I like you? Really, Julianne, is that the best you could do?”
She shrugged. “He’s my dad. He doesn’t want to hear the sentimental stuff. He wants to know if you’re still doing drugs and getting into fights. And if you’re monogamous with me.”
Gabriel winced.
She hugged him tightly. “Of course, I told him that you were a model citizen and that you treated me like a princess. That I don’t deserve you.”
“Well, that’s a lie.” He kissed her forehead. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Nonsense.”
They kissed softly for a moment or two, and Gabriel took off his glasses and placed them on top of his book. He turned out the light and spooned her blissfully.
Just as they were drifting off to sleep, Julia whispered, “I love you.”
When he didn’t respond, she assumed he was already dreaming. She sighed quietly and closed her eyes, snuggling backward against his chest. A strong arm flexed across her waist, pulling her tighter still.
She heard him inhale deeply and pause. “Julianne Mitchell, I love you too.”
Chapter 30
Julia awoke the next morning to the feel of something warm pressed close to her heart and a gentle breeze of breath across her neck. Upon closer inspection, she realized that Gabriel’s large hand was cupping her right breast as they spooned together. She giggled and shifted against his grasp.
He growled at her sudden movement.
“Good morning, Gabriel.”
“Morning, beautiful.” His lips found her cheek and kissed it.
“I take it you…slept well.”
“Very well. And you?”
“Well, thank you.”
“Does this bother you?” His hand caressed her gently through her nightshirt.
“No. It feels good.” She rolled over to face him.
He slid his hand to the small of her back so he could pull her into a deep kiss.
“Julianne.” He brushed a few wisps of hair out of her eyes. “There’s something I would like to say to you.”
Her brow furrowed.
He traced a single finger across her eyebrows, smoothing out the worry lines. “Don’t frown. It’s something nice. I think.”
She looked up at him expectantly.
His eyes were large and dark and serious. “I love you.”
She blinked twice and a smile slowly crept across her face. “I love you too. I thought I was hearing things when you said it last night.”
He kissed her tenderly. “I wasn’t sure you heard me, either.”
“You know, you said it to me before.”
“When?”
“The night I rescued you from Christa. I put you to bed, and you called me Beatrice. You said that you loved me.”
He swallowed noisily. “Julianne, I’m sorry it took me so long to say it properly.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her forehead against the stubble on his chin. “Thank you.”
“No, darling. I should be thanking you. I’ve—never felt this way before. It makes me realize how much time I’ve wasted.” Gabriel’s eyes grew sad.
Julia kissed him softly. “We both had a lot of growing up to do. It’s better this way.”
“I regret the way I treated those other women. And that I wasted my time with them. You know that, don’t you?”
“I regret being with him. But there’s nothing either of us can do about it now except be happy that we found each other.”
“I wish we could spend the day in bed.” His voice was suddenly wistful.
She laughed. “I think that would shock and scandalize your relations.”
“Most likely. Damn them.”
They both laughed until their laughter morphed into passionate kisses.
She was the first to retreat. “Can I ask you something?”
Gabriel’s jaw set. “Of course.” Don’t be too inquisitive this morning, Julianne. I can’t tell you everything in Richard’s house.
“What kind of lingerie do you like on a woman?”
Gabriel’s jaw immediately relaxed and his lips curled into a wicked smile. “You’re asking this because—you’re doing a survey?” He chuckled, taking her hand in his and pressing his lips against her knuckles.
She looked down at their conjoined hands. “I would like to go shopping before our trip. I was wondering what you—liked.”