Susan Mallery - The Sassy One

Francesca nodded. “But you said them to me. In private. It’s okay to have doubts. We’re judged by what we do with those doubts. You kept on trying. Working the program. Falling for her.”

He smiled. “I love her.” He pulled her close. “I love you, too. I want us to be a family, Francesca. I’m still in shock about the baby, but I’m excited, too. I want you to marry me. Not because it’s the right thing to do or because of pressures outside this room, but because you want to. Because you can’t imagine life without me.”

Francesca kissed him. If she’d had any doubts about her feelings for Sam, the last twenty-four hours had destroyed them. She’d been more than miserable: she’d been lost.

“I need you,” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Not half so much as I need you. Say you’ll marry me. Promise to love me forever, which is almost as long as I’m going to love you.”

She held him and sighed. “I do love you, Sam. With my whole heart. And yes, I’ll marry you.”

There was a loud cheer from the hallway.

“So we don’t have to make a formal announcement,” he murmured.

“My family doesn’t exactly stand on ceremony.”

“Neither do I,” he said and kissed her.