Epilogue
Within a week, Caitlyn had undergone surgery to fix her heart defect. Advanced technology kept her from having her chest cut open. Instead, she had a small scar on her left thigh where a catheter had been used instead. It took her a few weeks to be well enough to return to work and normal activities. During this time, Gabriel insisted she stay with him in his condo. He moved her in as soon as she was able to leave the hospital. True to his word, he stayed by her side, even changing his schedule so he could work from home.
Because they were together all the time, Gabriel was able to see the vulnerable side of Caitlyn that no one else really saw. She let her guards down and was truly herself around him. She opened up to him as she recuperated. She let herself be babied and cared for. She still tired easily after the surgery so he waited on her hand and foot. He comforted her when she needed it and left her alone when she didn't. And every night, he climbed into bed next to her and held her in his arms while she slept. They spoke of their past and learned about each other as the days passed. Caitlyn loved him even more as he showed restraint towards being physical with her. But she couldn't hide her desire for him completely. The brief moments he saw it, he kissed her with such passion, she prayed she wouldn't pass out.
The day the doctor proclaimed her well enough to do normal things, Gabriel treated her to a romantic dinner at a local restaurant. He was nervous as he waited for her to finish getting dressed. In his pocket, he kept touching the engagement ring he got for her. Breathe, just breathe, he kept reassuring himself. Thinking back to earlier in the week, he remembered the call to her parent's house. He spoke to her father and asked for her hand. Of course, Caitlyn's parents gave their blessing readily. They saw how much he loved her. Even though, they had only known each other for a few months, the love they had for each other was evident every time their family saw the two of them.
He knew she loved him. But marriage was a whole different affair. If she said no, he knew he wouldn't be able to survive. After he brought her home with him, they never talked about it. And now, there was no way he could live without her in his life. So, he had to take the biggest risk of his life and ask the woman he loved beyond a doubt to be Mrs. Matthews.
All his thoughts and worries stopped mid-stream when Caitlyn walked out of the bedroom. He mouth dropped open at the sight of her. She was wearing a simple pale sky blue dress. It clung to every curve she had on top and flowed sensuously below the waist to the floor. It was simple yet elegant and it was perfect. He noticed she made an exception to her no make-up policy by wearing lip gloss. Thoughts of those luscious lips made him step towards her and grab her for a kiss. They both moaned as their desire for each other started to burn. He had to regretfully pull away before they missed dinner all together. He kissed her briefly one last time.
"You are so breathtakingly beautiful, love," Gabriel told her. She blushed in response. "Shall we go to dinner?" he asked dashingly as he held out her shawl. She smiled enchantingly and took his arm when he offered it. Then, they were out the door and to the restaurant. They had a wonderful, intimate dinner for two that was romantic in every aspect. And then, they were back at home to Gabriel's delight and dread. He had gotten cold feet at proposing to her during dinner but now he had to know.
He sat her down on the couch and held her in his arms for a moment. She fit him perfectly. He wanted to hold her forever. With that thought, he took a deep breath and let her go. He saw Caitlyn's eyes fill with confusion. As he moved to kneel at her feet, he saw them go wide with surprise. On his knees, he pulled the ring from his pocket and haltingly asked her to marry him. Joy filled him at her happy smile and nod and he took the ring and put it on her finger. Then, he grabbed her and kissed her.
