She'd been so angry, first at Jeff for what she'd thought were his lies, but mostly at herself. She knew better. She was smart and responsible. So why had she gotten so careless with something as important as birth control? She'd always wanted more kids, but not like this.

"You don't have to do this," she told him. "While I'd appreciate some help until I get my degree, marriage isn't necessary."

She wished he wouldn't talk about it anymore. She didn't want to be married to someone who didn't care about her. She didn't want to be an obligation.

He cupped her face in his large, strong hand. Despite not knowing how she was going to put her life back together, she couldn't help rubbing her cheek against his palm. If she had to have an unexpected pregnancy, she would prefer Jeff to be the father. At least she knew she was getting a very strong, intelligent gene pool.

"I want to marry you," he said, gazing into her eyes. "Not because it's the right thing to do, but because I don't want to let you go. I'm not willing to lose you, Maggie or the baby."

Happiness crashed over her like a wave. She flung her arms around him and pulled him close.

"You care!" she said, starting to cry all over again, but this time they were tears of happiness. "Oh, Jeff, I'd hoped you did, but I wasn't sure. You never said anything. You could be distant. I was afraid you were just in it for the sex."

She sniffed and straightened, then kissed him on the mouth, on his nose, on his cheeks, before hugging him again.

"I love you," she whispered fiercely. "I have for a long time. At least it's been coming on for a while. I knew for sure that weekend we went away. My very own warrior."

"Ashley." He was the one to pull back this time. He wiped away her tears. "You don't have to say this. I want to marry you."

"No. It's not because of the baby." She grasped his hands in hers. "Please don't think it's because of that or gratitude. I really mean it. I love you so much. You're everything I've ever wanted. I can't believe I got so lucky to find someone like you. Someone so good and strong. You're different from any man I've ever known."

She sniffed, then smiled. "I know the whole emotional thing is really hard for you, so I'm doubly honored that you would trust me with your heart. I swear, I'll never give you a reason to regret this. I'll love you forever."

He leaned forward and kissed her. "You make me very happy," he told her.

"And I'm even a pretty decent evasive driver," she teased, then kissed him back.

All her dreams were finally coming true, she thought as he pulled her close and hugged her. Jeff loved her more than anyone in the world. In his arms she could feel safe, loved and at home.


* * *

"Mommy, you have a secret," Maggie complained that night at dinner. "I can tell."

Jeff wasn't surprised the little girl had figured out something was different with her mother. Ashley practically glowed. Her smile was radiant, her step extra-bouncy, her conversation excited.

"A secret?" Ashley said, her voice teasing. "You think so?" She turned to smile at him, a smile full of adoration. "What do you think, Jeff? Is there a secret?"

He knew she was playing a game and wanted him to be a part of it. But he couldn't be as lighthearted about the situation. He was confused and felt guilty. Which didn't make sense because he'd been telling the truth when he'd said he would marry her. He wanted to marry her. However, she thought he loved her.

Love. Jeff didn't know what the word meant. Not anymore. Perhaps there had been a time when he'd been a part of a family, just like everyone else. Those long-ago memories didn't have any place in his current reality. So when she said she loved him, he wasn't sure if he understood what that meant.

He believed in Ashley's capacity to love. He'd seen it firsthand with Maggie. Ashley was patient and caring. She'd seen him at his worst and she was still here. Wanting to be with him. Claiming to love him.

"Mommy, tell me!" Maggie pursed her lips together in a scowl. "I want to know!"

Ashley pulled her daughter onto her lap and hugged her. "Okay. It's a really good secret. I think you're going to be very happy."

Maggie's blue eyes widened. "Are we getting a kitten?"

"No. It's better than that."

Now that Ashley had Maggie's attention, she hesitated. Jeff knew her well enough to know that she was searching for the right words. She wanted to explain the situation simply and in a way that left the four-year-old feeling safe.

He was glad he wasn't the one who had to figure the best way to say it. Words had never been his strong suit. Actions had always been easier.

As Ashley started talking about how nice it had been to live in "Uncle Jeff's" house, he studied them. The overhead kitchen light illuminated their faces, making the similarities between them easy to spot. How much would their child look like Ashley? Or would the child look like him?

The questions startled him, reminding him again of the fact that he and Ashley were going to have a baby together. He dropped his gaze to her flat stomach. A baby grew in there. He was still stunned that he'd been able to get her pregnant. Now that she and Maggie were going to be a permanent part of his world, he was determined to take care of them.

"Well," Ashley was saying, "what if we never had to leave Uncle Jeff's house? What if we lived here for always?"

Maggie looked at him, her rosebud mouth parting. "We can stay? Promise?"

His throat tightened. The sensation was unfamiliar. "I'd like that."

Ashley tucked a curl behind her daughter's ear. "Maggie, I love you very much. I will always love you."

"I know, Mommy. I love you, too."

"I also love Jeff. And he loves us. I'm going to marry him."

Jeff waited, his throat tight, his heart seemingly still. He and Ashley had discussed waiting to tell Maggie about the baby. She would need time to get used to her new family before having to adjust to having a younger sibling.

Maggie looked at him. "Will you be my daddy when you and Mommy get married?"

Odd feelings crashed through him. He couldn't identify any of them so he didn't know what they meant. However, they made it tough to talk. He had to swallow a couple of times before he could get out the words.

"Would you like that?"

She threw herself at him. "When we went to church on Easter I asked God to send me a new daddy, and he did!"

Her small arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Her weight settled on his body. He hugged her back. With a fierceness that surprised him, he vowed to himself he would always keep this precious child safe. If that wasn't love, it was the best he could do.

"So you're okay with this?" Ashley asked. "You're happy that I'm marrying Jeff?"

"Daddy," Maggie said, planting a sticky kiss on his cheek. "You're marrying Daddy."

Tears filled Ashley's eyes. She wrapped her arms around them both.

For the first time in many years, Jeff felt as if he was a part of something important and special. Daddy. The word felt both odd and right.

He shifted so he could reach his suit jacket, hanging behind him on the chair back. In the right outside pocket was a small box. He'd stopped to pick it up on his way home. Now he grabbed the box and held it out to Ashley.

Both females stared at the square of dark blue velvet.

"What is it?" Ashley asked.

"What do you think?"

She shrugged, then lightly touched the top of the box. "Maybe an engagement ring?"

"Got it in one."

He was suddenly nervous. Should he have waited and asked her if it was all right to buy her a ring? Should he have taken her shopping with him? He'd actually just stopped to look when he'd seen the elegant design and had known right away that it was perfect for her.

"Open it," he told her.

She took the box and did as he requested. Both Ashley and Maggie gasped as she drew out an emerald-cut diamond on a platinum band. Smaller baguette-cut diamonds were set into the band. Light caught the larger gem and made it glow.

"It's gorgeous," Ashley breathed.

"Do you really like it?"

She looked stunned for another second or two, then threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close. "Jeff, it's so beautiful and way too expensive. You didn't have to do this for me."

"I wanted to."

"Thank you. You've made me very happy."

Her scent, the feel of her body, the pressure of her mouth on his were all familiar. They filled him with a confidence that he'd never felt before. In that moment he knew he could take on the world and win.


* * *

"Oh, Jeff."

Ashley snuggled against him in his bed. She curled herself around him, resting her head on his shoulder and gazing up at her engagement ring.

"I still think you spent way too much money."

"I don't, and it's my money. At least until we get married."

She turned and looked at him. "No. It will always be your money. I want you to keep everything you made before the marriage separate. That way it's not community property."

He frowned. "Why would you want that?"

"Because I'm not marrying you for your money. I love you. But if I start asking for things or taking what's yours, you'll start to question me, and I don't want that. Everything has happened so fast. Your last experience with marriage wasn't exactly positive. I want this to be different. I want it to be forever. So I need you to trust me."

He smoothed her hair off her face. "I trust you with my life," he said. Didn't she know that trusting or not trusting wasn't the problem?

"Good. Then keep everything you have now in your own name and it will never be an issue between us. Besides, in a couple of years I'm going to be the one making the big bucks, and then you'll be worried about me thinking you're in it for the money."