Allie stared after her, stunned into silence. Finally she turned to Robert, whose gaze was alternating between her face and abdomen with an expression akin to awe.

"Did she say 'baby'?" Allie asked when she could find her voice.


"She did." He cleared his throat. "I hate to say I told you so, but…" A huge grin spread over his face.

Allie pressed her palms to her midsection. Tears pushed at her eyes, and unable to be contained, they spilled over onto her cheeks. Robert's gaze immediately turned stricken, and he gently grasped her shoulder. "Sweetheart, don't cry-"

"I'm not crying."

"Well, you're doing a fine imitation of it." He cupped her face in his broad palm and stroked the dampness from her cheeks with his thumbs.

She looked into his eyes, overwhelmed. "I never thought…" A sound of pure joy escaped her. "I'd buried the desire to be a mother years ago. Along with so many other dreams. And now they're all coming true."

Robert looked into her eyes brimming with happiness and love. Here was his girl from the sketch. The woman he'd waited a lifetime for. "My darling Allie. Of course they are. Did I not tell you that I always play to win?"

He drew her close and captured her lips in a deep, tender kiss. That "certain something," that indefinable magic he'd felt from the very first time he'd touched her, rushed through his veins, and utter contentment filled him.

At last.

Acknowledgments

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for their invaluable help and support:

My editor, Liz Scheier, for her kindness, cheerleading, and wonderful ideas.

My agent, Damaris Rowland, for her faith and wisdom.

My critique partners, Donna Fejes, Susan Goggins, and Carina Rock, for all the good times.

My mom and dad Kay and Jim Johnson, for a lifetime of love and support.

My in-laws, Lea and Art D'Alessandro, for the priceless gift of their son.

My sister, Kathy Guse, whom I am very proud of.

Martha Kirkland, my best research source, for being so generous with her time and knowledge.

Denise Forbes, Pat Pruitt, Nancy Krava, and Julie Teasley, for the great book signings.

Kathy Baker, bookseller extraordinaire, for her kindness and support.

Michelle, Steve, and Lindsay Grossman, for all the laughs and fun and for being such great peeps.

And a cyber hug to Connie Brockway, Marsha Canham, Virginia Henley, Jill Gregory, Sandy Hingston, Julia London, Kathleen Givens, Sherri Browning, and Julie Ortolon. You Looney Loopies are the best!

A very special thank you to Wendy Etherington and Jennie Grizzle. Thanks also to the members of Georgia Romance Writers.

And finally, thank you to all the wonderful readers who have taken the time to write or email me. I love hearing from you!

About the Author

Award-winning author Jacquie D'Alessandro grew up on Long Island and fell in love with romance at an early age. She dreamed of being swept away by a dashing rogue riding a spirited stallion. When her hero finally showed up, he was dressed in jeans and driving a Volkswagen, but she recognized him anyway. They married after they both graduated from Hofstra University, and are now living their happily-ever-afters in Atlanta, Georgia, along with their very bright and active son, who is a dashing rogue in the making. Jacquie is currently working on her next historical romance for Dell, and she would love to hear from readers. Email her through her website at www.JacquieD.com